Ferrari 400 paint colors - colours - codes - PART II

Hereby part II which is more complete and detailed and a follow up on this blog:

http://erwin400.blogspot.com/2018/10/ferrari-400-paint-colors-colours-codes.html

Many thanks for sharing this extensive contribution David, much appreciated! Am sure this will come in useful for the wider community. As always I welcome any kind of contribution for this blog.

Let’s start with the first paint range.

As you know, the paint selection for the 365 was the “racehorse” names, basically carried over from the 365 GTC/4, and many in use before that model arrived.

These names were still in use when the 400 was launched, and we see them on order documentation through to early 1978.

Usually the paint code was quoted in factory documentation (order confirmation, invoices etc.)

The standard range as you highlight is as follows, and I’ve added the paint codes.

Rosso Sir Ivor	95.3.9301
Blu Ortis	95.3.6159
Arancio Vaguely Noble	95.3.2943
Giallo My Swallow	95.3.2643
Avorio The Tetrarch	2.662.016
Verde Seabird	2.665.902
Azzurro Gladiateur	2.666.101
Rosso Nearco	2.664.032
Nero Dark Ronald	2.667.004
Grigio Argento Le Sancy	2.443.048
Grigio Mahmoud	2.443.931
Oro Kelso	2.443.214
Marrone Colorado	2.443.221
Celeste Gainsborough	2.443.625
Azzurro Hyperion	2.443.648
Blu Ribot	2.443.631
Verde Pino Blenheim	2.443.578
Verde Medio Niyinsky	2.443.561

Note I have never comes across a 365 or 400 painted Arancio, but have seen examples of all the other colours.

In addition, I know of 365s and early 400s that had the following paint from new:

Verde Bottiglia Duco
Verde Speciale
Verde Medio	106.G.29
Rosso Bordeaux	20.R.351
Bianco Duco	S95C001
Blu Tourbillon	2.443.607
Blu Caracalla	2.666.901

The vast majority (an estimate is 95%) had paint chosen from the “standard” range of 18 colours you note. Giallo seems to have been dropped at some point, as other paint books I’ve seen have only 17 samples.

For the years 1978-1983, a similar range of paint colours was offered. However, the race horse names had been dropped and Bruno Acajou was added.

This was the range from a Pininfarina sample dated 1979.

Rosso Cherry
Blu Scuro	95.C.6159	8.11.E.1449 MONTEDISON
Avorio Safari
Verde Scuro
Rosso Nearco
Nero Tropicale	2.647.004
Grigio Argento Met.	2.473.118	2.463.048
Grigio Scuro Met.	2.473.123	224612
Gold Poly Met.
Marrone Met.	339507
Celeste Met.
Azzurro Met.	8044169
Blu Ribot Met.	2.433.118
Verde Pino Met.
Verde Medio Met.
Bruno Acajou Met.

Bruno Mogano  FE97 8386 - Special note about this one - it's used on 1978 Ferrari 400 and provided by Glasurit.

Note that for this period, paint codes were not normally mentioned in factory records eg order/invoices. The numbers above have been taken from paint code labels, and seem to vary over time. Perhaps different paint suppliers were used.

Other colours known to have been used for 400/400is during this period

Giallo Fly
Grigio Fumo Herbal	1793
Rosso Metallizzato	133.R.10
Blu Chiaro	106.A.38
Blu Tourbillon	10026581
Blu Sera
Beige Dore	2.473.291

It is probable that eg Rosso Met. and Blu Sera became part of the standard range. Giallo Fly was certainly not standard, and the owner had to press Ferrari hard to obtain that colour.

For the 400i from 1984 right through to the last 412, the following Glasurit paints were used (from a sample dated 1983, I believe you could order them from the end of 1983):

Rosso Corsa	FER 300/C
Bianco	FER 100
Verde Scuro Met.	FER 603/C
Blu Medio Met.	FER 506/C
Rosso Met.	FER 305/C
Nero	FER 1240
Argento Met.	FER 101/C
Grigio Met.	FER 700/C
Oro Chiaro Met.	FER 104/C
Marrone Met.	FER 800/C
Blu Chiaro Met.	FER 503/C
Azzurro Met.	FER 505/C
Blu Sera Met.	FER 504/C
Verde Ténue Met.	FER 604/C
Verde Chiaro Met.	FER 602/C
Prugna Met.	FER 306/C
Nero Met.	FER 901/C
Giallo	FER 102

Note – not sure if Giallo has or could have been ordered then. I have seen all other colours.

Other colours known to have been used for 400i/412s during this period

Blu Tourbillon	364000000
Blu Scuro	3440585 MONTEDISON

By this time, it was extremely difficult to order special paints. The two paint codes noted above are from 400i paint stickers. No 412s with out of range paints are known, but some have Blu Scuro paint which is not in the 1983 sample but which might have come from the Glasurit range (ie Blu Scuro FER 501).