Described by Ferrari as “Enzo’s last masterpiece”, the Ferrari F40 was designed to be the ultimate supercar with a top speed of 201 mph, offering a raw and exhilarating driving experience. The last ever Ferrari F40 to be built arrived in Mauritius on 8 July and is set to feature at the Milestones Motor Museum when it opens its doors to the public later this year. Other recent arrivals in Mauritius include the Ford Mustang Fastback GT 1968 and the Dodge Charger 1968, models which starred in the original movie car chase in the cult film Bullitt, and the Jaguar XJ220 1992 which once held the record as the world’s fastest road car.
Milestones Limited has announced the arrival in Mauritius of a 1992 Ferrari F40. Regarded by many as the ultimate performance car and created to celebrate 40 years of production at Ferrari, the F40 was the last Ferrari which was personally commissioned and approved by Enzo Ferrari, the Italian racing driver and entrepreneur, before he died in 1988. The Milestones Collection owns the last ever F40 to come off the production line, which is set to become a major crowd-puller when the Milestones Motor Museum opens its doors to the public later this year.
The Milestones Motor Museum, currently under construction in Beaux Songes, will house and display over 200 vintage and classic cars. Milestones is owned and funded in perpetuity by the Star & Key Foundation, a Mauritian foundation entirely funded by Terry Smith, who has donated the car collection to it and who is supervising the construction and operation of the Museum.
F40: The greatest Ferrari road car of all time?
The project to build the F40 began in June 1986, when Enzo Ferrari demanded that the car be completed in only 11 months to mark the 40th anniversary of the first mass-produced Ferrari, the 125 S.
In a race against time, the chassis was heavily based on its predecessor model, the 288 GTO. The body was a new design conceived by Pininfarina, using mainly composite materials such aluminium alloy, carbon fibre, and Kevlar for body panels to minimize weight and increase rigidity. To keep the car as lightweight as possible, it had no traction control, power steering or power-assisted brakes, and a minimalist interior with no airbags, electric windows, stereo, door liners or even carpets. Furthermore, with magnesium parts used in the 2.9 litre turbo charged V8 engine, and a very thin layer of paint with only 2 litres being used for the whole car, the F40 became one of the lightest ever supercars, weighing just 1100 kg.
The F40 was released in July 1987 and became the most profitable car in Ferrari’s history. While Ferrari initially planned to make approximately 400 cars, and to sell them at five times the price of the predecessor model 288 GTO, they finally went on to build 1,315 F40s. All of the cars were left hand drive except for seven which were built specifically for the Sultan of Brunei. It received mixed reactions once released, with some unconvinced by its stripped-back design and lack of technology, while others described it as the greatest road-going Ferrari of all time.
The Ferrari F40 became the fastest production car with over 500 units built, reaching a top speed of 201 mph. The Porsche 959 was slightly faster at 211 mph, but fewer were produced. The F40 maintained this record until the arrival of the Lamborghini Diablo.
The Milestones Collection owns the last F40 to come off the production line. After this car, the production line built the LM and Competition models. The car is painted in Rosso Corsa and remains as it was when it left the factory, with all original paint, matching numbers and body panels.
Ford Mustang Fastback GT vs Dodge Charger: the original movie car chase
From the world of movies, two other recent arrivals in Mauritius include the Ford Mustang Fastback GT and the Dodge Charger, both from 1968. This was the same year that the cult movie Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, captured the public imagination with the most iconic and influential car chase scenes in film history. The movie helped to propel both the Ford Mustang Fastback GT and McQueen himself to further stardom, with McQueen as a cop in the Ford Mustang’s driving seat in San Francisco, chasing the bad guys in a black Dodge Charger.
The Milestones Collection’s Ford Mustang Fastback GT model is from the same year, 1968, and the same colour, Highland Green, as the car used in Bullitt. As for the Dodge Charger, the Milestones Collection model is in the required Black colour to go with the Ford Mustang and is from California, still bearing the California license plates. The Dodge Charger was also famous for starring in the American TV show ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, where the model was known as the ‘General Lee” and was painted orange and had the Confederate flag on the roof. The Dodge Charger has also made appearances in the Fast and Furious films as well as Blade.
Jaguar XJ220: once the world’s fastest road car but then ….
Last but not least, the Jaguar XJ220 1992 was Jaguar’s first and last attempt at a supercar, where the 220 in its name relates to the car’s intended top speed of 220 mph. A modified model reached a top speed of 217 mph and held the record as the world’s fastest road car until it was later beaten by the McLaren F1 in 1998. While impressive to look at, the car’s prospects were blighted by having the specification changed from the prototype V12 all-wheel drive to a V6 two-wheel drive, and by disqualification from Le Mans in 1993 on the grounds that the cars were being run without their catalytic converters, as required under the rules.
The Milestones Collection is proud to own a stunning 1992 XJ220 in Silverstone Green Metallic colour with grey leather interior. The car is number 97 from Jaguar’s limited production run. It was delivered to its first owner in Belgium in December 1992 and has driven only 14,100 miles.
Terry Smith: “The Ferrari F40 is a beautiful beast”
Commenting on the latest arrivals to be displayed in the Museum, which will reinforce its position as a world-class attraction for Mauritius when it opens to the public, Terry Smith said:
“I am delighted that the Ferrari F40 has arrived in Mauritius and it is hard to disagree with those who believe it is the greatest car ever made. The last car signed off by Enzo Ferrari himself is a timeless piece that reminds us of all an era when supercars were simple, fast, and extremely dangerous. It is a beautiful beast and simply an unforgettable car to drive.”
“The Ford Mustang Fastback GT is such a great car that it would doubtless have been a success even without Hollywood icon Steve McQueen hammering one around the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt. But the 1968 movie helped catapult the American muscle car into the minds of car lovers around the world and also paved the way for the Dodge Charger to become a star on screen.”
“The case of the Jaguar XJ220 serves to remind us that no matter how technically impressive or ambitious a car, or its designer, might be, it can always become a hostage to events. While this was once the world’s fastest production car, a negative spiral of circumstances meant that Jaguar has never been able to capitalise on its early potential in the supercar domain.”
“We are pleased to recognise the role of all of these cars in international automotive history, and we look forward to welcoming car enthusiasts from Mauritius and beyond when we open the Museum to the public later this year,” Terry concluded.
Key Facts: Ferrari F40
- Built 1987 – 1992
- 2936cc
- Twin Turbo V8 engine
- 5-speed manual
- Top speed 201 mph
- 1,315 built
About Terry Smith
Terry Smith is a businessman and Mauritian citizen, who has been running an international fund management business from Mauritius since 2014. Terry is committed to supporting economic growth in Mauritius, and he has also supported youth and sports in local communities since his arrival on the island.
