A heavily upgraded Ferrari F40 with ties to motorsport history is expected to command one of the highest prices ever paid for the model when it goes up for sale next week.
The 1990 example is scheduled to cross the block July 8 at the Woodcote Park Auction, with bidding projected to open somewhere between $3.65 million and $4.35 million. That starting figure alone is high enough that the car could rewrite the F40 record books as soon as the opening gavel drops. The listing is being handled by RM Sotheby’s.
What sets this particular F40 apart is its provenance and its extensive modifications. The car was previously owned by racing veteran Jean Sage, who drove it before sending it to noted specialist Giuliano Michelotto for a comprehensive overhaul. Michelotto rebuilt the engine and fitted special turbochargers, pushing output to 527 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, well beyond the factory figures.
The work did not stop under the hood. Technicians added custom clamshell body panels and sliding windows that trimmed about 66 pounds, part of a broader weight-reduction effort that removed close to 300 pounds overall. The odometer currently reads roughly 14,105 miles, keeping the car in the low-mileage territory that collectors prize.
The F40 has long held a special place in automotive history. Conceived after the cancellation of the Group B racing category, the model became the flagship Enzo Ferrari wanted for the company, delivering a stripped-down, analog driving experience built around carbon fiber and raw performance rather than luxury or electronic aids.
Values for pristine examples have climbed sharply as buyers chase documented, well-preserved cars. With its racing pedigree and bespoke engineering, the Sage F40 stands as an especially rare entry into that market.
Source
Images Via: RM Sotheby’s
John Lloyd 
Shawn Henry