The legendary Ferrari F40 is now 40 years old

Believe it or not, it's been 4 decades since Ferrari wowed the motoring world when they unveiled the F40. Built to celebrate the brand's 40th anniversary all those years ago, the revered F40 not only served to eclipse its predecessor the GTO, but it also served as one of the ultimate V8-powered stallions whose sole purpose is to go fast and be as light as possible.

While it will go down in history as the last Ferrari approved by Enzo himself, did you know the Ferrari F40 was met with mixed reviews when it was first revealed? For starters, its main rival at the time was the Porsche 959. The Porsche was more technologically advanced, faster off the line thanks to its AWD system, and was safer to drive on the limit. The F40, on the other hand, was more spartan and commanded a degree of respect from its drivers – meaning if one were not careful with the gas pedal, they could end up crashing the vehicle.

What it lacked in sheer technology and safety features, however, it bounced back in terms of the raw driving experience. At the heart of the F40 is a high-revving twin-turbo 2.9-liter V8 that cranked out 478 PS at 7000 rpm and 577 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. It can go from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and can reach a top speed of 324 km/h. Impressive, but the AWD Porsche 959 S can do it faster in 3.7 seconds while its top speed is rated at 339 km/h.

Despite Porsche beating the Ferrari through sheer speed, we have to go back to the raw driving experience the F40 can deliver. With the F40 being a simpler vehicle, it lacked many of the doodads and fancy tech the Porsche has. The result is a vehicle that relies purely on driver skill that will reward those who get to tame the wild characteristics of the turbocharged V8.

Gordon Murray, the man behind the McLaren F1 and the T.50, explained that thanks to its lightweight construction (comprised of composites, Kevlar, and a tubular steel frame), it made the F40 a more exciting vehicle to drive. Combined with a relatively bare interior that focuses on function over comfort, the F40 is considered by many as a true driver's car as you can feel every part of the vehicle move & shake as you're driving spiritedly.

While the F40 may not be as refined as some of the supercars of the 1980s, it cemented its legacy among Ferrari enthusiasts and the like for being one of the most thrilling thoroughbreds to come out of Maranello. And while many Ferraris have come and gone after the F40, the twin-turbo stallion continues to be revered up to the present day.

Bravissimo, Ferrari.