Ferrari F40: Price, Production & History

Although the production run was originally planned to be limited to 400 units, a total of 1,311 Ferrari F40 models were produced, with 213 arriving in the United States. That makes the Ferrari F40 a unique option when you want to stand out on the Indianapolis, IN roads. The F40 may have been the successor to the 288 GTO, but the vehicle’s unique status commanded a higher price point.

So, how much is a Ferrari F40? The cost of a Ferrari F40 started at $399,150 in 1987. Included in that original pricing was a trip to the Ferrari factory in Italy for driving instructions. With that being said, the cost of a Ferrari F40 continues to rise today as more collectors begin their search for one of the greatest vehicles in automotive history. Here’s some more information about the cost of a Ferrari F40:

• 1987: The retail price of the Ferrari F40 set records when it was originally offered at $399,150.
• 1990: Nigel Mansell from Formula One sold his Ferrari F40 for a record-breaking $1.5 million. This record was held up until the 2010s.
• 2020: Recent sales for the Ferrari F40 in 2020 and 2019 hovered around $700,000 to $900,000.
• 2022: Lately, the price of a Ferrari F40 has started rising again well over the $1 million mark. According to Hemmings Motor News, the average asking price of a Ferrari F40 is around $1.5 million with some well-kept examples asking for as high as $1.9 million and sometimes even more, depending on condition.

The F40 interior looks less like previous models than it does track-tested Ferrari race cars, and with good reason as the performance capabilities of the F40 demanded it. While the Ferrari F40 draws plenty of attention if you drive it around Minneapolis, MN, it was designed to keep you as the driver comfortable and focused when you’re racing on the track. Race-style seating is as much about form as function, with side bolsters designed to secure the driver through tight maneuvers. It even offered the ability to equip a three-point harness when things get serious as you’re racing.

Form and function are both clear distinctions inside the Ferrari F40 as it offered an uncarpeted composite material on the floor, a simply laid-out dashboard, and a perforated vinyl headliner. All of this was designed to decrease weight as much as possible to increase handling when you’re at the track. Once you’re behind the wheel of the F40, though, any concerns with the aesthetics dissolve as it becomes clear this car was built for speed. The interior design was a smart move, allowing the driver to focus on the intuitively oriented dashboard and function as one with the car.

With such a unique interior, the Ferrari F40 engine needed to back up its performance specs and show its chops on the track. Regarded as the first 200-mph production car, the F40’s 2.9L twin-turbo V8 generated 471 hp and 426 lb-ft of torque. These are impressive performance figures, even for today. While the official specs reported by Ferrari were already impressive on their own, many experts agreed that this was an underestimate, with claims that the Ferrari F40 easily broke 500 hp. The F40 engine allowed it to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.1 seconds, let it clear 400 meters in 11.9 seconds, and travel a kilometer in just 20.9 seconds.

Regardless of the horsepower and torque figures the legendary engine in the Ferrari F40 produced, it’s clear that the Ferrari F40 is an innovative piece of machinery that was developed with incredible precision. All that power comes with great responsibility so it’s no surprise that stock models featured vented disc brakes on the front and rear tires, with 17-inch 245/45 tires on the front and 17-inch 335 / 35 at the rear. These large tires and performance brakes allow for handling performance that’s hard to beat.

• Engine Type & Size: 2.9L Twin-Turbo V8
• Horsepower: 720 hp at 7,500 RPM
• Transmission: 5-speed
• O-60 mph: 3.1 seconds
• Top Speed: 229 mph