Unveiled on 21 July 1987 at the Civic Centre in Maranello, the Ferrari F40 marked the marque's 40th anniversary as an automobile manufacturer. It was also the final car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988, a fact that elevates every serious representation of it — including this 1:18 scale model by KK Scale — beyond the merely ornamental. The Rosso Corsa finish shown here is the exact colour in which prototype chassis 74047 first appeared in public.
A 2.9-Litre V8 and the World's First 200 mph Road Car
The F40's 2,936 cc 90-degree V8 (engine code F120 A) used twin IHI turbochargers, two intercoolers and Marelli-Weber fuel injection to produce 478 PS at 7,000 rpm and 577 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Drive went to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transaxle. The result, from a dry weight of 1,100 kg, was a 0–100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 324 km/h — making the F40 the first road-legal production car to officially exceed 200 mph when it launched in 1987.
Rosso Corsa Inside and Out: A Period-Correct Configuration
Pininfarina designed the F40's body using carbon fibre, Kevlar and aluminium composite panels over a tubular steel spaceframe. The interior was deliberately stripped of carpets, electric windows and a stereo — weight was the enemy. Yet Ferrari offered colour-keyed interiors, and red-on-red was among the available options. This configuration, matching the Rosso Corsa exterior with red seats and trim, is visually distinct from the more common black interior and represents a particularly coherent period aesthetic. Production of the road car ran from 1987 to 1992, with approximately 1,311 units built.
KK Scale: Die-Cast at 1:18
Founded in Germany in 2013 by Martin and Martina Kosmann, KK Scale has built a reputation for precise die-cast work in 1:18 and 1:12. This F40 casting is sealed — no opening parts — which is consistent with KK Scale's standard production approach for this body. The detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces: the biplane rear wing, the NACA-ducted bodywork and the prominent twin-exit exhaust. The model is listed as a limited edition, and KK Scale also produced a separate black-interior version of the same casting, making this red interior release the more visually arresting of the two.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:18, this model measures 24.0 cm in length, reflecting the F40's official body length of 4,358 mm. That footprint suits a standard collector shelf comfortably alongside contemporary Ferraris of the same era — the Testarossa of 1984, for instance, or the 288 GTO that the F40 directly succeeded. As one of Ferrari's canonical 'Big Five' most collectible modern series-production supercars, the F40 in Rosso Corsa with red interior stands as a self-contained statement piece, but it also anchors a broader late-1980s Maranello display without visual competition.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:18 scale model?
The Ferrari F40 has an official body length of 4,358 mm. Divided by 18, that gives a model length of approximately 24.0 cm. Allow around 26–27 cm of clear shelf depth to accommodate the car's wide rear wing and bodywork overhang comfortably.
Does the model have opening parts?
No. This is a sealed, one-piece die-cast body with no opening doors, bonnet or engine cover — consistent with KK Scale's standard production method for this casting. The collector interest is focused on the exterior surfaces: the biplane wing, the ventilated bodywork panels and the dual exhaust outlets.
What material is the model made from?
The model is die-cast metal, produced by KK Scale Models GmbH, a German manufacturer founded in 2013 and specialising in 1:18 and 1:12 scale die-cast cars.
Why does the F40 matter historically?
The F40 was the last Ferrari personally commissioned by Enzo Ferrari, who died in 1988. It was also the first road-legal production car to officially exceed 200 mph (324 km/h) at launch in 1987, a record it held until 1989. Production ran from 1987 to 1992.
