A sad day for Ferrari aficionados around the world. On Sunday April 21st, a luxury car restoration shop called Mechatronik was preparing to show this 1990 Ferrari F40 at the Motorworld car show near Stuttgart, Germany. Rather than trailering the car, the boss entrusted a 24-year-old shop employee to drive the car the 18 km route to the show.
It’s unknown if there was a mechanical failure, or if youthful exuberance plus the temptation of driving a 470 HP twin-turbocharged V8 Ferrari combined to cause this automotive disaster. The F40’s hood, front quarter panels, bumper, and other internal organs were scattered across the crash scene inside a highway tunnel. The vehicle does not appear to be a write-off, but the front suspension and brakes will certainly have to be replaced.
The only mathematical reason the Ferrari isn’t a write off is because it’s valued at over €3 million and it’s hard to do THAT much damage to a car. Only 1,300 Ferrari F40s were built in Maranello between 1987 and 1992, and it was the last car to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death. It was also the fastest street-legal car in the world when it was built, topping out at 201 mph.
The unnamed 24-year-old driver was checked into a local hospital, but was released shortly after having suffered no injuries. However, rumour has it that there is now a job opening for ‘exotic car transporter’ at Mechatronic.
I am applying for the job as we speak. Wish me luck.
If you get the job, I will ‘ride shotgun’ in the passenger’s seat with you on the way to the next car show.
I kind of related to the guy; thank God I never crashed a classic car, but I have done some stupid stuff, taking the cars back and forth to meetings.