Cool running
VIN: ZFFGJ34B000085690
Engine: 22707
Auction: Bonhams, Kenilworth 2006, estimate 170’000 to 220’000 Pound, not sold. With these informations: «Ferrari F40 chassis number ‘85690’ is a unique, race-winning example of only 16 recognised Competizione cars that were prepared for GT racing in period. This particular car is one of the most well known and widely documented F40s that competed in the Italian GT Championship, and has featured extensively in a number of books and other publications produced since the mid-1990s. Following the conclusion of its original competition career, the car returned to use as a road vehicle (minus its racing livery) and thus represents an exceptional example of a road-usable F40 with the added benefits of its race-developed engine, competition history and provenance. F40 chassis number ‘85690’ was delivered new to Pierre Alexandre Popoff of Lerici, Italy in July 1990. Designer of the Mugello racing circuit in Italy, Popoff was a close friend of Enzo Ferrari and an enthusiastic member of the Ferrari Club Italia. Popoff had ‘85690’ modified by Ferrari’s close collaborator Michelotto, official builder of Maranello’s GT sports racers since the late 1970s, and entered it in the Italian GT Championship from the inaugural 1992 season. During its competition career, ‘85690’ was developed through a variety of permitted upgrades to maintain the car’s competitiveness as the series evolved, including up-rating the engine to GT specification (circa 540-560bhp). Between 1992 and the end of the 1994 season, Popoff contested 27 Italian GT Championship races in this car, winning twice (in his final season) and finishing on the podium on seven other occasions. ‘85690’ was pictured extensively in and on the back cover of Sergio Cassan’s definitive 1995 book F40 da Corsa and has been the central feature of a review of F40 Racing in a recently published issue of Ferrari Collection by Fabbri Editori. The car has also been pictured and mentioned in various other books and publications, relating to its role in the Italian GT Championship series, and featured in and on the cover of Evo magazine in the UK (December 1999 issue). ‘85690’ is also the subject of highly detailed models produced by Herpa of the car in its racing livery at both 1:43 and 1:87 scale.
After its competition career was over, ‘85690’ reverted back to a use as a road car, albeit with the highly tractable race specification engine still in place. The proven robustness of this engine and general reliability of the car is demonstrated by its regular and problem-free use over the last seven years in the UK, which is supported by a full Ferrari specialist service history since importation to this country in 1997. The car has not suffered any notable mechanical faults since 1999, when both IHI turbochargers were replaced by a Ferrari UK main agent following the failure of one unit. The original turbochargers were replaced with updated IHI units (specified by Ferrari as a replacement OEM part) able to withstand higher boost pressures and thus provide increased durability. The engine remains visually standard in appearance apart from its high-flow F40 LM oil filter, but is believed to remain mapped for a marginally higher boost pressure to provide optimum performance with a less-restrictive-than-standard exhaust system. The car is presented in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition, fully comparable with the very best F40s available, and has covered just 23,650 kilometres from new. It underwent a major service at Maranello Concessionaires in May 2005, including belt replacement, and is ready for use on the road or track. A quantity of highly desirable spares accompanies this car, including standard (OEM) and sports exhaust rear systems, original OEM catalysts (not certified functional or required for UK), original F40 car cover and carry bag, and Herpa 1:43 and 1:87 scale models. The car is offered with its original registration paperwork, owner’s manual and fully stamped service book, confirming Pierre Popoff as the first owner, together with racing history and copies of some of the publications referred to above demonstrating its provenance. It also possesses a current road fund licence and Swansea V5 document, and is MoT’d until May 2006».
Then: RM Sotheby’s, Las Vegas 2023, estimate 3,25 to 4 Mio. Dollar, not sold. Similar information as above, plus: «Around this time, the F40 GT was featured in Sergio Cassano’s definitive book on the racing F40s, F40 Da Corsa. It was also later depicted in Ferrari expert Keith Bluemel’s book Ferrari F40. Soon returned to road-car specifications, the F40 was sold in November 1996 to Silvia Servi of Pavia, Trovo, Italy, and she retained possession for roughly two years before the car was acquired by British collector Andrew Duncan in August 1998. Imported to England, the Ferrari was maintained by the marque dealer Graypaul, and later by specialist Bob Houghton, as demonstrated by invoices on file. In July 2008 the F40 was certified to be a matching-numbers example with the issuance of a Ferrari Classiche Red Book, which clarified the continued presence of the original chassis, engine, and transaxle. After passing through one more collection, the F40 GT was acquired by Chris Wilson, a well-known gentleman racer with a Goodwood TT victory to his name. A passionate car enthusiast, Wilson enlisted the aid of Andrea Popoff, son of the original owner, to assist with returning the car as closely as possible to its early 1990s racing configuration. While this included replicating the original race livery, and re-installing the period Brembo competition brakes, racing exhaust system, and the rare 17-inch magnesium wheels, the owner chose to keep the road-specification suspension to provide a more forgiving ride quality. In early 2018 the Ferrari passed to the consignor, the car’s fourth British owner, and sixth owner overall, cementing a short, well-documented chain of ownership. Remarkably, during cataloguing it was discovered that this F40 GT retains its original numbered diffuser, doors, rear wing, and rear clam, whilst the front clam was discovered to be lighter than standard. According to Keith Bluemel’s model-specific book, this Ferrari is one of 21 F40 examples to race in a national or international GT championship in period, and one of just nine built to CSAI-GT specifications. As such, this unusual Maranello racecar claims a rarity and competition legitimacy that only seldom characterizes an F40. It is desirably documented with ACI registration papers, a copy of the filled-out delivery page from the service/warranty booklet, service and restoration invoices, and the highly coveted Ferrari Classiche Red Book».
A collection of Ferrari F40 you can find: here (just in German, sorry, English still work in progress).
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