VIN: the Charles Chong / Robert Tchenguiz Ferrari F40 chassis 88605
HISTORY OF CHASSIS 88605
Chassis 88605 was the F40 supplied new to Malaysian real estate magnate, Charles Chong.
After completing his studies in the UK, Chong spent most of his time in London between 1971 and ‘81. During this period he purchased a fleet of high end exotics to include a Lamborghini Miura SV and a Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder. For everyday use, Chong always had a flagship Mercedes-Benz and anywhere from one to three Rolls-Royces at his disposal.
Inevitably, a selection of Ferraris also came and went; the F40 was Chong’s twelfth after two Dinos, two Daytonas, four BBs, a 400, a 328 and a Testarossa.
As a Maranello Concessionaires VIP, Chong was given an invitation to purchase an F40 after expressing an interest soon after the car’s launch. Following lunch at the Dorchester Hotel with Maranello Concessionaires founder, Colonel Ronnie Hoare, an F40 was reserved. However, having been advised that glass side windows and an adjustable ride-height function were in the pipeline, Chong delayed his allocation until such features were ready.
By the time chassis 88605 arrived at Maranello Concessionaires in April 1991, Chong had replaced his black Testarossa with a new silver example. The two cars, registered CCC 1 and CCC 2 respectively, initially resided at Park Lane’s Inn on the Park. Chong would stay here on his occasional month-long visits from Kuala Lumpur (where he had primarily resided since 1981) in order to retain UK residency. Later, 88605 was moved to a new property in Ascot.
Unfortunately, although Chong loved how the F40 looked , its uncompromising nature was not exactly to his liking: “the savage turbo delivery meant there were no half measures; you either had to potter around or risk breaking your neck. It really was an un-tamed monster”.
After five years of ownership and around 3000 miles, Chong sold chassis 88605 to his friend, fellow property mogul and financier, Robert Tchenguiz. Prior to the F40, Tchenguez had owned a black Testarossa while his brother Vincent ran an Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante on the plate 1 V.
At the time of purchase, chassis 88605 had been on offer with William Loughran in Preston (to whom Chong had sold many Rolls-Royce and Mercedes over the years). When Robert Tchenguiz discovered it was Chong’s F40, he got his friend to help facilitate the car’s return to London.
Robert Tchenguiz has retained the F40 ever since.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
