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Introduced in 1987, the Ferrari F40 marked the company’s 40th anniversary with an uncompromising road-car brief. It followed the GTO in the modern flagship family, combining twin-turbo V8 power with an emphasis on low weight and direct driver involvement.
F40 at a glance
| Introduction | 1987; Ferrari’s 40th-anniversary model |
| Production status | Completed; historic model |
| Engine | 2,936.25 cc, 90° twin-turbo V8; longitudinal rear-mid layout |
| Power | 478 CV at 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 577 Nm |
| Claimed weight | 1,100 kg in Ferrari’s historical account |
| Claimed performance | 0–100 km/h: 4.1 seconds; top speed: 324 km/h |
| Flagship sequence | 288 GTO → F40 → F50 |
More than an anniversary badge
The F40 developed ideas from the GTO Evoluzione into a road-going flagship. Ferrari combined a tubular steel structure with bonded composite reinforcement, bringing materials associated with racing into the construction of its most extreme road car of the period. Its purpose was to make the anniversary tangible through engineering and performance.
Reading the performance figures
The 478 CV rating uses metric horsepower. Ferrari’s quoted 324 km/h maximum speed and 4.1-second sprint belong to its account of the road car; they should not be mixed with specifications for competition derivatives. Weight comparisons also require matching definitions and market specifications, rather than treating every published figure as directly comparable.
Its place between the GTO and F50
The F40 continues the GTO’s turbocharged V8 chapter. The following F50 makes the next step in this family especially interesting: Ferrari moved to a naturally aspirated V12 and a different structural relationship between engine and chassis. Reading the models together shows how the flagship programme changed direction rather than simply increasing power.
Sources
Ferrari: Enzo’s Dream; Ferrari F40 historical specifications; Ferrari: Blood Sisters.
Explore the flagship family
See where this model fits in our Ferrari flagship timeline, from the 288 GTO through F40, F50 and Enzo to LaFerrari and F80.
Published 27 September 2026. CV means metric horsepower. Performance figures are manufacturer claims; this researched guide is not a road test.