{"id":349754,"date":"2019-11-02T12:20:53","date_gmt":"2019-11-02T12:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=349754"},"modified":"2024-12-27T12:59:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T12:59:21","slug":"1989-ferrari-f40-lm-guide-history-specifications-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/1989-ferrari-f40-lm-guide-history-specifications-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"1989 Ferrari F40 LM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ferrari F40 LM<\/h1>\n
\n

Contents<\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/a>
\nPerformance & Specs<\/a>
\nGallery & Videos<\/a>
\nFinal Verdict<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If you have even an inkling of appreciation for supercars, the Ferrari F40 is an automobile that needs no introduction. Wherever one may appear, an inevitable congregation of awestruck gearheads will follow. One wouldn\u2019t need to know much about the details about the car to appreciate it, but I will digress by getting into those right away now.<\/p>\n

The Ferrari F40<\/a> is the spiritual successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO<\/a>, and was also intended to mark the celebration of Ferrari\u2019s 40th anniversary.<\/b> It is also the last Ferrari automobile to have been personally approved by founder Enzo Ferrari. Even with technical details aside, this car was destined to be something very special on these merits alone.<\/p>\n

When it made its debut in 1987, the Ferrari F40 was the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive production car to come by the renowned Italian marque. The car (and by association, its designers) made no apologies for it being a solely-purposed performance machine.<\/p>\n

Related: Ultimate Guide to the Ferrari F40<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"1987<\/a><\/p>\n

1987 Ferrari F40<\/i><\/p>\n

Its extremely spartan character had led to a mixed reception from the press upon its release, perhaps because most journalists could not initially accept that a flagship Ferrari should be found to be lacking in any way whatsoever. There was also some controversy over the existence of the F40. Firstly<\/i>, some would dub it a mere cash grab after the recent passing of Enzo Ferrari and secondly<\/i>, it was seen as a knee jerk reaction to the success of the Porsche 959.<\/p>\n

Ferrari eloquently rebutted this sentiment, stating that “The F40 is for the most enthusiastic of our owners who want nothing but sheer performance. It isn’t a laboratory for the future, as the 959 is. It is not Star Wars. And it wasn’t created because Porsche built the 959. It would have happened anyway.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

These days, they\u2019re typically found in a now familiar habitat – hogging the spotlight at your local Cars and Coffee events – where the presence of the Ferrari F40 is encapsulated by its iconic silhouette and design; dutifully representing a legendary era of automobiles, and the Ferrari brand as a whole.<\/p>\n

It is more than apparent that the Ferrari F40 has shook off (or at least, made peace with) any negative connotations from the past and has consolidated for itself, an esteemed position in automotive history.<\/p>\n

For The Races – Ferrari F40 LM<\/h3>\n

For all the concessions it made towards being bred with no shortage of racing pedigree, the Ferrari F40 is still a road-legal car. In fact, Ferrari\u2019s original intent was for the F40 to strictly remain as an ultra high performance street-legal car<\/b>, rather than one homologated for competition racing.<\/p>\n

However, the initial sampling of the F40\u2019s performance capabilities subsequently sent demand soaring for Ferrari to release a factory race-spec version of the car. Thankfully Ferrari didn\u2019t take long to mull over the idea, and the Prancing Horse would delegate Michelotto Automobili – Italian race car builder and long-time business partner, who they collaborated with for the 512 BB LM<\/a> and 308 GTB<\/a>\u00a0 – to the task of bringing the idea of such an F40 to life.<\/p>\n

Here enters, the Ferrari F40 LM. This race-spec variant packs more power, better aerodynamics and less weight than the car it is based on. The LM, which stands for Le Mans, was specced to satisfy IMSA regulations with the goal of competing on the world\u2019s highest stage in its performance category.<\/p>\n

\"1989<\/a><\/p>\n

As expected, the F40 LM is an extremely exclusive car which was reserved only for Ferrari\u2019s most distinguished clients<\/b>. Before the first customer example had been delivered in May of 1990, the F40 LM had already gone through an extensive testing and quality assurance program.<\/p>\n

This was concluded with the F40 LM making its debut in professional competition at the 1989 Laguna Seca IMSA race<\/b>, where it finished a very respectable third place in the GTO category with race driver Jean Alesi behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

In the end, only 19 Ferrari F40 LM examples were produced by the joint partnership between Ferrari and Michelotto.<\/p>\n

Enduring Competitive Legacy<\/h3>\n

After its professional introduction at Laguna Seca, the F40 LM would go on to see competition in other racing series such as JGTC, following its retirement from IMSA. The F40 LM would continue racing effectively in the GT category throughout the mid-90s, having along the way won the 4 Hours of Vallelunga in 1994 and the 4 Hours of Anderstorp, both in 1995 and 1996.<\/p>\n

After setting what would be its final milestone, the Ferrari F40 platform was no longer seen as competitive with the introduction of new, fresh-faced challengers such as the McLaren F1 GTR<\/a>; thus bringing an end to the F40 LM on the professional stage.<\/p>\n

The legacy of the Ferrari F40 LM lives on today. The very same car that campaigned in the BPR Global GT series – where it won in Anderstorp – recently went up for auction at RM Sotheby\u2019s<\/a>. It is also said to be the prototype car used as a reference point in the overall conception of the regular Ferrari F40.<\/p>\n

\"1989<\/a><\/p>\n

Chassis #74045<\/i><\/p>\n

Still wearing its race car livery, this example – so bestowed in history and dubbed \u201cthe most successful F40 LM\u201d<\/i> – sold for the very grandiose amount of \u20ac4,842,500.<\/p>\n

Engine & Performance<\/h2>\n

Specifications:<\/b><\/p>\n