959 or F40 - or other classic supercar?

[alexkp]

I think the development of the modern supercar can be traced to these two very different and influential models.

I love Ferraris, but have always had a real hankering for a 959. I remember my Dad (who was a long time Porsche owner) giving me the latest edition of Christophorus (The Porsche owner's magazine) in about 1985 that had the full details of it.

I was just blown away, as any 12yr old would be.

Which one did you desire? Any other hugely influential supercars from a similar period you think should be considered?

[turboman]

know what you mean, I will never forget when I was 19 years old (a long long time ago)I was driving my Peugeot 205 Gutmann gti and came onto Mentmore straight (3 mile straight road)behind a 959.

Couldn't resist it, I did everything I could to provoke the poor sod driving it untill he had enough (the point that I had pulled out to overtake, knowing there would be no way he would let me pass) and he floored it, and I tell you what, to this day I have never seen a car accelerate away so fast, it just disapeared.

I was going to say it made my day, but even now eleven years later, it still makes me chuckle.

[dick dastardly]

As a kid in my bedroom I had an F40 poster, an F40 clock, an F40 name badge on my door, two F40 models and an F40 mug. I think it was the first car I ever fell in love with.

[L100NYY]

I was looking around a yellow F40 on Weds night (belongs to a client of mine) and I was in absolute awe as the garage door was opened to reveal this true bastion of supercar hedonism.

There is something oh so appealing about a car that really shouldn't be allowed on the road but is. A true race car for the road (and yes I know it was designed as a road car but it sure as hell looks and goes like a race car)!

The 959 is a totally different approach to the supercar ethos, a true technical tour de force that does everything brilliantly but without that raw character that an F40 seems to ooze from every carbonfibre panel.

The F40 is (and probably always will be) my favourite of the Supercars. One day there will be one sitting inside my garage...............





>> Edited by L100NYY on Friday 13th January 09:11

[tiga84]

dick dastardly said:

As a kid in my bedroom I had an F40 poster, an F40 clock, an F40 name badge on my door, two F40 models and an F40 mug. I think it was the first car I ever fell in love with.

Same here, have always said, as soon as the those bastard lottery numbers make an appearance, its F40 purchasing I go. No champagne, no houses, no parties, just get the cash, and go and buy one straightaway.

L1OONY, a yellow one? did it look as pure in yellow, there can't have been that many made in that colour, I did see DK Engineering had one for sale not so long ago though. There was a black one at the motorshow in earls court a few years back, on the upstairs auction part, never seen a car look so just beautiful.

[L100NYY]

Tiga, all I can is that it looked different in yellow. For me they simply must be in red with non adjust susp, perspex windows and a tubi exhaust thrownin for good measure.

My clients car is not only in yellow but has black leather 'comfort' seats rather than the bucket race seats and is................wait for it.................right hand drive.


Just for you Tiga,





>> Edited by L100NYY on Friday 13th January 09:26

[Rawwr]

Well I always think of the Daytona as the first supercar but out of the two above, I'd have to go with the F40, I'm afraid

[tiga84]

Cheers L1OONy, that is Fing gorgeous. How come he's got a RHD, thought they were all LHD? Has it been converted, or was it factory built that way? No chance of him taking you out for a spin in it I take it?

>> Edited by tiga84 on Friday 13th January 09:43

[Mr E]

I had a red F40 on my wall as a kid. I still want one.

[L100NYY]

tiga84 said:

Cheers fella, that is Fing gorgeous. How come he's got a RHD, thought they were all LHD? Has it been converted, or was it factory built that way? No chance of him taking you out for a spin in it I take it?

The car belonged to the second oldest son of the Sultan of Brunei and what they want they get I guess! I think that there is a chance I could get a ride in it as the guy seems like a true enthusiast and a proper petrolhead!

He does a lot of racing around the world too, a top top guy!

[Rawwr]

tiga84 said:

Cheers L1OONy, that is Fing gorgeous. How come he's got a RHD, thought they were all LHD? Has it been converted, or was it factory built that way? No chance of him taking you out for a spin in it I take it? >> Edited by tiga84 on Friday 13th January 09:43

There are seven RHD F40s in the UK, IIRC.

[tiga84]

L100NYY said:

tiga84 said: Cheers fella, that is Fing gorgeous. How come he's got a RHD, thought they were all LHD? Has it been converted, or was it factory built that way? No chance of him taking you out for a spin in it I take it? The car belonged to the second oldest son of the Sultan of Brunei and what they want they get I guess! I think that there is a chance I could get a ride in it as the guy seems like a true enthusiast and a proper petrolhead! He does a lot of racing around the world too, a top top guy!

I was thinking of Brunei before I posted, saw the GREY F40 they had for sale on qv500 a couple of months ago. Money clearly cannot buy you taste! Has he got anything else notable in the garage?

[L100NYY]

Without wishing to divulge too much client information but he also has the following;

Group C Jaguar XJR16
996 Turbo S
RS4 Avant
Impreza WR1
Williams F1
2x Ducati's


There may be more but I was in planet la la at the time!

[carl_w]

I'd certainly prefer an F40, but I distinctly remember a quote from a roadtest of a 959 (I think it was in Car magazine): "It was raining on the Autobahn so we kept it down to 160 [mph]..."

[r988]

F-40 is basically a development of the 288GTO but with aero features addressed. If you look at the 288GTO evo prototype thing I forget its name) you can see it looks halfway between a 288GTO and an F40.
I like both, the F-40 is actually somewhat affordable considering what it is, they made a lot more than they intended to, which devalued it quite a bit, dont see that happening these days.

I think the first supercar would probably be the Miura or GT40 or even the 250GTO something like that, I have no idea which came first. The definitive supercar for Generation X shall we say (basically those who were tenagers/kids in the 1980s) is the F-40 though, or at the very least the definitive supercar of the 1980s (just), with the McLaren F1 being the Supercar of the 90s, and I suppose the Vyeron will be the noughties, but there is still a few years to be suprised

[L100NYY]

I think that answering the question of what was the first Supercar is very tricky. The idea of a supercar is a very subjective one and is something that will always cause much debate and disagreements.

One person may argue that to be Supercar it had to be designed primarily as a road car others would say that the first to broach the 200mph barrier should be warded the accolade. Me? I'm just glad that cars like this exist and long may it continue.

[F.M]

There still remains a special quality about the Diablo..( V12 )
It has a timeless appeal that, for me, puts it infront of any other...

[Jay GTI]

While I do love the F40 as well, I've never really understood the difference between the 'Non-adjust, non-cat' or the various other permutations I see for sale in Classic and Sportscar magazine regularly. Which is the one to have? Obviously one is the top F40, otherwise that particular detail wouldn't be so prominent in F40 adverts.

Could someone kindly explain?

[DJC]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As a teeny...F40 all the way.
Now? F40 and 959. Nothing else comes close.

[Rawwr]

r988 said:

If you look at the 288GTO evo prototype thing I forget its name...

288 GTO Evoluzione

http://photos.rawr.co.uk/p10866188.html