With the supercar battle of supremacy continuing to escalate between Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini, Ferrari took the next step by looking at its Formula 1 team for motivation. Blending the technologies of a tube frame with widespread use of carbon fiber and Kevlar elements that kept the platform to an impressive curb weight of approximately 2,500 pounds, the Ferrari F40 was considered a performance prodigy, built in commemoration of Ferrari’s 40th anniversary as a manufacturer.

Pininfarina penned the design, a thrilling combination of imaginative styling and the most advanced automotive technology available in the day. More than ever before, the newest Ferrari was the result of experiences gained in the highest form of motor sport. The lines and aerodynamic design of the Ferrari F40 came about through the constant and fascinating confrontation between the auto stylist’s imagination and the laws of physics that must be respected. The final product was sporty, to say the least. A sleek and aggressive forward-slanting hood, aerodynamic tail section with aerofoil, functional NACA ducts for proper cooling, and a low-slung, road-holding underbody plus a wheel design that is seemingly perfect for this platform – the Ferrari F40 remains unforgettable.

The engine is as imposing in appearance as it is performance, producing 471 horsepower from its 2,936 cubic centimeter DOHC twin turbocharged V-8 engine with Weber-Marelli fuel injection and paired with a five-speed manual transmission. At the time of its release, the F40’s power plant allowed the car to achieve an astonishing top speed of 201 mph; earning it the title of fastest production car in the world.

Car and Driver enthused, “Purge your memory bank of leather-lined, walnut-paneled elegance. Forget about computer control, all-wheel drive, and brakes that never lock. Let your mind drift back to the era when power had nothing to do with the steering, brakes, seats, or rearview mirrors. Concentrate on the unadulterated truths of the high-performance experience: prodigious horsepower, stout gears, fat tires, potent brakes, and a tight-fitting driver’s seat. Wrap your reverie in artistic coachwork. Paint it red and let it blur.”

A total of only 1,311 F40s were built from 1987 to 1992.

The F40 offered here, chassis number 93065, is identified by its serial number and Veglia instruments as having been a U.S.-delivery car and was originally finished as it is today, in Rossa Corsa with red cloth seats. The F40 does not have bumpers, power windows, power steering or brakes, carpet, armrests, reclining seats, leather upholstery, an ashtray, or a cigarette lighter. One standard though, mainly for satisfying the requirements of the important American market, was air conditioning. Among the other equipment on this F40 are sizable vented four-wheel disc brakes, Ferrari Scuderia fender shields, Tubi exhaust, Ferrari-stamped alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, and less than 16,000 miles on the odometer, which are believed to be original.

Last shown to be registered in Texas, the F40 has Challenge bushings in the front suspension, a popular and easy upgrade. Recently the F40 benefitted from a major service at GTO Engineering. Service work included replacing the timing belts, tensioner bearings, cam seals and O-rings, check and set valve clearances, replace valve cover gaskets, set air flow and balance on all eight cylinders as well as replace the spark plugs and accessory belts. Additionally they bled the brakes, replaced by-pass valves, checked clutch operation and replaced fluid, and replaced the brake ducting.

Four glorious decades of Ferrari experience and development went into the Ferrari F40; it will give a few lucky individuals a ride they will never forget. It is the finest birthday present Ferrari could have given itself.