Ferrari F40 Vs Porsche 959 - Which Would You Pick?

In the 1980s, there were two main competitors in the supercar wars: the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 959. The first to debut was the Porsche 959 back in 1986, which was the fastest production car in the world - until the Ferrari F40 came along just one year later. Powering the Porsche 959 was a rear-mounted, 2.85-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six producing 444 horsepower, enabling it to hit 0-62 mph in just 3.6 seconds and achieve a top speed of 197 mph, which was mind-boggling in the 1980s.

Built to celebrate Ferrari's 70th anniversary, the F40, on the other hand, packed a 2.9-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 cranking out 478 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque, enabling the Italian supercar to sprint to 62 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds and go on to a top speed of 201 mph. With no electronic assists and no power steering, the F40 is a far more analog supercar than the modern Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Without question, these are two of the greatest and most influential supercars ever made - and both of them are coincidentally being sold at the same auction next month.

Of the two, the Porsche 959 is the most pristine example having covered only 5,822 miles since it left the factory back in 1987. Finished in silver with a grey leather interior, the car was first sold to German racing driver Bernd Schwebel. Options included heated driver and passenger Sport seats with power height adjustment.

The 959 was later imported into the US and bought by a collector in Southern California who sent the car to Canepa Design for some upgrades including a Canepa Design suspension system, Sport roll cage, upgraded wheels, tires, and headlights, a custom audio system a 200 mph speedometer from the 959 Sport, and a custom steering wheel with an extended hub.