Hagerty price guide Ferrari 1946 - forward. Issue 42 May- Aug 2020

Here you go:

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/63337732/hpg42-ferrari

Ferrari 400 starter motor problem - alternative solution

Finally a more technical blog. A discussion was kicked off on Facebook by someone who complained about the starter motor. Well, more about the hassle to get it replaced. Apparently it does make a difference if you have a carb version or injection. With carbs it's even more of a hassle. Also you need to enhance your wrench to reach the screws.

Interestingly a few weeks earlier another owner reported he had changed his starter motor too. But then quite a few other owners popped up in this thread. And just a week before that  I was approached by someone directly who had trouble with his starter motor when the engine was warm, meaning turning over slower and thus more difficult to start up. And he had his starter completely refurbished and the problem still manifested.

Although I don't know the exact cause for this issue, the fix for this issue is simply to get it replaced for a new modern one. Which isn't to expensive, more compact and more powerful (and half the weight).

So far I have never run into this issue myself but now I know what to do if so.

Hereby the Facebook posting with all remarks:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/8727831092/permalink/10158237887271093/

Apparently the preferred option is the LMS029 by WOSP in the UK: 

http://www.wosperformance.co.uk/

Attention: one of the owners reported the following:

I went with the WOSP LMS029 after trying a Hi-Torque that didn't fit. There are a few variances of the LMS029 though as they changed the design after I bought mine & they didn't fit as well. WOSP have rectified this with the latest LMS029. Something to be carefull of if buying cheap old stock.


Another owner reported the following:

 had my starter motor replaced with a WOSP on my 365 the mechanic bent a spanner in 3 places and did not need to remove the carbs or exhaust manifolds . But the WOSP starter motor was catching on the flywheel when engaging. It was found that the Wosp unit needed to be serviced with grease so you may want to do this prior to instalagion

FERRARI 400 CRAP CAR OR UNPOLISHED GEM?

My radar caught this one today. Clearly I knew it already but when clicking I noticed the following remark by the author:

Note this is an updated version of a blog I wrote on Drive Cult in 2013.

https://drivetribe.com/p/ferrari-400-crap-car-or-unpolished-NsRfPQpaRsqom7GgsQl_0Q

As it's such a great article it deserves room on my blog for a second time

Ferrari 400 Automatic 1977 - first owner

I came across this car and the booklet with the first owner. Adding it just for the records.
The car was registered for the company Bauer Eberhard in Esslingen (Germany): https://www.bauergears.com/

Interestingly they are in the gearbox business. So he drives a 400 Automatic. 

The address mentioned however, Neue Strasse 102 - Esslingen does show a private house rather then a company factory. I guess that's where the Diretta is residing.

Ferrari magazine : Gearing up

https://magazine.ferrari.com/en/cars/2020/04/24/news/the-ferrari-automated-gearbox-from-f1-to-ferrari-roma-79244/

Greta Ilieva photography - Ferrari 400i

https://dandvmanagement.com/project/504/

Christophe (French singer) : ferrari 400

According to this article this French singer had a passion for cars. If the cars on the photo belongs to him then he had at least 2 400s (there is one in the back).

https://www.histo-auto.com/fr/actualite/625/une-rencontre-avec-christophe-des-mots-bleus-autours-de-ses-passions

Have to admit I didn't know this singer, but here is his wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christophe_(singer)

Instagram time period spots

Via this Instagram account I spotted these time period photo's made in the UK:

https://www.instagram.com/robert.westall/

Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 in wonderful Oro gold in Cadogen Square in London on 3rd June 1989.

Beautiful Ferrari 400 in argento silver in the sunshine in Lyall Street near Eaton Square in London on 5th May 1990. 47021 was new to George L Hacker and registered GLH1J.

Ferrari 412 Auto RHD 75447 was ordered on 22nd September 1987 and delivered in March 1988 through Ferrari Agent Lancaster Colchester, registered E466FVX in blu Chiaro with Crema interior and blue carpets. This car lived for many years in Ebury Street in Belgravia in London where these photos are taken x3 21st July 1989, x2 19th November 1988, one in the nearby Eaton Mews Garage on 12th May 1990 (35mm camera and no flash), then finally in the sunshine on 1st June 1990. The car is known to have been owned by the MacAlpine family, who also owned a silver 412 and the last UK Auto 412, these two cars wearing their plate MCA18. I saw the car again in April 1995 still with its original Lancaster Colchester number plates, then at Maranello Concessionaires in June 1995 and it appeared for sale at William Loughran. In January 1996, it had a William Loughran number plate when I bumped into it again at Maranello Concessionaires, then the car was for sale with H&H in April 2002. A friend I have kept bumping into practically from new. 1 of 51 UK RHD Ferrari 412 Autos of 63 worldwide RHD Autos. By special request of current owner @ianb2727 . RHD Ferrari 412s have always been a particular favourite of mine, and if anyone has photos of the Irish black with red Manual car new to Co Meath, please tell me as it is one of the 5 RHD cars that I am short of a photo of!! #ferrari #ferraris #ferrari412 #ferrariworld #ferrarilife

Ferrari 412 Auto RHD 63107 new to Lord Bell in April 1986, here behind Harrods on 5th November 1988. Unusual for a Ferrari 412 to be Rosso Corsa with Crema leather. This car was for sale at HROwen in January 1989 and registered 412JON for many years before going back to C342SPJ. 1 of 51 UK RHD Autos of 63 worldwide RHD

Concessionaires on 26th January 1990. 5 Ferrari 400 and 412s parked in a row, then two more out of shot on the left and two more out of shot on the right....and several more in the workshops.

Ferrari 412 Manual RHD 65819 delivered new in 1986 to Melbourne Garages in Jersey. Finished in Prugna metallic with beige interior. It’s second owner is understood to have been Mike Salmon, and when I took this photo at the Silverstone Historic Festival, it was being driven by Alexander Fyshe and had only done 10,000 miles. One of my favourite Ferrari 412s.

GTA5 mods - Ferrari 412

https://www.gta5-mods.com/vehicles/ferrari-412-1985

BAT : 1983 Ferrari 400i Automatic Marrone Colorado

Yes, another one. Bring it on. Enjoy the comments.

Owning a new Ferrari?
You want everyone to know that’s your name on the signing bonus.

Owning this? Your name is on that check too, down in the corner. And everyone already knows your name.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-ferrari-400-2/

BAT : 1985 Ferrari 400i Straman Convertible

What is going on? Another one on BAT:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-ferrari-400/

Enjoy the comments. I noticed one remark that it showed up briefly (cameo - in the background) in a Chasing Classic Cars episode:

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi279297305?playlistId=tt2113893&ref_=tt_ov_vi

Ferrari 412 Elton John + Jason Kay

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/elton-john-car-collection

Even the greatest connoisseurs can have moments of madness. How else can you explain the presence of a 412 in this list. The least Ferrari-like Ferrari ever built, it looks like a 1970s Lotus Esprit with a hangover. Jeremy Clarkson described this car as being “awful in every way” and he was pretty much bang on. Even with the provenance of Sir Elton’s ownership, it went for under £43,000 at auction.

Update 11-5-2020:

This is the one he owned. A black/cream auto (originally prugna, but he didn’t like the colour).

However, the bronze manual pictured in the GQ article was once owned by Jason Kay of Jamiroquai.

See also blog: https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2017/08/ferrari-412-martin-buckley-jay-kay.html

FERRARI 400I AUTOMATIC - Grosses Konzert für vier Personen

I might have overlooked this German article from 2018. Adding it for the records and the great photo reportage

https://www.20min.ch/story/grosses-konzert-fuer-vier-personen-509896506202

Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 - Buenos Aires - Argentina

On Instagram I spotted this Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 in Argentina. Can't be many around over there.

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

Ferrari 412 V12/1977. Puesta a punto de los carburadores Weber. #ferrari412 #ferrariclubargentino #fansclubferrari #sportclassiccars #ferrariclubargentina #v12 #maranelloferrari #pirinfarina #tallerintegral #tallermecanico #tallerchapaypintura

Een bericht gedeeld door Talleres Buceta (@talleresb70) op 5 Mei 2020 om 12:20 (PDT)

When checking the garage I noticed they are on Facebook as well whereby they posted the same photo's:

Sydney Motor Show 1981 - Ferrari 400i

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_vWrp7F74g/

Photographed at the 1981 Sydney Motor Show.

Update: I received the following remark which might be more accurate regarding the year:

I believe it was the 1978 not 1981 Sydney Motor show, but I could be mistaken. The 308 seems to be a glassfibre one and both 308 and 400 have XWXs not TRXs that would have been fitted in 1981. 

Book a classic : Ferrari 400i manual spyder - Sultan of Brunei

According to the advert :

https://www.bookaclassic.co.uk/ferrari-400-spyder-mollington/

Extremely rare custom Ferrari. I of only 3 examples and built for the Sultan of Brunei. Completely restored by Evo 2. Motorsport in 2010 and only 2000 miles since.

I wonder who made this conversion?

Update: I received the following remark:

The red Sultan of Brunei cab is the same as the one in the Lorenz & Rankl brochure – see your blog 9 April 2014, when it had a cream interior. I guess this does not 100% mean that L&R converted it, though that is my assumption.

http://erwin400.blogspot.com/2014/04/ferrari-400-cabrio-by-lorenz-rankl.html

Here is another Ferrari 400 built for the Sultan of Brunei:

http://erwin400.blogspot.com/2019/01/ferrari-365gt4-22-targa-sultan-of-brunei.html

BAT : Ferrari 400 Carburettor Automatic

Another one on BAT! Enjoy the comments:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-ferrari-400

Some interesting remarks regarding the automatic gearbox are made as well.

This guy hit the nail:

Pure elegance, refinement and class!

Probably the most subtle and understated Ferrari to own and drive everyday without drawing attention, although that may scuttle the sole purpose of owning a Ferrari — to grab attention, for some folks. So probably this car may not be for everyone…. Under the skin it has the Colombo v12, something similar to its glamorous and celeb sibling, Daytona. Manual is preferred but automatic is convenient to drive around in metropolitan traffic.

It was never popular with the main street lot, but old money and cognoscenti had these – Enzo Ferrari had one, Gianni (of the Fiat dynasty) had one and so does Lapo (heir of Gianni)…. The case of Lapo or Enzo is unique and perhaps the strongest endorsement to 365/400/412 because of each’s (automobile) heritage, wealth (“old money”) and vast access, as either could have procured any Ferrari/super-car he wanted – period. But perhaps both wanted something subtle. And subtlety often speaks volumes.

To me the best aspect of these cars is being totally incognito and un-snobbish. Only a Ferrari literati can spot them, and there is good probability that the owner of a more “conventional” Ferrari may not decipher them from 15 feet.

Some more cool updates from the current owner:

It’s heartwarming to see the passion about special Italian cars across the Atlantic. And very nice to meet other people who share the same interest in cars like this!

About this particular 400 Automatic:
I spend a lot of money on this car in the beginning to bring it up to this high level and maintaining it during my 12 years of ownership. More than 20,000 EUR was spend during my ownership at Ferrari specialist Italauto. New brakes, new airco system, new XWX tires, new hoses and filters, some new barings, new drive-belts, two totally rebuilt Magneti Marelli ignition units, a new stainless steel exhaust system, etc. But the car deserved it, because it is a fantastic original car. And it is a Ferrari.
The car drives like new, even today. I can pick it up tomorrow at the garage and drive to Modena if I want to. And probably in one go also, if necessary.
Such an incredible car. And the build qualiity of the car is unbelievable. All done by Pininfarina in Turin, including the all leather interior.
After that they went to Maranello where Ferrari put the engines in them and bolted on the wheels, the brakes and the transmission.

Ferrari won the Formula One Championship in 1979 and you can literally feel the pride and joy of the Italian builders and mechanics.
And this car is a very late October 1979 car, so all the mechanics knew Ferrari had won the Formula One Championship, while building it.
A few days later Ferrari came out with the 400i, with the electronic Bosch injection system, which cost the engine 34 horsepower, compared to the carburetor version.
This means the car is probably one of the last big V12 front engined Ferrari’s that left the factory equipped with a normally aspirated engine, with the classic six double Weber carburetor package, if not the last Weber fed V12.
It was sold by Ferrari Kroymans in Hilversum to a very wealthy Dutch CEO of a Swiss printing company near Bern, mr van Son, who really loved cars. He kept it for 8 years.
He sold it to the vice president of the DAF factory in 1988, a Dutch car maker and a Worldwide Truck maker. Mr van Doorne owned a large car collection on his estate, with dozens of cars. He drove the 400 a few times a year.
After 8 years he sold the 400 to (believe it or not) mr Leo Ferrari, a well known member of the Dutch Ferrari Club.
8 years later he traded his 400 in for a Maserati at a well known Ferrari collector near Amsterdam, who kept the car for 4 years in his collection.
That is where I first saw it, and immediately blew me away to be honest. I just HAD to have it, no matter what.
It sounds rediculous, I know. But that is apparently how it works with some cars.
I can still remenber the first time I opened the door and got in the drivers seat. And I sensed that gorgeous smell of the amazing all leather interior, made by those incredible craftsmen at Pininfarina.
And the seats where so good, very supportive and comfortable … I just sat there for at least half an hour, looking at those gauges, the leather steering wheel with the prancing horse logo, the beautiful dashboard and the incredibly large console in the middle, with all those switches.
It was heaven on earth, really. I had never felt like that in any car in my life.
My business was doing great at that time, so after a good night sleep I bought it. And I never had any regrets.
Three months later Goldman Sachs went bankrupt and the whole world changed. So you can imagine my wife wasn’t very amused about my new car …
Luckily for her we went on a lovely holiday the next year in the 400 and crossed half of Europe, with our two children in the back and a trunk full of luggage. Absolutely one of the advantages of this car. The luggage space.
It was one of the hottest summers in Europe, but the new airco system kept us surprisingly cool and the car never missed a beat. What an incredible machine!
On the German Autobahn I had to promise to my wife not to behave like Niki Lauda or Ayrton Senna, so we were cruising at a modest 150 to 160 km/h. Almost every BMW M5, Mercedes AMG, Bentley Coupe or Audi Quattro that overtook us in the fast lane, went off the gas immediately and started driving beside us for a while, admiring our Ferrari because you never see them. They all gave us thumbs up and waved while smiling to my children, before taking off again.

Espadas are fantastic! I totally agree.
But there’s more:
In 1980 I personally witnessed a remarkable story about the Ferrari 400.
I was invited by mr Hans Schörn and his son Martin, to the famous circuit of Zandvoort in Holland. Mr Schörn was a member of the Dutch Ferrari Club and he owned a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB. I had never seen anything like it, 12 cylinders, and all those Webers … Too sexy!
The event he took us to was called ‘Momento di Modena’, organized by the Dutch Ferrari Club. The idea was to give the Club members some racing instructions in the morning, so they could try out their Ferrari’s on the track all afternoon.
About 20 members were racing drivers too. So at the end of the track day they planned a race for licensed race drivers, in their own private Ferrari.
On the first row there was a 512 BB and a 250 SWB, with behind them two Daytona’s, a 250 GTO, a 365 GT/4 BB, a few 308’s, some Dino’s and a few 365 GTC’s. No sluggards, obviously …
All cars were red, all drivers had helmets and gloves and the warming up lap was about to begin.
Suddenly there was rumor in the pits, they were going to postpone the warming up, because last minute race driver Alexander van der Lof was persuaded to take part in a borrowed Club Member’s car, a dark blue metallic Ferrari 400 Automatic …
Laughter off course, what on Earth was Alexander van der Lof trying to do?
He quickly jumped into the 400, in his normal clothes, without a helmet and no gloves. And he hurried towards the last car in the row, so he had to start from the back.
The drivers did a warming up lap and took their places, with the 400 in last position. The lights went green and all cars sprinted towards the Tarzan corner, at the end of the straight.
By the time the cars came out of the Tarzan Alexander had already surpassed three cars and overtook another one while climbing the Hunzerug. After that the cars were out of sight for a while, but we could hear those V12, V8 and V6 engines howling like mad in the dunes.
Guess who came first entering the Zandvoort straight, coming out of the incredible fast and very tricky Arie Luyendijk corner …? Alexander in the dark blue 400!
He came blaring down the straight and was nearly 100 meters ahead of the 512 BB and the 250 SWB, before he braked hard and threw the 400 completely sideways into the Tarzan corner, with smoking tires.
And off course everybody was astonished. How was Alexander van der Lof able to do that?! Well, he gave it all in that first round and overtook the entire field.
During the next 20 laps his tires became a little bit too hot so he dropped back a few places. But the owner of the 400 said he had experienced the best day of his live.
His 400 Automatic proved to be no sluggard also …
This adventure was actually one of the reasons I bought my 400 Automatic 28 years later.

@WallyWombat Ja leuk he? En weet je van wie deze 400 Automatic aantoonbaar was vroeger? Van Martien van Doorne, vice president van DAF uit Eindhoven. Was totaal autogek, had vele tientallen hele bijzondere auto’s staan, naast z’n villa De Wolfsberg, in Deurne. Dit was een van zijn favorieten destijds. Hij betaalde er maar liefst 2e hands 150.000,- gulden voor aan Garage Prominent in 1988 …! Ongelofelijk. Was dus een perfecte auto.

Ferrari 400i Cabriolet / Convertible by Franco Sbarro

I was aware that Franco Sbarro has used the 400 as a basis for various creations. I wasn't aware he also created his own convertible version. Are there more photo's available of this conversion?

Cleaned up:

For sale : Ferrari 400i Automatic 1983

If you are in the market for a Ferrari 400 in mint condition, look no further.

Check out this super duper photo reportage:

https://www.e-typecenter.com/#!cars/1983-ferrari-400i/

INXS - Shining Star - Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 Limousine

Via Ferrarichat I became of aware of this videoclip whereby the Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 limousine shows up at the start of the videoclip. See these 2 blogs about this car:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2014/12/ferrari-365-gt4-22-streched-limousine.html

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2019/11/classic-ferrari-stretch-limousine.html

For sale: Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 Verde Seabird RHD by Crepaldi

This one caught my eye due to it's color:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1223505

But also the fact it's a RHD car with an old German country decal (D - Deutschland) on the back.
And upon reading the supporting sales information I read the following paragraph:

Our car was delivered new to Crepaldi, the Ferrari agent in Milan, in July 1975. Evidence points to it then being sold to a wealthy Italian family living in Monaco: the owner having a preference for right-hand drive cars (the family also owned a right-hand drive Ferrari 412).

And I only recalled one 412 RHD in Italy, so likely this car was owned by the same family:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2016/01/for-sale-ferrari-412-rhd-automatica.html

At the time of the photo, it was still with the first owner, Carlo Graziano SpA. of Turin, manufacturer of gearboxes (now Oerlikon).

another period photo of 18619 from Monaco