The four horses of the Apocalypse. Richard Heseltine unleashes Ferrari’s awesome 288GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo – and tries not to think about their combined value. Photography Tony Baker.
MILLENNIAL MARVELS DOUBLE-TON FERRARIS
Braving the brutal 288, F40, F50 and Enzo… in the wet November 2010
Your mouth forms shapes but no words are forthcoming. You want to talk but your brain is reluctant to handle more than one cognitive function at a time. The neurons need time to cool down. Feeling the weight of stares, you begin uttering consonant-based opinions over the sound of hot exhausts crackling with spent energy. Words congeal into a random stream of consciousness, the upshot of it all being that the Ferrari 288GTO is a magnificent machine. One that in the dry flicks two fingers at the faint-hearted. And it’s still raining. Hard. Just three more (faster) cars to go then. No pressure.
Backtrack to early spring and the notion that we could get the unholy quadrumvirate of Ferrari 288GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo together in one place seemed improbable. But here we are, huddling beneath umbrellas at a sodden Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, cursing Mother Nature for putting a dampener on it all. An uncharacteristically chipper photographer insists it’ll pass, the boys from DK Engineering merely smile and nod gamely. Rain won’t end play so long as there’s a two-mile straight to savour.
Normally, hustling a supercar in the wet is like visiting a highbrow restaurant and ordering the most medically inadvisable dish on the menu: chances are it will look and taste amazing, but it may also induce a coronary. But venturing out on to the notoriously bumpy airfield circuit aboard the GTO, there’s only one thing on your mind: so what if it wants to kill you, just look at it.
Built in the days before Ferrari opted for – cough – ‘challenging’ outlines, this was the automotive pin-up of all right-thinking young men in the mid-’80s. And it remains by far the prettiest car here, despite being conceived with motorsport in mind. Aesthetics were of secondary importance, but this being ‘old’ Ferrari it just couldn’t help itself. There are faster cars – these days there are faster saloons – but mere stats really don’t do the 288GTO justice.
If the factory figures are to be believed, it will reach 60mph from a standstill in 4.9 secs and go on to 189mph. When launched in 1984 it was the quickest production car in the world. But these are just numbers. They do not – cannot – adequately convey the groundswell of the Gran Turismo Omologato as the revs rise. Hit 3500rpm in third and the boost-gauge needle dementedly flits back and forth as 85% of the car’s power is delivered. It’s intense in a manner that will be alien to those used to modern super-cars with their driver aids. As DK’s James Cottingham surmises: “It’ll let you have your fun and then chew you up and spit you out.”
The GTO was created with the sole purpose of contending for honours in the FIA’s Group B category, whereby 200 cars needed to be sold before 20 ‘evolutionary’ models with the same basic body shape and a minimum weight of 1097kg could compete. Sadly, while Group B rallying briefly flourished, the circuit-rooted side bombed due to manufacturer indifference.
Styled by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina, the GTO shared only its steel doors with the outwardly similar 308GTB. A longer wheelbase substantially altered the proportions. The GTO represented Ferrari’s first hesitant step towards accepting composite materials for both body and chassis construction. The steel chassis – borrowed in part from the 308 – was strengthened by a rear bulkhead made of two layers of Kevlar/glassfibre sandwiching an aluminium honeycomb core. The featherweight shell was moulded in Kevlar/Nomex: the front bonnet alone weighed just 3kg. Two IHI turbos were then fitted to a destroked 32-valve V8 from the 308GTB quattrovalvole, boosting power from 240 to 400bhp. And here it was mounted in-line rather than transversely, with the five-speed transaxle slung behind it, F1-style.
But, of course, the GTO never raced. Which is of no real consequence because it remains a toweringly capable road car. Your initial impression on falling into the hip-hugging seat is one of familiarity: it’s much like any other mid-engined Ferrari of the era, with a slightly skewed driving position. More telling are the orange-on-black gauges: the speedo reads to 199mph, the rev counter redlines at 7800rpm.
And the GTO does like to rev. As the boost hits 0.8bar, both turbos spool up and the tyres scrabble desperately to find purchase on the drenched blacktop. In the dry, a GTO is a delight, thanks largely to its unassisted steering and pliant(ish) suspension that isn’t discombobulated by every dimple in the road. It has poise and balance; the dogleg gearchange has appropriate heft. Nor is it belligerent, as long as you don’t drop your guard. Apply too much power too early out of a corner and the nose will push wide shortly before the tail sidesteps as the turbos wake up. You can still drive quickly in the wet, but you’re mindful that it will commune with nature should your attention wander.
Yet the GTO was just a dummy run for the F40. It’s hard to believe that barely three years separate the two cars’ launches. As geometric of profile as its predecessor was curvaceous, the F40 isn’t remotely pretty but it is compelling. Another Fioravanti production, it was the flipside of the GTO coin in that it was designed as a road car rather than a track-biased homologation special; the GT motorsport renaissance was still some years off. The irony is that it did go on to find success trackside, much of it after production had ended in 1992. In fact, it was still giving the McLaren F1 a bloody nose as late as 1996.
Not that there was anything particularly special about the car’s make-up, just the hardy twin-turbo V8 enlarged by 81cc (to 2936cc) and allied to a more aerodynamically efficient body with plenty of accompanying downforce. Even now it looks like a glammed-up competition tool; a sense that also pervades the cabin with its proper racing buckets, in-line driving position, non-reflective dash covering and cable door-pulls. It’s genuinely comfortable, too: you sense that actual thought went into the ergonomics.
The fanny thing is, for all the NACA ducts and air-vent signifiers, the racer side of the F40’s character is easily subdued. Experience informs you that, off boost, it’s easy to drive in town despite the heavy clutch and it proves less of a handful than the GTO on a circuit. Naturally, the small matter of 478bhp and 426lb ft of torque makes life interesting in the wet, and it will break traction in fifth, but its steering is simply the best of any car, ever, while the ventilated discs have infinitely more bite than those of the older car. The F40 isn’t a monster. Sure, it’ll spin like a top if you can’t differentiate between steering and braking, but it’s just so precise, so alert, that most of the time you’d have to do something pretty stupid to come undone. It’s utterly beguiling.
All too often, familiarity breeds indifference but, no matter how many times you drive an F40, you always exit grinning like a loon. The car that followed in its wake represents the opposite pole, technology-wise. The F50 is from another age, eschewing spaceframes for Ferrari’s first composite monocoque – complete with inboard, pushrod-operated suspension – and a turbo V8 for a naturally aspirated, F1-derived 4.7-litre V12 with five-valve heads. Yet hacks were resistant to the F50’s charms when it was introduced in March 1995. It didn’t help that it wasn’t classically beautiful, or any other kind of beautiful. Yet with the passing of time it appears less peculiar. It is big, though. It also has a lift-off roof panel, but looks better with it in place. For all the brickbats that were levelled at the car in period, the F50 has presence.
Inside, the simply styled cabin is awash with carbonfibre – the real thing, not applique. Even the gearknob is made of it, while the digital/ analogue instrument binnacle offers all the right racer reference points. Everything else, from the switchgear to the heater controls, appears as an afterthought. But you feel at home here. The floor-hinged ally pedals are adjustable, the Momo steering wheel isn’t – but then it’s perfectly positioned where it is, thank you.
The F50 was trumpeted by its maker as being capable of delivering ‘the emotion of Formula One’ for the road and the 65° V12 dominates proceedings. While you’d never know that it’s bolted to the tub (there’s only a little vibration), this quad-cam jewel delivers iron-fist-in-an- iron-glove horsepower. Acceleration is brutal, but driving an F50 is such an immersive experi-ence that the speed element isn’t really the big draw. There’s no ABS or traction control, but even in torrential rain, with rooster tails foun- taining upwards out back, it’s disarmingly nimble and confidence-inspiring for its size. The unassisted rack-and-pinion steering is super-quick, direction changes being just a wrist-flick away.
While those comfortable with oversteer may still be intimidated by the GTO or the F40, the F50 flatters those of us hobbled with less godlike reflexes. It isn’t scary. As one of our number correctly opined, if you can drive a Lotus Elise quickly, then you can handle one of these. It’s epically fast-0-60mph in 3.7 secs, on to 202mph – but it’s not a fizz-bang, all-or-nothing rocket- ship. The F50 is the biggest surprise here.
The Enzo, in contrast, isn’t remotely surprising. It more than matches the hype. When the car broke cover in 2002, the reaction among most arbiters of beauty was one of horror, but up close its brutish aesthetic is undeniably striking. And the edgy silhouette is so shaped to be effective at speeds north of 200mph. Unlike the F50, there’s no huge rear spoiler to keep it planted, just a small flip-up lip. The really clever part is the underfloor airflow management, the partially sculpted underbelly and none-too-subtle venturi tunnels keeping it grounded.
Pull down the dihedral door, snuggle into the Sparco seat – with side glazing at ear level – and the effect is of surreal detachment. It has a wheel, home to all manner of colour-keyed buttons and a row of upshift lights, but there’s also a definite fighter-plane vibe. Then there’s the white-on- red 10,000rpm rev counter and 400kph speedo. Not forgetting the wraparound windscreen and supplementary switchgear in the roof-mounted nacelle, which serves only to reduce visibility. It’s a strange office, but one that makes you feel like a hero just sitting stationary. All very Top Gun.
It’s not that much quicker than its predecessors (0-60mph in 3.5 secs, 0-125mph in 9.5 secs), but there’s a feeling of uncharted territory here. That 6-litre VI2 with variable valve timing produces a blitzkrieg of dissonant sonic spasms as it hurls itself forwards. At first, you’re genuinely taken aback, as each flip of the paddle-shift ushers in more commotion. In an instant you’re travelling at twice the legal limit and still picking up the pace, to the point where suddenly the two-mile straight doesn’t seem quite so long any more. Fortunately the carbon-ceramic Brembos offer rib-crushing levels of retardation.
The Enzo redefines your perception of speed, the lack of a regular gearlever or clutch adding to this initial sense of detachment. It’s not exactly effortless, but once you’ve adjusted to the colossal pace and accepted the information proffered by the super-sensitive rack, you feel at one with the car. In fact, you’re almost disappointed that it doesn’t make you work harder. That’s progress for you. Cornering is a case of mental programming; with the wheel-sited driver-aid doohickey on the ‘dear Lord save me’ setting, its limits are cartoon-like, even in monsoon conditions.
Ultimately, there’s no winner or loser here. Piloting a 288GTO with any degree of conviction is like hooking up with the world’s sexiest woman, only to discover that she’s a cannibal. The F40 is sublime if slightly scary, leaving you clinging to the memories while desperately craving more. The F50 is that rarest of things – an underrated Ferrari. It’s still jogging on the side-lines, awaiting its big chance, but its time will surely come. Then there’s the Enzo. It looks like it emerged from an art-therapy programme, but there’s little that can match it for crazy performance. Yet if push comes to shove, the F40 steals the show. Against a backdrop of grey-grim skies, and surf’s-up levels of standing water, it still has the ability to astound. Most supercars fade over time, their spell at the top being all too fleeting, but the F40’s magnetism grows with every passing year. It just goes to show that complicated isn’t always better.
Thanks to Jeremy and James Cottingham, DK Engineering (01923 287687; www.dkeng.com)
Clockwise, from main: Ken Okuyama’s Enzo design still polarises opinion, but set the template for the modern generation of Ferraris; 650bhp V12; hidden handles aid airflow duct draws heat from the carbon-ceramic brakes; fiendishly complex helm in carbon-wrapped cabin. Clockwise: simple cockpit with wind-up windows and neat Momo wheel; nothing simple about engine bay, dominated by quad-cam, 60-valve V12 that acts as a stressed member; viewing panel in engine lid; like F40, F50 has covered lights; even in the wet, this Ferrari doesn’t intimidate. Clockwise: although conceived as a road car, the F40 feels every inch the spartan racer from within; V8 is 81cc and 78bhp up on its forebear; classic six-fingered gate and ally gearknob; sharp outline is punctured by vents and ducts; F40 is an enthralling experience. Clockwise, from main: longer wheelbase gives the 288 a more aggressive stance than superficially similar 308; cabin is most conventional here, despite its homologation origins; tall mirrors to see over rear haunches; triple gills in tail a nod to ‘1962 GTO; twin-turbo, quad-cam V8.
FERRARI 288GTO
Sold/number built 1984-1986/272
Construction tubular steel chassis, steel and glassfibre/Kevlar body
Engine all-alloy, dohc-per-bank, 32-valve 2855cc V8, with twin IHI turbochargers and Weber-Marelli electronic injection
Max power 400bhp @ 7000rpm
Max torque 366lb ft @ 3800rpm
Transmission five-speed manual, RWD
Suspension independent, by double wishbones, coil springs, co-axial dampers, anti-roll bars
Steering rack and pinion
Brakes ventilated discs all round
Length 14ft 1in (4290mm)
Width 6ft 3in (1910mm)
Height 3ft 8Vioin (1120mm)
Wheelbase 8ft ½ in (2450mm)
Weight 2557lb (1160kg)
0-60mph 4.9 secs
Top speed 189mph (claimed)
Mpg 18
Price new £72,999
FERRARI F40
Where different to 288GTO
Sold/number built 1987-‘1992/1315
Construction as before, with composite panels
Engine 2936cc twin-turbo V8
Max power 478bhp @ 7000rpm
Max torque 426lb ft @ 4000rpm
Length 14ft 6 ½ in (4430mm)
Width 6ft 6in (1981mm)
Height 3ft 8in (1117mm)
Weight 2435lb (1104kg)
0-60mph 4.5 secs
Top speed 202mph
Mpg 10
Price new £160,000
FERRARI F50
Where different to F40
Sold/number built 1995-1997/349
Construction carbonfibre composite monocoque, side-impact door beams, rubber bag tank
Engine 4698cc 60-valve 65° V12, Bosch Motronic 2.7 multipoint fuel injection
Max power 513bhp @ 8000rpm
Max torque 327lb ft @ 6500rpm
Transmission six-speed manual
Suspension double wishbones, pushrod-operated coilover dampers, adjustable front ride height Brakes ventilated cross-drilled discs, four-pot calipers
Length 14ft 8 ½ in (4480mm)
Width 6ft 6 ¼ in (1986mm)
Height 3ft 8 1/10 in (1120mm)
Wheelbase 8ft 5in (2580mm)
Weight 2976lb (1350kg)
0-60mph 3.7 secs
Mpg 8
Price new £329,000
FERRARI ENZO
Where different to F50
Sold/number built 2002-2005/400
Construction carbonfibre monocoque
Engine 5998cc V12, four valves per cylinder
Max power 650bhp @ 7800rpm
Max torque 485lb ft @ 5500rpm
Transmission six-speed semi-automatic, with sequential paddle-shift
Suspension wishbones, pushrod links, coil springs, horizontal gas dampers, anti-roll bars
Steering power-assisted rack and pinion
Brakes vented carbon-ceramic discs, ABS
Length 15ft 5in (4702mm)
Width 6ft 8in (2035mm)
Height 3ft 9in (1147mm)
Wheelbase 8ft 8in (2650mm)
Weight 3009lb (1365kg)
0-60mph 3.5 secs
Mpg 12
Top speed 217mph (claimed)
Price new £420,000
Michelotto F40
Mention of the name Michelotto outside Ferrari circles is likely to elicit Gallic-style shrugs all round. But Padova’s Michelotto Automobili is famous in a localised sense for making F40s go that bit faster – and with factory blessing, too. Having worked hand-in-glove with Maranello on the success-eluding 512BB LM and Group 4 308GTBs, its cabal of horsepower fiends extracted as much as 720bhp from the F40’s 32-valve V8, running up to 2.6bar in competition trim (compared to 1.3 for the regular road car). Jean Alesi and Jean-Pierre Jabouille raced the first example in ‘1989, a run of 19 F40 LMs being built in total. This in turn led to further evolutions, most memorably the F40-GTE, and the Michelotto GT that DK Engineering recently offered for sale.
Built over the winter of 1992/’93, the car received GT-spec upgrades when new, including revised wishbones, adjustable dampers, beefier anti-roll bars, LM wheels, larger Brembo brakes and a remapped ECU. Putting out 600bhp-plus, and weighing some 125kg less than a standard car, it requires an act of will not to start laughing each time you even half-plant the throttle.
Once you’ve overcome the initial shock, the acceleration blows your mind and assails your ears; God, it’s loud. It starts frenetically and gets faster, squirming as it hunts for traction, the rear boots failing to hold up their end of the bargain in the wet. All of which serves to halt your fun: when you hedge your bets, you always lose.
