Ferrari F40
(Estimate: $1,250,000-$1,500,000)

On July 21, 1987, my Collier Automedia colleague, Ken Gross, and I were in the small Centro Civica in Modena, Italy, when Enzo Ferrari arrived. The place went nuts.  The moment unfolded like a classic Italian opera, with the crowd – even the normally cool, reserved, standoffish journalists – standing to cheer and pay homage to the “Pope of Maranello.”

The occasion? Unveiling Ferrari’s F40, its 288 GTO-based answer to Porsche’s 959. This new supercar was a means of celebrating Ferrari’s fortieth anniversary and was something of a swansong for the aging Enzo.

The F40 certainly looked every bit the supercar, much more of a ground hugger than the 959. Porsches had rounder organic shapes; Ferraris wore a specific Italian look. Sleek and racy, the Ferrari had three intakes in front, NACA ducts on the hood and sides, vents at the rear and that tall tail. All refined in the wind tunnel. Carbon fiber and Kevlar were used for the body as well as the chassis, in combination with a steel tube frame.

The twin-turbo V-8 of the GTO Evoluzione was further developed for the F40. Displacement increased from 2,855 cc to 2,936 cc. Bigger water-cooled IHI turbos were added and Marelli-Weber developed the fuel injection for the F40. The result was 478 bhp at 7,000 rpm and 425 lb-ft of torque at 4,000.

Performance? 0-60 in 4.2 seconds; 0-100 in 8.3 seconds with a top speed of 197 mph.

Gooding’s example is one of 213 made with U.S. specifications and has seen just 4,589 miles by its one-owner family.

Ferrari F50
(Estimate: $2,200,000-$2,600,000)

The F40 celebrated Ferrari’s 40th anniversary and for 1996 the automaker moved ahead with the F50. Again it was trying to give its customers the feeling of driving a Formula 1 car on the street. Once more Pininfarina did the exterior design, but this time the car was rounder, more liquid.

Like an F1 car, the central carbon-fiber structure had the steering and front suspension connected to it. As in a race car, the V-12, six-speed transaxle and rear suspension were one unit, the upper and lower A-arm suspensions using pushrods and rockers for spring and shock actuation. The non-turbo engine is at 4,966 cc and 513 horsepower, yet tuned to meet emissions laws.

All in all, the F50 is a more civilized machine than the F40 – not as hard-edged and it even has roll-up windows.

Walk over and open the lightweight carbon-fiber driver’s door. Step over the wide sill and drop into red-and-black upholstered seats. Carbon fiber is all around: on the dashboard, door panels, and center console. Ahead is a small instrument pod with a speedo that cranks up to 360 k/hr – just shy of 225 mph. According to road tests, that engine will get this 3,000-lb car to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Let’s try it.

Grabbing the carbon-fiber shift knob you’re into first and with surprisingly light clutch pressure, the F50 pulls away. No fuss, no embarrassing two or three tries to match revs and pedal as in previous times.

The F50 with Goodings is one of fifty-five built to U.S. specifications and comes with the factory hardtop box, luggage, and tool kit.

Ferrari Enzo
(Estimate $2,200,000-$2,600,000)

You merge onto the empty freeway, ease into the Ferrari Enzo’s throttle and before you know it you are at jail-able-offense speeds. What? 150 mph? Where did that come from?

It’s all the fault of that engine behind you and the big red START button that fires the Enzo’s Tipo F140 6.0-liter, twin-cam, 48-valve V-12. The 65-degree vee aluminum powerplant comes in at 651 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 485 lb-ft of torque at 5,500. Through the easy-to-use, F1-style automated sequential gearbox, the Enzo makes it to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, 100 mph in 6.6 seconds on its way to 218 mph.

Ken Okayama was at Pininfarina when he designed the Enzo. Climb a 6-foot ladder, look down on the Enzo and you can see the shape is like a dramatic shrink-wrap around an F1 race car. Ferrari and Pininfarina wanted a 200-mph plus exotic car without the large external wings seen on earlier supercars, so the Enzo went through extensive wind tunnel aero work.

As in the body and chassis, carbon fiber is a main ingredient in the Enzo’s interior, looking as sturdy as it is structural. The red-faced tach and speedometer are hooded and sit just past a very purposeful steering wheel. The leather-covered carbon-fiber shell seats hug you around the middle for lateral control without squeezing inappropriately tight.

Launched at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, 399 Enzos were assembled for customers, a 400th given to the Vatican to sell for charity. Gooding’s example is a U.S.-spec version that is with the family of its original owner.

Hmm, decisions, decisions. Flip a coin?

If you care to follow this first Gooding Geared Online auction, here is the information:

Geared Online | August 2020
Online Catalogue Available: Monday, July 27
Auction Begins: Monday, August 3, 9:00 AM PDT
Lots Begin Closing: Friday, August 7, 12:00 PM PDT
Website: www.goodingco.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodingandCompany
Twitter: @goodingandco #gearedonline
Instagram: @goodingandcompany #gearedonline
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/GoodingandCompany
Phone: + 1 310.899.1960

Good luck.