F40 PROTOTYPES

Have a look on the electric throttle bodies and individual ignition coils.

 

Of the 50 pre-series or first-series units, do we know the range of the chassis numbers and the timeframe? All of them have been produced 1988?
What are the most remarkable differences to the 1989 units, something that is categorical or can be recognised easily?

 

First nine units built in 1987.

Marcel Massini

 

Thank you very much for your feedback. I assume the range of Chassis Numbers for this pre-series is ranging up to 78xxx ?
Is there any information available on what differences they had?
F40 "Badge" on the rear spoiler missing?

 

Good spot, only just read your post.

A few years back DK showed a chassis on a trolly heading to Italy for work to be done, they said at the time it was the basis of a "Singer" style updated version of the F40 they planned to build, I guess this must be the car now back with them.

Be interesting to see it once finished

 

still at the factory

 

cavallino magazine 258

not ten but 11 Prototypes!
I thought 10.

 

photos from the internet
Canossa, Semanal Clasico and some others

you already recognise the car and where many journalists saw the F40 for the first time in public?
Did it had a chassis number…..

The real Ferrari F40 experts already new this all the time. Not scrapped, no crash test.

modified during its prototype life.

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80697 (the alleged 11th prototype):
Factory dox state:
22 March 1989 build start (on the same day also started the build of F40 chassis #80613).
22 January 1990 factory completion date (also completed on that same day were F40 chassis #83899 and #83916).
Engine #17853 (there's a second F40 with chassis #83284 that has the same engine number 17853).
Gearbox #625 (there's a second F40 with chassis #88203 that has the same gearbox number 625).
Body 193 (there's a second F40 with chassis #88604 that has the same body number 193).
Modified by Michelotto.

Marcel Massini

 

Out of curiosity why would a prototype be built some time after production has commenced on the signed off version?

Or was this just a paperwork exercise at the time by Ferrari to slip a then surplus unstamped prototype into the VIN sequence in order to sell it on.

They did have form of doing such tricks.

 

Is this the 'picture' car that all the journalists saw at the auditorium and later at Fiorano for media photographs? That one was presented as the production version example.

 

I personally attended the press presentation on Tuesday 21 July 1987 in Maranello (at the Auditorium/Galleria) and at Fiorano (track).
Two cars were shown at Fiorano. One was 73015 and the other had no number. Below is one of my photos.

Marcel Massini

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July 1987
The car at the time had no sn/vin

 

It has all the little nuances associated with a prototype, right down to the little things like the GTO/328/308 GTB door glass surrounds with the smaller quarterlight than the F40 production version, I guess maybe back then Ferrari would never in a million years realise that in the future, internet sleuths would spot the cuckoo in the VIN sequence!

 

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I took this 4 May 1987 at Dino Cognolato's near Padova, Italy.
See also my pix in posts #221 and #226 from the same day.

Marcel Massini
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a steel chassis and aluminum coachwork “template” to fit body parts; for body adaptation purposes.

 

to name a few parts that are different on 80697 from a production car:

Chassis model between 288GTO and F40; not production F40
Rear view mirrors Fiorano 1987
Red seats with red back, different pattern than a production car (not LM) exact same as Fiorano 1987
Suede leather momo steering wheel
No typical green caulking used in the "carbon tub"/floor and different weave for the composite/kevlar.
Different headlights
Non standard rear plexi window
Gear selector gate with a locking lever for reverse gear (same as LM)
Different inside door panels (inside outer panel in plain kevlar) (looking like LM doors)
Only a chassis number alloy plate in the engine room, no F120AB 138716 plate, nor the Ferrari Agip lubrication plate
No lateral front clip grills
Quarterlight windows different
5 rear wing vents
Thinner rear wing; horizontal
no front spoiler trim
no Pininfarina motif

and there is another prototype that afaik has not been discussed here: the prototype with two quick filler (RH side) fuel receivers and quick release front clip pins and LM mirrors (but not a full LM body yet) and was photographed during wind tunnels tests and at the manufacturer(s).

 

Is that the LM Tom we chatted about a year or so back, with a similar VIN story to this one?

This one maybe?

 

that is #79890

 

Just realised this is the one that became the yellow convertible

 

OMG that story is debunked long time ago.
That yellow look-a-like LM was a Berlinetta then converted to barchetta. It is not a Ferrari but a “kitcar; carbon tub.
Nothing original, only a F40 engine modified and modified again since in Dutch ownership

The original 79890 is in France; never restored.