While most original owners of F40s could be characterized as thrill seeking and eccentric, there were some that were perhaps more exciting than others, and this F40 was purchased by one such individual. Delivered in March 1989, chassis no. 80161’s first owner was Stefano Casiraghi. An Italian socialite and businessman born to a wealthy Italian family, Casiraghi gained international attention in 1983 when he married Princess Caroline of Monaco.

Certainly someone with a penchant for speed and fast machinery, outside of his business ventures and royal marriage, Casiraghi was known for offshore powerboat racing and was a successful racer, once holding a speed record on Lake Como for travelling 172 mph. His highest achievement in the sport was that he was crowned world champion of speedboat racing in 1989, the same year that he received his F40. In his ownership of the car, Princess Caroline and Casiraghi were photographed many times with the F40 while out and about enjoying Monaco’s lavish lifestyle, even leading the Speedboat Parade around the streets of Monaco. Tragically, Casiraghi died the following year in a powerboat racing accident just off the coast of Monaco in October 1990 at the age of 30, an event which ushered in many changes to increase safety in offshore racing.

Prior to his passing, the F40 had a short-lived tenure in the Casiraghi household. Allegedly, Princess Caroline was scared of the car and its performance, in no small part due to Casiraghi’ s spirited driving. In May 1989, just a few short months after Casiraghi took delivery, the car was sold to a gentleman living in Switzerland. Well cared for throughout its life, this F40 has been driven sparingly with that owner, only amassing some 4,000 km with its second owner. In 2016, it was finally sold from that second owner of 26 years to a collector in Paris, before being purchased by the fourth and current owner, who subsequently shipped his new F40 stateside to his home in Pennsylvania. Since then, the car has continued to be well preserved and maintained. Importantly, the F40 is still accompanied by its original books, tools, and even a copy of the original sales invoice bearing Casiraghi’s signature. Most recently, the F40 was certified by Ferrari Classiche, confirming that it retains its original chassis, engine, and gearbox.

Celebrated as not only Ferrari’s 40th anniversary supercar but the last road car from Maranello to be designed and engineered under the leadership of Enzo Ferrari, the F40 is a must-have for many Ferrari collectors and a car that will excite even the biggest thrill seekers, as it did for Stefano Casiraghi when new. Delivered new to a truly fascinating figure, this is surely one of the finest F40s in existence, having travelled hardly more than 4,000 km from new. It would be the perfect addition to any Ferrari collection the world over.