Multiple air intakes feed the mid-engine F40 and keep all components cool. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F40 design reflects the smooth, angular lines of the 1980s. Compare this car to the prior 512 BB for an evolutionary perspective. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Apart from the wing, the F40 doesn’t look much different from other Ferraris of the era. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Ferrari made the F40 engine cover out of clear plastic so you can see the twin-turbo V8 engine. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Along with the traditional Ferrari logo on the back, the F40 has the U.S. DOT mandated third brake light. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F40 is entirely about performance. There is nothing there that doesn’t need to be there to go fast. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F40 was the first of this line of Ferrari supercars, and nearly 30 years later still offers top performance and great looks. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The vents on the engine cover and the wing are functional in the F40 design. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Classic 5-point star wheels use a single racing-style nut on a splined hub to hold the wheel to the F40. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The familiar prancing horse logo adorns the front of the F40. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The cockpit of the F40 is all business, and you can see the 1980s-era automatic seatbelts indicating this is a U.S. model. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F40 steering wheel is a basic Momo design. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
All these cars were generously placed on display by Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo in Portland, Oregon. The cars are from Ron Tonkin’s personal collection. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
When you open up the F50, you see that nothing is superfluous. Every cubic centimeter has something functional. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 reflects more of the same design principles. Though the engine is mounted amidships, the radiator is up front. Air flows in through the front grille, and then out over the hood and to the sides of the windshield. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 starts to show the distinctive center bulge that becomes even more prominent in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
With the F50 parked next to the Enzo, you can definitely see the design DNA that has been developed over decades. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
You can see the integral splitter at the front of the F50, and the smooth curves of the all-composite fenders. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Look through the mesh rear grille of the F50 and what do you see? A state of the art performance machine with no unnecessary weight. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Apart from the composite bodywork surrounding everything, the F50 is at heart a Formula car. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
That mesh grille allows hot air to escape out the back of the F50, helping keep the engine cool. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The traditional prancing horse is still there, mounted on a mesh grille for increased air flow out the rear of the F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 also features inboard suspension similar to top formula racing cars. This is F1 technology making its way down to street cars. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 engine bay is complex, but not one item is there that doesn’t need to be there. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
So much to see here – note the F50 V12 that replaced the turbo-V8 in the F40. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 carbon fiber intake air plenum doubles as an engine cover and features the prancing horse of Ferrari. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Even the coolant overflow tanks reflect attention to detail in the F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
More carbon fiber and meticulous attention to detail on the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The entire body on the Enzo is made of dry carbon fiber. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The transmission case is a stressed part of the chassis, reflecting Formula One technology at the time of the F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The exhaust on the F50 is tuned for maximum power, but includes catalysts to meet U.S. emissions standards. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The threaded shock bodies by Sachs allow you to change the springs easily on the Enzo, allowing different setups for track and street. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
With inboard suspension, everything is adjustable, including compression, rebound, and overall spring rate. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 seats have steep bolsters to hold you in place during hard cornering. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The seats in the F50 are similarly cozy and reassuring when you’re giving the car all it’s got. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 dash is leather over carbon fiber. Not much there, but what is there is all Ferrari. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The F50 cockpit is similar to the F40. There’s a shifter, steering wheel, and a pod full of gauges. No stereo, no backup camera – the quintessential track day car. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
One of the first 6-speed manual transmissions came on the Ferrari F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Ferrari Enzo was known internally as the F60. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo doors are designed to open upwards in narrow spaces. Everything is functional. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Like all the Ferrari F-cars, the Enzo is designed to be as slippery as possible moving through the air. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo rides near the ground, with a huge air intake on either side to cool rear brakes and the engine. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Every part of the Enzo was designed in a wind tunnel for best aerodynamic effect. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Every line on the Enzo is carefully created to improve aerodynamic performance. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Large vents behind the front wheels of the Enzo help duct air over the enormous brakes. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The back end of the Enzo includes a diffuser to duct air from under the car out the back, helping to create a low-pressure area under the car to improve grip. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
With a mid-engine car, you can position the wheels out at the rear corners to maximize positive handling characteristics. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The familiar 5-spoke wheels still use a single central nut to hold the wheel to the hub. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Parked next to the F50 and the Enzo, you can see the progression of the Ferrari series of F-designated cars. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo continues the inboard suspension design of the F50, with remote reservoir shock absorbers. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The 6.0-liter V12 engine in the Enzo makes 651 horsepower. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Mass Air Flow sensor marks the Enzo as a fully modern supercar with a state of the art fuel injection system. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
At bottom, you can see the leads for the cam position sensors for the overhead cam engine in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Enzo Ferrari’s signature is engraved on every one of the 400 Enzo cars ever built. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Note the difference time makes when you look in the cabin of the Enzo. The shifter is gone – it’s a paddle-shifted twin-clutch transmission now. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Trimmed in red leather, you’ve never sat in seats as comfortable and snug as those in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo cockpit is still the model of simplicity. This car is here to be driven – not to be your living room. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Note the button turn signals integrated into the steering wheel – there’s an idea that should be emulated. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The paddle shifters and much of the steering wheel are made of carbon fiber in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
You get a modern climate control system in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Buried underneath all the fuel injection and air intake gear is the 4.7-liter normally aspirated V12 engine, good for 513 horsepower at 8,000 RPM. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Even the hose clamps are installed with care on the Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
We were recently offered the chance to compare three legendary Ferrari supercars side-by-side: The Ferrari F40, F50, and the Enzo. Each car was on static display, and we were free to pore over every detail before enviously watching them on the race track.
The event was intriguing because each car was a state-of-the-art supercar for the era when it was made. Looking at each car in turn, we can see how technology – more than just brute torque and horsepower – drives automotive performance higher over time.
Ferrari stunned the world with the F60 Enzo.
In its day, the Ferrari F40 was unstoppable. Twin turbos and a V8 engine pumped out 478 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque. These were crazy numbers when the F40 was released in 1987. At that time, the super expensive Callaway Corvette was setting a benchmark, and that only had 345 horsepower.
By 1995, Ferrari produced the F50, abandoning the turbos for old-fashioned V12 power. The naturally aspirated power plant yielded an impressive 513 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. This era saw the first electronic driver assistance in the form of an active suspension that could respond to road changes and driver inputs in less than 30 milliseconds.
Seven years later, Ferrari stunned the world with the F60 Enzo. The car’s 6.0-liter V12 laid down a mighty 651 horsepower and 485 pound feet of torque. The Enzo offered a six-speed F1 electro-hydraulic transmission, being among the pioneers that brought paddle shifting from race car to road car. The Enzo offered active aerodynamics and traction control, which helped keep it manageable as it shot from 0 to 60 in just over three seconds on the way to its 221 miles per hour top speed.
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The Enzo doors are designed to open upwards in narrow spaces. Everything is functional. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Ferrari Enzo was known internally as the F60. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Like all the Ferrari F-cars, the Enzo is designed to be as slippery as possible moving through the air. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo rides near the ground, with a huge air intake on either side to cool rear brakes and the engine. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Every part of the Enzo was designed in a wind tunnel for best aerodynamic effect. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Every line on the Enzo is carefully created to improve aerodynamic performance. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Large vents behind the front wheels of the Enzo help duct air over the enormous brakes. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The back end of the Enzo includes a diffuser to duct air from under the car out the back, helping to create a low-pressure area under the car to improve grip. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
With a mid-engine car, you can position the wheels out at the rear corners to maximize positive handling characteristics. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The center hood bulge in the Enzo carries all the way forward to the leading edge of the car. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The familiar 5-spoke wheels still use a single central nut to hold the wheel to the hub. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Parked next to the F50 and the Enzo, you can see the progression of the Ferrari series of F-designated cars. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo continues the inboard suspension design of the F50, with remote reservoir shock absorbers. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The 6.0-liter V12 engine in the Enzo makes 651 horsepower. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Mass Air Flow sensor marks the Enzo as a fully modern supercar with a state of the art fuel injection system. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
At bottom, you can see the leads for the cam position sensors for the overhead cam engine in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Enzo Ferrari’s signature is engraved on every one of the 400 Enzo cars ever built. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Trimmed in red leather, you’ve never sat in seats as comfortable and snug as those in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Note the difference time makes when you look in the cabin of the Enzo. The shifter is gone – it’s a paddle-shifted twin-clutch transmission now. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The Enzo cockpit is still the model of simplicity. This car is here to be driven – not to be your living room. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Note the button turn signals integrated into the steering wheel – there’s an idea that should be emulated. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
The paddle shifters and much of the steering wheel are made of carbon fiber in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
You get a modern climate control system in the Enzo. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Buried underneath all the fuel injection and air intake gear is the 4.7-liter normally aspirated V12 engine, good for 513 horsepower at 8,000 RPM. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Even the hose clamps are installed with care on the Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo F50. Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
This year, the buzz is all about the LaFerrari – a technological miracle car with an unbelievable 950 horsepower and 789 pound feet of torque from its direct-injected hybrid V12/electric drivetrain. The seven-speed twin clutch transmission will get it from 0 to 60 in less than three seconds, and up to 217 miles per hour. We had previously attended the unveiling of the first LaFerrari in the Pacific Northwest. There, we learned that unlike previous Ferrari supercars, the LaFerrari has a whole host of electronic guardian angels riding with you.
Watch and learn how technology drove the Ferrari supercar line over the last 30 years.
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