Thursday 20th October 2022

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BOOK REVIEW  By Peter Baker 

Ferrari F40 

This is a book of substantial dimensions, and heavy, thus not suitable for carrying onto an aeroplane, unless travelling first class. As the blurb says, ‘It’s lavish, large, and contains over 400 pics of the F40.’ So, if you’re more a fan of Ford Escorts, look away now.

I may be in a majority of one here. But, in my view, the Ferrari F40, introduced in June 1987, never ‘flowed’ as a design. Sorry, Mr. Materazzi. The long snout was too long, the rear end shape worked better on the smaller and more purposeful Lancia 037, while the passenger bit in the middle suffered from too many clumsy and unnecessary add-ons. Mind you, if it was good enough for my mate Nick Mason, maybe I should just shut up.

Always intended for the track, there is no denying at the time, the F40 was quick. At 100mph from rest in a quiver over eight seconds and a top speed nudging 200mph, or more depending on how much vino the journalist had had to drink, may be deemed mundane by today’s super car standards, but not 39 years ago. Even as a race car the F40 LM was fast. Fast enough to finish well at Le Mans and even win at Imola, Monza, Brands Hatch and Suzuka.

Just over thirteen hundred F40s (so named to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari car production) reached customers, most buying for investment and happy to pay the £225,000 asking price. In 1990 Nigel Mansell sold his for one million pounds sterling, enough I’m guessing for him to buy that 18-hole golf course he had always promised himself. Had he waited until now could have bought three and still had some cash in his offshore bank account.

Okay, so this a comprehensive history of all things F40, and includes plenty of technical data and important things like race results related to chassis numbers, which I find most impressive. Sadly, Enzo Ferrari died in August 1988 so missed out on the car’s global success.

Finally, author Keith Bluemel has the word Ferrari stamped on his heart, and it shows. He is also a life member of the Club, and travels the world judging concours and picking winners. For £69, I can’t guarantee a profit by buying this book, but it will provide many hours of enjoyable reading. Thoroughly recommended.

Ferrari F40
Written by Keith Bluemel
ISBN 978-1-913089-42-9
Available from Porter Press International
Price £69.00