He bought this rare Ferrari F40 LM for 400,000$ 30 years ago... he receives an offer of 17 million and already knows what he'll do with the money

Mr Mera is a Japanese collector already known for a crazy anecdote: the replacement of the battery in his Ferrari LaFerrari, billed at around $250,000. A staggering sum, but almost anecdotal compared to the value of some of the cars in his garage.

In a new Daily Driven Exotics video shot in Japan, the owner opened the doors to his private collection. And amidst an impressive line-up including a Ferrari Enzo, a F50, a LaFerrari, a 288 GTO, a Lamborghini Reventón or a Lamborghini Formula 1 single-seater, one car attracts all the attention: its Ferrari F40 LM.

A Ferrari F40 LM bought at the right time

Today, the Ferrari F40 LM is one of those models you almost never come across, even at the biggest motoring events. According to the exchanges in the video, 19 examples were officially produced, although Mr. Mera reckons that the real figure is around 15 cars.

What makes his story even more incredible is the price he paid for it. Some 30 years ago, around 1996, the collector would have paid just under $400,000 for his Ferrari F40 LM. At the time, this was already a considerable sum. But looking back, it was almost a bargain. Today, the same car would be worth around $17 million. Mr. Mera has reportedly already received offers in that order of magnitude. In three decades, this F40 LM would have seen its value multiply by more than 40. Sales of Ferrari F40 LMs are rare, and the most recent one sold for $11 million at auction in the summer of 2025.

Unlike many collectors who keep their treasures in the shadows, Mr. Mera seems to have already thought about the future of this Ferrari. At the age of 75, he is gradually planning to reduce his collection. And as for this F40 LM, his idea is to sell it one day, donating half the proceeds to a charity of his choice.

The Ferrari F40 LM, symbol of a bygone era

The Ferrari F40 is already one of the most legendary cars in Ferrari history. But the F40 LM belongs in another category. More radical, rarer, closer to competition, it represents an era when Ferrari built machines that were raw, light, extreme and unfiltered.

Thirty years later, his Ferrari F40 LM, bought for less than $400,000, could be worth $17 million. A spectacular gain, of course. But in this Japanese garage, surrounded by other Italian legends, it seems above all to be the symbol of an automotive passion lived with patience, loyalty and vision.