Few modern Ferraris have aged with the force of the F40, and the best examples now sit in a very particular space between blue-chip collectable and barely contained racing car.
This 1990 Ferrari F40 has a stronger claim than most, with former ownership by French motorsport figure Jean Sage and a serious Michelotto conversion carried out in the 1990s.
It will be offered at The Woodcote Park Auction 2026 in Epsom, Surrey, this July, carrying an estimate of £2.7 million to £3.2 million.
At a glance
- A 1990 Ferrari F40 formerly owned by Jean Sage is heading to auction in the UK.
- Michelotto reworked the car in 1994 with CSAI GT-inspired upgrades, including engine, suspension, braking and weight-saving changes.
- The car is estimated at £2.7 million to £3.2 million and shows 22,699 km.
A French motorsport link with real weight
Jean Sage is a name that carries genuine meaning in Ferrari and endurance racing circles, which gives this F40 a provenance beyond the usual delivery file and mileage figure.
The car was delivered new through Charles Pozzi in Paris, one of the key French Ferrari names of the era.
It is also a coveted “non-cat, non-adjust” example, a specification that continues to matter deeply to F40 collectors because it represents the model in one of its more focused early forms.
Michelotto’s GT-inspired transformation
In 1994, Sage sent the car to Michelotto for a far more purposeful set of upgrades than a simple road-car refresh.
The Padua-based Ferrari specialist reworked the F40 to a CSAI GT-inspired specification, bringing it closer in spirit to the competition machinery that made Michelotto such an important name in the Ferrari world.
The original 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 was rebuilt and fitted with IHI special turbochargers.
A lightweight Maurice Chabord exhaust was also installed, helping lift output to around 527 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque.
The work extended beyond the engine bay, with upgrades to the suspension and braking systems, alongside weight-reduction measures intended to sharpen a car that was already famously raw.
A used F40, and more interesting for it
The odometer reading stands at 22,699 km, or 14,105 miles, which gives this example a more lived-in character than a delivery-mileage museum piece.
For the right buyer, that’s part of the appeal.
An F40 with this level of history and specialist development is compelling because it hasn’t merely been preserved as an object; it has existed as a car with purpose.
That distinction matters in a market where provenance, specification and condition all compete for attention, but the most memorable cars often have a clear story behind them.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Ferrari |
|---|---|
| Model | F40 |
| Year | 1990 |
| Delivery | Charles Pozzi, Paris |
| Notable former owner | Jean Sage |
| Specialist work | Michelotto CSAI GT-inspired conversion, 1994 |
| Engine | 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 |
| Turbochargers | IHI special turbochargers |
| Exhaust | Lightweight Maurice Chabord exhaust |
| Output | Approximately 527 hp |
| Torque | 626 lb-ft |
| Odometer | 22,699 km / 14,105 miles |
| Auction | The Woodcote Park Auction 2026, Epsom, Surrey |
| Estimate | £2.7 million to £3.2 million |
This F40 sits in a narrow and fascinating lane: recognisably one of Ferrari’s defining road cars, yet shaped by people and workshops that understood competition Ferraris at the highest level.
For collectors chasing more than a standard specification, the Jean Sage connection and Michelotto work make this a particularly persuasive example when it crosses the block in July.
