Ferrari F40 – #83052

Concours d’Elegance

VIN: ZFFGJ34B000083052
Engine: 17749

Auction: RM Sotheby’s, London 2024, sold for 1’973’750 pounds, with these informations: «Configured in highly desirable early series, European market, “non-cat, non-adjust” specification, chassis 83052 departed Ferrari’s fabled Maranello factory on 25 October 1989, destined for Modenese Ferrari agents Motor S.p.A. The following month, it was acquired by first owners Italleasing S.p.A of Rapallo, near Genoa. The car was duly allocated the Italian registration mark of “GE 876251”. By the early 1990s, chassis 83052 had passed into French hands—gaining the Parisian licence plate “40 KRL 75” in the process—although it departed continental European shores for the first time in 1997, arriving in the UK late that year. As part of the UK registration application, the car underwent a first MoT inspection on 8 December 1997, at which point it still retained its French registration mark and displayed a recorded odometer reading of just 2,866 kilometres. UK registration was granted on 24 February 1998, with the car being acquired by Allen Grove in June 1998 and re-registered as “AYY 5” later that year. Mr Grove appears to have owned chassis 83052 only briefly, opting to sell the car in 2000—via renowned F40 experts DK Engineering of Chorleywood, Hertfordshire—to a Mr S Johnson of Biddenham, Bedfordshire. Significantly, in June 2001, chassis 83052 was one of just two F40s invited to enter the prestigious Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours d’Elegance, held in London’s Bond Street. Other landmark models present at the event included a 375 Mille Miglia, 212E Montagna, 712 CanAm, and three 250 GT SWB Berlinettas. Throughout Mr Johnson’s ownership, the F40 was fastidiously maintained by DK Engineering, in accordance with Ferrari’s recommended 5,000-kilometre service schedule. In June 2001, it benefitted from new fuel cells and cambelts, while the following year—with the car by now bearing the registration mark “F693 GWR” —a new clutch was fitted. Routine services were carried out by DK Engineering in 2004, 2006, and 2007—at 13,168, 14,701, and 16,100 kilometres respectively—while in July 2008, a major service was embarked upon, encompassing a further clutch replacement, at a cost of some £10,052. Significantly, during Mr Johnson’s period of ownership, the longest interval between services was barely 2,100 kilometres; a figure equating to a mere 19 months. Although used only sparingly by Mr Johnson, the Ferrari occasionally appeared in printed media, taking centre stage in a feature article in the June 2007 edition of Classic Cars magazine entitled “60 Years of Ferrari Greats”. Appearing alongside its progenitors the 195 Inter, 250 SWB, 275 GTB/4, 365 GTB/4 Daytona, and 512 BB, the article emphasised the F40’s phenomenal performance capability, while likening the model to a “latter-day 250 GTO; for both wear their Ferrari racing heart on their sleeve”.
In August 2009—after some nine years of exhilarating ownership—Mr Johnson felt that the time had come to part with the F40, whereupon it joined the collection of the current consignor. Displaying an odometer reading of just 18,350 kilometres at this point of purchase, the car’s modest use has continued, with servicing responsibilities being carried out by Geneva-based Ferrari and Maserati concessionaires, Modena Cars SA. Here, the F40 benefitted from the fitment of new fuel cells in March 2012 and a new original stock silencer box in 2016. The fuel cells were renewed once again—in conjunction with a major service, including the renewal of the cam belts, air filters, spark plugs, and battery, in addition to a full engine diagnostic check and set up—as recently as May 2024. Notably, expenditure in 2024 alone has amounted to some CHF 18,481 (roughly around £16,000). Furthermore, Modena Cars also presided over an application for Ferrari’s coveted Classiche certification. The accompanying Red Book, awarded in December 2016, confirms that the F40 retains its matching numbers chassis, engine, and gearbox.»

A collection of Ferrari F40 you can find: (work in progress).