Ferrari F40. His Last Bow Bashny.Net

July 21, 1987, exactly a quarter century ago, in Maranello unveiled the new Ferrari F40. Not just the last of the prancing stallions, created during the life of Enzo, many believe, not without reason, "sorokovke" one of the greatest supercars of the world.





Senior ordered ...
Welcome applause did not stop for so long that even the Enzo had to make a gesture of calming the public, they say, well, how much can be quite already. The leaning like a stone silence Signor Ferrari slowly and quietly spoke.
- Just over a year ago, I asked his engineers and designers about the service - Hall listened to the words of "Commendatore" as the snake flute fakir. - I asked whether they can build the best and fastest car in the world? Well, I guess the answer is in front of you ...

Enzo Ferrari. One of the last photos
After this 88-year-old maestro turned to the public half-turned and looked at the hidden theater scene as the curtain car. A moment later a red blanket was torn down, and the world first saw the Ferrari F40.
Of course, the "Commendatore" exaggerated. And that is to put it mildly. Just think, "just over a year ago!" But on the other side of something, that does not make for the sake of a witty remark? After all, even the person far from the automobile world is clear as day - to create from scratch a new model in 12 months with a small task almost impossible. All the more so, when it comes to the car, claiming to be the best in the world. And in general, F40, ripened exactly to the 40th anniversary of the company from Maranello (hence, in fact, the corresponding figure in the index) was not created as planned masterpiece. "Effe-Quaranta," just so Italian pronounce the name of the model correctly called risky and in some cases even a mad attempt to return the name of Ferrari grandeur. However, the winners, as we know, do not judge.
Blow, blow yet ...
It must be confessed, the mid-80s - is not the most glorious era in the history of the "Prancing colt" from Maranello. Firstly, in Formula 1 Red thoroughly pushed a secondary role guys from McLaren, Brabham, Williams. Add to this the economic difficulties related primarily to the drop in sales overseas. But even more telling blow to the ego Ferrari, and hence the person of Enzo, the Germans struck. At the Frankfurt Motor Show 1985 Porsche showed an amazing machine. The new 959-th by the standards of the time was a no less clot technologies of tomorrow, and even the day after tomorrow. Dressed in an elegant aerodynamic body is incredibly complex and sophisticated in technical terms the car, with the 450-strong boxer "six" under the hood, not only made the world gasp enthusiastically, but literally trampled into the mud masthead at the moment Ferrari 288GTO. Most-most of the "colts" Germans lost five dozen horses, and nearly 15 km / h maximum speed. By clicking on this nose it was impossible not to wince.
For the honor of Ferrari, Maranello, and which is already there - all over Italy, just had to stand up. Without thinking, general manager Giovanni Ratselli, of course with the full consent of the "Commendatore", ordered to start developing even faster supercar. That's just a lot easier said than done. Engineers Ferrari at the time did not have such advanced technology used to create the Porsche 959. The active suspension with electronically controlled all-wheel drive transmission c dynamic torque distribution, turbochargers, operating on a sequential cycle ... in Zuffenhausen, figuratively speaking, moved the bar on technological progress meter upwards.
How to overcome the electronic monster from Germany? Choice, in fact, no choice. Ferrari engineers have turned to the old world as funds from the world of motorsport - the combination of low weight and heavy-duty engine.



No silver lining
The basis for long-term supercar has become virtually unknown to the general public racing prototype GTO Evoluzione - in fact, thoroughly revised version of the model 288GTO. In fact, this machine was originally developed for participation in the heavenly heights to untwist the rally world championship. In the mid-80s the popularity of the rally came on the heels Formula 1. And to the factory teams Audi, Lancia, Peugeot, Ford and MG intended to join even Ferrari and Porsche (incidentally, the same 959 minutes and was originally created with a view to participate in rally championship). But it all went to pieces. After several tragic incidents on the roads of the world championship, FIA willful decision to put the great and terrible automobile group «B» outlawed. Draft GTO Evoluzione had to close, but the five already built prototypes are not in vain, have rendered good service to Ferrari



In fact, the space frame GTO Evoluzione was the skeleton for the future of road supercar, except for greater rigidity of its carbon fiber reinforced further. Pure racing suspension configuration on double triangular wishbone and did not touch. But really the body created from scratch. The main emphasis, as we have said, done at the maximum possible reduction in weight because of the steel body panels are not out of the question. In the worst case, aluminum, and mostly Kevlar, "Nomex" and other composite materials previously used except that on racing cars Formula 1.

Project car group «B» under the name GTO Evoluzione never got to race tracks, but became the basis for the future F40
It is very easy and at the same time perfectly rigid body slimming course of aggressive ends. Italians benefiting the extra program where you can and where you can not. For example, side and rear windows "glazed" Plexiglas - not just aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, but a little easier. Half a kilo mechanism door windows to save money, instead providing plastic sliding windows. Again, considerations of practicality in this case, no one bothered.

Structurally, the F40 can be called a race car, slightly adapted for movement on public roads
Design and layout of interior showed an even more radical approach to achieving the target. From the internal upholstery panels and handles abandoned as superfluous - carbon fiber doors gaped primitive cutouts, and to get out, had to pull the noose rope connected to the lock mechanism. Besides the door panels in the cabin and no such obvious excesses, air conditioning, glove box, radio ... Of course, the program is a total weight saving touched noise and vibration. As such they simply did not exist, except, of course, the transmission tunnel, draw a thin cloth.



In Maranello we decided to do without such as "nonsense", as the power-assisted steering and brakes, ABS and all about the question. In fact, why think about the brakes if the new supercar was charged, first of all, to become the fastest in the world ?! One way or another, but the game is worth the candle. By the standards of major sports coupe new Ferrari weighed as a feather - only 1100 kg curb weight! Compare that to the 1450-pound Porsche 959 and you will see that all of the deprivation of comfort were not in vain. Moreover, the new F40 was able to beat the competition from Zuffenhausen and horsepower potential.

Austerity interior to match the real racing cars
Motorists are Ferrari and did not philosophize slyly, danced again on the familiar design of the stove 288 GTO. Taking the V-shaped 32-valve "eight", engineers from Maranello lavishing it to 2936 cm3 and slightly increased boost pressure. The result was the same nearly 20% increase in capacity compared with the donor. By all estimates, the 478 "horses", coupled with ultra-low curb weight rabid promised top speed, hitherto inaccessible to any production car world. This, for a moment, was about overcoming the speed barrier of 200 miles per hour (320 km / h) ...



Beauty indescribable
Looking ahead, I will say that the ambitious goal proved to be quite tough for F40. But, I think, and if not the cult status of this supercar Ferrari had not gone anywhere. After all, the lion's share of charm and popularity of the model - the merit of an incredibly beautiful, you might say, a fantastic body, made in the studio Pininfarina.



Group stylists led by Leonardo Fioravanti managed to find a harmonious combination of clean lines, assertive aggression and cat sculpture inherent cars Ferrari. You'll laugh, but again became the muse of designers is the same unlucky GTO Evoluzione. At least, the main stylistic element F40 - rear end and in essence, the hood with integrated wing - like the stern of a racing prototype. Due to the characteristic plumage, "fortieth" unmistakable from a distance of a mile, it can not be confused with any of the Ferrari road at the time. When this body was not only very effective, but also surprisingly effective in terms of aerodynamics. For example, the drag coefficient was 0, 34 - the best result in maranellskoy stable at that time.



In short, it is a luxury frame made of racing and gruff inherently chassis F40 true masterpiece. During the world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show 1987 comes to the audience in ecstasy, eagerly devouring eyes appetizing forms model. And admired not just onlookers. Connoisseurs among the moneybags not confused and exorbitant 400 thousand dollars the stated price. The machine is immediately formed a huge queue! And very soon, in a Ferrari graciously agreed to increase circulation, although initially the volume of production was not to exceed 400 copies.

Porsche 959 against the Ferrari F40 - the most popular automotive magazines signboard late 80s
Ultimately, in Maranello released more than 1,000 compartments, which is officially provided the title of the F40 commercially successful supercar in history. But even so, imagine, does not always help. At the height of demand real price of the car twice, and even three times the price of selling. It reached openly profiteering stories, one of which appeared to be involved even F1 driver Nigel Mansell. While the future world champion just played for Ferrari, because in Maranello could not refuse his rider, who decided to buy a new F40. Moreover, the Englishman even made a discount. What was general surprise when just a couple of months later, Mansell got rid of the car, selling it as they say, for a total of about one million dollars!



Brute force
Whatever it was, but most of the F40 ocela garages oil sheiks and private collections. Among the happy owners of cars were very few people who really annealed to the full extent, or at least tried to do it.

Not so often F40 can be seen with their headlamps
It is not surprising, because the management of this Ferrari driver required a high enough skill and character of the vehicle is directly dependent on the particular driving situation. At low speeds F40 seemed predictable and obedient even by the standards of supercars. But everything changes had only the tachometer needle to reach the mark of 3000 rev / min. When aria eight cylinders suddenly quite shamelessly broke two turbochargers Japanese company IHI, F40 rushes forward with unbridled power. Lucky, the train car, compared the feeling with the explosion in the engine compartment. And then it is necessary to be a true ace aerobatics not to squander diabolical power idle. Indeed, in the absence of traction control rear wheels are usually spectacular, but useless polished asphalt! By the way, why it is so different at first data of the real acceleration to a hundred. The technical characteristics of the Ferrari and still pointed to an impressive 4 1 second. But the first time, even on tests such reputable automotive publications like Auto, Motor und Sport and Quattroroute, «fortieth" fit into the 4, 5. Only journalists from the English Fast Lane could not only confirm the factory data, but also to surpass them. In the test of the specialized magazine F40 has exchanged first hundred already in 3, 9 seconds!



But what about the car showed itself in comparison with the main competitor of Zuffenhausen? In a nutshell - a very worthy. Most benchmarks F40 beat Porsche 959, in principle, the issue of a maximum speed in any case. At the start of parallel high-tech all-wheel drive provides the advantage of the German original. While a significant portion of the power crazy Ferrari went up in smoke, 959, thanks to advanced electronics, accelerated steadily and by the end of the first hundred ahead of the Italian. But the mark of 200 km / h all changed - F40 confidently overtook rival and comes forward. Against more power and lower curb weight ultimately powerless any electronic gadgets. Another thing is that on the slippery 959-F40 I do not leave a chance and to equip and comfort level these two in their own remarkable supercar playing in different leagues. But in any case, the holiday is back on Italian street - Ferrari with a score of 321 km / h again was the fastest production cars among the planets.

The racing version of the F40, designed for endurance races. The car took part in the races of the championship of the American IMSA, and started at Le Mans, but very high-profile success not achieved
The only pity is that for the most legendary Enzo F40 was the last premiere. After just over a year after the July presentation of the great "Commendatore" was no more. But "sorokovke" and to this day remains the epitome of the indomitable spirit and uncompromising true Ferrari: brutally beautiful, incredibly powerful, does not forgive mistakes amateurs and thus able to perform miracles in the hands of a true master. Today, when none of maranellskih stallions unimaginable without climate control, airbags, automatic transmission and auxiliary electronics kilograms, of those times automotive purism especially sad.

That's all I wanted to say.



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