F40 PROTOTYPES

[joe sackey]

I just noticed the prototype F40 that Enzo himself unveiled had mirrors. For some reason I thought it didn't.

[of2worlds]

Originally Posted by joe sackey

I just noticed the prototype F40 that Enzo himself unveiled had mirrors. For some reason I thought it didn't.

The 'picture car' was complete with mirrors and the F40 decal on the side of the rear spoiler. There was no F40 name on the spoiler for 73015 also it had the extra vertical painted piece of trim (perhaps from running test equipment) mounted on the body below the right side tail lights.
CH

[joe sackey]

First full-size?

[joe sackey]

74045 in competition

[Caley]

Originally Posted by joe sackey

74045 in competition

Faboulus thread Joe!

Regards
Caley

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by Caley

Faboulus thread Joe!

Regards
Caley

Thanks Caley.

You've probably already seen images of the formation of the car's bodywork prior to production of the running prototypes.

[joe sackey]

The nose was fabricated in aluminum as a base for Fiocco to manufacture the final composite item.

[joe sackey]

Composite bodywork complete at Fiocco.

[of2worlds]

Originally Posted by joe sackey

Composite bodywork complete at Fiocco.

The finished rear clip with four vents and the F40 model 'imprint' raises the question of who manufactured the prototype 5 vent 'no name' pieces. Probably more than 8 early rear clips were built up considering spares and possible damage once installed.
Not sure of the exact time line but Pininfarina was already experimenting with tape to cover the 5th rear vent hole and some of the louvers on the back window regarding air flow. This was on the first complete running car that was not a model.
Earlier they built up a version with no rear deck spoiler. Rather there was a spoiler that curved out mounted the width of the rear body work at it's lowest edge. However the tall rear spoiler was the effective way they chose to deal with the airflow as it left the back of the car. Cooling also played a big role in the surface shape of the F40 and the effectiveness of the many inlets and outlets in the bodywork.
CH

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by of2worlds

The finished rear clip with four vents and the F40 model 'imprint' raises the question of who manufactured the prototype 5 vent 'no name' pieces. Probably more than 8 early rear clips were built up considering spares and possible damage once installed.
Not sure of the exact time line but Pininfarina was already experimenting with tape to cover the 5th rear vent hole and some of the louvers on the back window regarding air flow. This was on the first complete running car that was not a model.
Earlier they built up a version with no rear deck spoiler. Rather there was a spoiler that curved out mounted the width of the rear body work at it's lowest edge. However the tall rear spoiler was the effective way they chose to deal with the airflow as it left the back of the car. Cooling also played a big role in the surface shape of the F40 and the effectiveness of the many inlets and outlets in the bodywork.
CH

Great points, and clearly the items shown are pre-production completed versions, but note that Fiocco lists its work for Ferrari on the F40 bodies as dating from 1987 on.

[of2worlds]

Originally Posted by joe sackey

Great points, and clearly the items shown are pre-production completed versions, but note that Fiocco lists its work for Ferrari on the F40 bodies as dating from 1987 on.

Fiat gave the go ahead for the 'Le Mans' project as it was know July 1986. The project went from idea to running car presented to the press July 21 1987.
This was a very compressed development period regarding the F40 with typical new cars of that era developed over a 3 - 4 year period by the factory. However the 'Le Mans' project was developed in the spirit of the old days when new racing models were introduced yearly. The inspiration for the Le Mans was a much older but similar Ferrari in concept the 250 LM introduced in 1963. Thus the 'Le Mans' project name. That (250 LM) model itself owed much to the earlier 250P.
The engine development work by 1986 had already been completed using the 288 GTO Evolution car as a basis for the new project. The body design and engineering consumed much of the development time.
CH

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by of2worlds

Fiat gave the go ahead for the 'Le Mans' project as it was know July 1986. The project went from idea to running car presented to the press July 21 1987.
This was a very compressed development period regarding the F40 with typical new cars of that era developed over a 3 - 4 year period by the factory. However the 'Le Mans' project was developed in the spirit of the old days when new racing models were introduced yearly. The inspiration for the Le Mans was a much older but similar Ferrari in concept the 250 LM introduced in 1963. Thus the 'Le Mans' project name. That (250 LM) model itself owed much to the earlier 250P.
The engine development work by 1986 had already been completed using the 288 GTO Evolution car as a basis for the new project. The body design and engineering consumed much of the development time.
CH

Thanks C! You know your F40 prototypes, that's for sure.

[of2worlds]

This diagram here courtesty of 'No Doubt' reminded me of an interesting feature on the F40 prototype 74049 pictured below. This particular car had been fitted with catalytic converters after the car was originally built.
CH

[Latsyrc]

Any info on the rear tire widths on the prototype? Were they widened for production?

[of2worlds]

Originally Posted by Latsyrc

Any info on the rear tire widths on the prototype? Were they widened for production?

The Pirelli P Zero tire specs were fronts- 245/40 ZR 17 and rears- 335/35 ZR 17. These specs didn't change.
The wheels used were 8" for the fronts and 13" for the rears.
CH

[Latsyrc]

Originally Posted by of2worlds

The Pirelli P Zero tire specs were fronts- 245/40 ZR 17 and rears- 335/35 ZR 17. These specs didn't change.
The wheels used were 8" for the fronts and 13" for the rears.
CH

Cool thanks.

[el_leci]

Originally Posted by SSNISTR

All of the F40's with the sliding, light weight windows had red inner door panels.

And what you see on the dash is a quick change fuse panel.

Being 9 or 10 years old, my father give me a red model car as a present, (which I'd later recognize as a F40!)
Looking at these pics I understand that Bburago (the company who made the model) did it from a F40 prototype (maybe the only images avaliable at that moment): seats, fuse panel, "MO prova 983" MOdena testing plate, no black line across the body.. I wonder what exact s/n is this...

Since then, F-Forty is being one of my favourites, iconic in many aspects involving old school Ferraris and proper 80s supercars in particular.


PS: looking foward to hearing from someone clocking one at Nurburgring..

[qvee]

And another

[joe sackey]

Originally Posted by el_leci

no black line across the body..

As far as I know all the prototypes had the black line so this was an omission on Burago's part..

[JeremyJon]

is it possible that Pininfarina did the few 5 vent prototypes body work inhouse, before Fiocco took over doing the production bodywork?

Originally Posted by of2worlds

The finished rear clip with four vents and the F40 model 'imprint' raises the question of who manufactured the prototype 5 vent 'no name' pieces. Probably more than 8 early rear clips were built up considering spares and possible damage once installed.
Not sure of the exact time line but Pininfarina was already experimenting with tape to cover the 5th rear vent hole and some of the louvers on the back window regarding air flow. This was on the first complete running car that was not a model.
Earlier they built up a version with no rear deck spoiler. Rather there was a spoiler that curved out mounted the width of the rear body work at it's lowest edge. However the tall rear spoiler was the effective way they chose to deal with the airflow as it left the back of the car. Cooling also played a big role in the surface shape of the F40 and the effectiveness of the many inlets and outlets in the bodywork.
CH