Each year since 1950, automotive enthusiasts have converged at the Pebble Beach Golf Links to take in some of the most exotic and exclusive cars in the world. Known as Monterey Car Week, this annual auto event also sees a handful of elite auction houses sell off some of their most noteworthy automotive specimens.
And while the cars trading hands tend to be highly-original, matching-numbers examples, this year’s Monterey Car Week is seeing a rather unorthodox and unoriginal — yet still extremely noteworthy — vehicle take its turn going under the hammer with a 1991 Ferrari F40 known as the “Minty Forty.”
The Basics
Sporting the Chassis No. ZFFGJ34B000088538, the F40 now known as the Minty Forty was originally completed on February 27 of 1991. Like every other one of the 1,235 Ferrari F40s built, Chassis 88538 left the factory in the Maranello wearing a coat of the Prancing Horse’s signature Rosso Corsa livery over a red Stoffa Vigogna interior.
Ownership History
Originally distributed to Ferrari Deutschland and sold in the German market through Auto Becker of Düsseldorf, Chassis 88538 was first purchased by one Dieter Wolf of Wölfersheim. A few years later in 1994, Wolf sold the F40 to Arnold Gardemann — an avid Ferrari collector and the (then) president of the German Ferrari Club. After several years under the tutelage of Gardemann, the F40 was involved in a wreck.
Following the crash, the Ferrari was then sold off to an unknown Dutch owner who then brought the car to Netherlands-based Prancing Horse specialists Forza Service which was tasked with bringing the F40 back to life. Repairs on the F40 included replacing the front clamshell and several other parts. By 2008, the F40 had been returned to its former glory, allowing it to receive its Ferrari Classiche Certification.
In the years that followed, Chassis 88538 would trade hands several more times, first at auction in 201, then through a private sales in 2017, before finally ending up in the possession of its current owner in 2021. Since 2022, the F40 has been cared for and maintained by renowned German specialist Schaltkulisse — which has thrown nearly $50,000 of work at the car.
The Idea Behind The Build
Ferraris are far more than mere vehicles or means or getting from A-to-B and are often viewed as financial investments. As such, most owners opt to keep them in as original condition as possible, as modifying these high-dollar machines almost always lowers their value. Additionally, even when they’re repaired to full original specifications and standards, any accidents will greatly diminish the overall valuation of any Ferrari.
The current owner of Chassis 88538 was well aware of this reality. So, when the car was stripped and needed to be resprayed, said owner began kicking around the idea of cloaking the F40 in a different color, as this wouldn’t compromise the originality of the already-wrecked-and-repaired Ferrari.
Creating The Minty 40
Capitalizing on the fact that Chassis 88538 would never again be a true “in the wrapper” example, the owner would eventually select a Verde Pallido livery (Italian for “Pale Green”) — a hue that also famously adorned the 250 GTO that Sir Stirling Moss campaigned in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans. The interior of the car was also reworked.
Calling on a local master cabin and cockpit re-trimmer, the inside of the car redone in blue and exposed carbon-Kevlar. The cabin also features a gated shifter, exposed carbon door panels, and carbon-kevlar shelled seats with fixed seatbacks and Sabelt four-point harnesses. These carbon-back seats were an option only available for Euro market F40 examples.
Stock Equipment
Still featuring its original matching-numbers chassis, engine, and gearbox, Chassis 88538 features its factory 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 which was originally good for 478hp and 425ft-lbs of torque — figures that allowed for a 3.8-second 0-60mph time and a top speed of 201mph. Riding on Speedline forged multi-piece star wheels with Brembo brakes, the car features a full set of carbon-Kevlar bodywork beneath its pale green paint.
Spec Sheet
Class: Supercar
Model Year: 1991
Brand: Ferrari
Model: F40
Build: Minty Forty
Chassis No: ZFFGJ34B000088538
Engine No: 25583
Gearbox No: 260
Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 3.8L V8
Power: 478HP & 425FT-LBs
0-60MPH Time: 3.8 Seconds
Top Speed: 201MPH
Estimated Value: $1,900,000 to $2,500,000
Pricing & Availability
Sporting less than 20,000 miles, the 1991 Ferrari F40 ‘Minty Forty’ is slated to cross the auction block at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Monterey 2024 sale on Saturday August 17th. Expected to fetch somewhere between $1,900,000 and $2,500,000, the Minty Forty is also being sold with a bespoke-built 1:18-scale replica model courtesy of Amalgam Collection.
Recap
1991 Ferrari F40 ‘Minty Forty’
Slated to soon cross the auction block, this 1991 Ferrari F40 was previously involved in a crash before being brought back to life in a unique pale green livery that pays homage to Stirling Moss’ 250 GTO from the 1962 Le Mans.
