A rare 1990 Ferrari F40, converted to right-hand drive, reached a top bid of $3.41 million at an Australian auction but did not sell. The vehicle, one of only a handful in such configuration out of 1311 produced, was highlighted as the standout lot by auction house Retro Rides. Bidding involved 53 offers, yet the car failed to meet the requirements for a sale.
The auction, held by Retro Rides in February, featured the 1990 Ferrari F40 as its headline act among a collection of exotic and classic cars. This model, the last to receive approval from founder Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988 at age 90, was created to mark the company's 40th anniversary. It boasts a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V8 engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission, and employs lightweight materials including Kevlar, carbon-fibre, and aluminium for construction.
Specified in the 'non-cat, non-adjust' setup, the car lacks a catalytic converter and adjustable suspension, positioning it as the lightest and purest version. Originally delivered to Switzerland, it has accumulated 37,063km, with approximately 4000km driven in Australia following its import. The right-hand drive conversion was performed locally by a highly skilled engineer, involving no structural alterations and allowing reversion to left-hand drive if needed. Painted in Rosso Corsa, it is considered one of just six F40s in Australia and retains matching numbers.
The owner added features such as power windows, central locking, a suede steering wheel, and standard seatbelts, while providing the original steering wheel and harnesses separately. In 2020, it sustained cosmetic damage in a single-vehicle incident, which was repaired using all original parts.
Bidding commenced at $10,000 and escalated rapidly: the second bid hit $250,000, the fourth reached $575,000, and by the 15th bid, it stood at $1 million. After 53 bids, the highest offer was $3,410,000, but the F40 remained unsold. Retro Rides has not clarified the reason, though such outcomes often indicate the reserve price was unmet. The event also showcased vehicles like a 2014 Aston Martin Vantage S, a 1997 Dodge Viper GTS, a 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago, a 1968 Ford Falcon XT GT, and a 1972 Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49.
