Special Edition Ferrari F40 Up for Grabs, Once Customized by Renowned Gaming Figure
Dive into the Unique Saga of the Ferrari F40 Competizione
Who needs an ordinary car newsletter when you can hop into the thrilling world of modified race cars? Today, we're taking a spin down memory lane with a one-of-a-kind Ferrari that recently graced the auction block.
A regular road car turned competition racer? Been there, done that. But turning a road-going Ferrari F40 into a bonafide racer with legitimate racing stripes? That's a whole different ball game, and a rare example just sold for a seven-figure sum.
The almighty 1989 Ferrari F40 "Competizione" up for sale at Broad Arrow Auctions' Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auction was estimated to fetch between $2.6 million and $3.1 million.
With a documented ownership history and impressive racing credentials, this converted F40 wasn't just another flashy, street-smart vehicle. It was a track-ready beast, ready to prove its mettle.
This sweet ride started life as a left-hand drive, European-spec F40, gifted from a doting father to his lucky son. Five years later, it was sold to video game visionary Ian Hetherington, the man behind legendary PlayStation racing games like Wipeout, Destruction Derby, and MotorStorm. It's safe to say speed was in his DNA.
Just three years after acquiring the F40, Hetherington had a change of heart. Or maybe it was an epiphany. Whatever the reason, he entrusted Martin Shaw of Specialised Cars of Manchester to turn the F40 into a '90s-spec factory Le Mans racer.
Under the hood, the stock F40's 2.9-liter V8 received some serious TLC. It got new turbochargers, a free-flow exhaust system, customized intercoolers, an updated suspension, upgraded brakes, and a competition fuel system. The result? A steely-eyed, high-revving powerhouse boasting 648 horsepower and 563 lb-ft of torque.
To truly earn its racing stripes, the F40 received some aesthetic touch-ups, too. Fixed headlights, larger brake cooling ducts, an expansive front splitter, and an unmistakable rear wing all came together to create the unmistakable look of a factory-built Ferrari race car.
The conversion project took almost two years to complete, but Hetherington had had enough. In 1999, he sold the now track-ready F40 to Shaw, who quickly decided to enter it into the 2000 British GT Championship. With its new race number, #16, the F40 took to the track, helmed by Stuart Bowler, Ian Flux, and, yes, let's not forget our hero, Hetherington himself.
In a sea of newer competitors, the F40 might have struggled to find a podium finish right off the bat. But the car's speed proved impressive as it lapped the tracks more and more. Sadly, reliability issues kept SCS Motorsport from truly capitalizing on the F40's performance potential.
What's even more intriguing is that only 27 known F40 road cars have been transformed into competition racers by private owners. Included in the sale is an extensive parts package that contains a front nose, rear deck, a spare engine block, three sets of wheels, and much more to build another F40 Competizione—if you have the guts (and the F40 chassis) for it!
Want to dream bigger? Who knows—maybe one day your name will be etched in the annals of racing history, alongside this fearsome Ferrari F40 "Competizione." So fill up that gas tank, put the pedal to the metal, and let the good times roll!
In the world of modified race cars, this unique Ferrari F40 "Competizione" stands out with its impressive racing credentials and seven-figure price tag. Not just a track-ready beast, it was once owned by video game visionary Ian Hetherington, who transformed it into a '90s-spec factory Le Mans racer. With upgrades like new turbochargers, a free-flow exhaust system, and competition fuel system, this F40 Competizione boasts 648 horsepower and 563 lb-ft of torque, a force to be reckoned with on the track. This car is a rare example of car-maintenance turned into racing glory, showing that with the right technology and passion, ordinary gadgets can transform into extraordinary sports machines like this Ferrari racing legend.
