Written by Frank M. Lin 11/19/2016 4:48 am @ Union City, California
Preface: So this morning I was browsing my facebook as usual and I came across this photo…
Instinctively I knew this had to be the LM model… never really took a closer look in the past but the not only is it beautifully visually, the specs are crazy. I don’t remember if it was street legal but if it was, it is the first hyper car. 750+bhp with some say one version had 950 bhp!! And only weights 1050 kg / 2305 lbs. OMG WTF! I’ve looked up couple of articles and videos and included them below. Enjoy. BTW I really like the mis-matching six spokes up front and five spoke in the rear. It’s kind of ghetto just the way I like it.
Below are borrowed content from supercars.net – source: http://www.supercars.net/blog/1989-ferrari-f40-lm-2/
1989 Ferrari F40 LM
The F40LM seen here, is far more exclusive than even a normal F40: it is one of the genuine, ultra rare Le Mans (LM) versions originally built for Ferrari’s most favoured clients.
While Ferrari never originally intended for the F40 to go racing, a number of individuals with the wherewithal to put the car on the track quickly realized the F40’s racing potential. Daniel Marin, of Charles Pozzi SA, successfully lobbied Ferrari to authorize Michelotto to produce a series of racing examples that adhered to IMSA rules, giving the world’s fastest production car a chance to earn its keep on the race track.
This limited-production Ferrari, dubbed the F40 LM, for Le Mans, would be much more radical, exclusive, and exciting than the already intense F40 in every way. The chassis had work done to it and it was fitted with a way more aggressive body kit as well as race inspired front and rear wings.
Brakes, suspension and gearbox as well as wider wheels and tires were all part of the LM treatment. If you can believe they even found a way to strip even more out of the already stripped our F40 interior. In a further effort to save weight, the F40’s distinctive flip-up headlights were replaced with fixed lamps behind Lexan covers. The Ferrari F40 LM weighed just 2,314 pounds.
Bonhams sale of 88522 at Gstaad
Developed for competition by Michelotto of Padova on behalf of the factory, the LM sported a reinforced chassis, even more aggressive bodywork including a deeper front air dam and larger, cockpit adjustable rear wing, a racing interior, stiffer suspension, up-rated brakes, competition gearbox, wider wheels and a specially prepared engine producing between 850-900bhp.
The sixth LM built, chassis ‘88522’ was delivered new via POZZI (Ferrari France) to none other than the famous French cartoonist Uderzo, creator of the celebrated Asterix cartoon strip. Uderzo, a keen and long-standing Ferrari collector, used the car exclusively for private test days, and during one of these damaged the front bonnet. The car was returned to the factory for a replacement and the opportunity was taken at the same time to convert it to run on unleaded fuel, an important advantage for future collectors.
Ferrari F40 LM Gallery
See full Ferrari F40 LM Gallery here
Ferrari F40 LM Videos
More awesome Ferrari videos here
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Racing Car |
| engine | Tipo F120 A Twin Turbo V8 |
| aspiration | Twin IHI Turbochargers w/Behr Intercoolers |
| valvetrain | DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl |
| displacement | 2936 cc / 179.2 in³ |
| bore | 82.0 mm / 3.23 in |
| stroke | 69.5 mm / 2.74 in |
| compression | 7.8:1 |
| power | 566.7 kw / 760 bhp @ 7500 rpm |
| specific output | 258.86 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 723.81 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Composite & Tubular Steel |
| driven wheels | Mid Engine / RWD |
| wheel type | OZ Racing Alloy |
| rear tires | Not Available/35ZR-17 |
| front brakes | Brembro Discs |
| rear brakes | Brembro Discs |
| steering | Rack & Pinion |
| f suspension | Koni Springs & Dampers, Anti-roll Bars |
| r suspension | Koni Springs & Dampers, Anti-roll Bars |
| curb weight | 1050 kg / 2315 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2450 mm / 96.5 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 2.77:1, 1.71:1, 1.23:1, 0.96:1, 0.77:1 |
| top speed | ~368.5 kph / 229 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~3.1 seconds |
Auction Sales History
1994 Ferrari F40 LM 97904 – sold for $3,300,000 Radically updated over the road going F40; lighter and much more powerful. The 18th example of 19 produced. One of just two with the pushrod/rocker arm suspension; the only example in private ownership. Quite possibly the finest surviving example and perhaps the most original in existence. Full service by Ferrari of Central Florida, including its timing belts in July 2013. The ultimate Ferrari F40; unrivaled track performance. Auction Source: RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015
1990 Ferrari F40 LM ZFFGX34X0K0079891 – sold for $2,090,000 An Important Piece of Ferrari Racing History. The Only Ecurie Pozzi Team Car in Private Hands. Podium Finishes at Mid-Ohio and Mosport. Driven by Hurley Haywood, Jacques Laffite, and Jean-Pierre Jabouille. Only Three Private Owners Since Leaving Charles Pozzi SA. Comprehensive Mechanical Restoration by Classic Coach Repair, Inc. Faithfully Presented in Original 1990 Racing Livery. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Auction Source: Gooding & Company’s 10th Anniversary 2013 Pebble Beach Auction
1990 Ferrari F40 LM 88513 – did not sell for €900,000. The Ferrari F40 LM presented here, chassis number 88513 is the third car of the 19 IMSA LMs built. The invoice from Ferrari shows that the car was originally sold to a German collector and describes this car as, “No.1 F40 LM Competition Prototype car, VIN ZFFGX34XOLOO88513, Engine no. F12OB008, coming from our “Esperienze” Dept.” The car was completed in May 1990 and has been used very sparingly during its life, and has never been raced. Auto Motor Sport magazine tested the car in their July 1991 issue. Between December 2005 and July 2007 a full inspection and service was carried out by Michelotto at a cost of over €60,000. Following this, DK Engineering tested the car at the Ferrari Owner’s Club test day at Silverstone in July 2007 and the car ran faultlessly.
This Ferrari F40 LM is finished in Rosso Corsa; it has a standard interior and has had just three owners from new. It is a fabulous example of just 19 cars specially built by Micholotto. The car is ready to be entered in a variety of events worldwide and can be raced for the first time in championships such as the GT 90’s Revival Series. Additionally, in 2009 it will probably be eligible for the Ferrari Historic Championship and in the right hands this Ferrari will undoubtedly be the car to beat. Auction Source: 2008 Leggenda e Passione
Bonus story from Jalopnik: The Story Of The Ferrari F40 LM That Lost Its Top
