For sale : 1978 Ferrari 400 GT

Adding this one for the records and reference (as it's similar as mine): 

https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/classified/1978-Ferrari-400-GT/7a0ba7a8-dfe3-4226-899b-f9fec8e5650a

Ferrari 412 successor : 456

And another update on this blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/12/prototipo-prototype-prova-concept-car.html

I had a further email exchange with the guy who created this Ferrari concept cars e-book.

And I was informed the following:

"The large 4-seater Ferrari 456 coupe is usually spoken of as the most beautiful model of the company in the last few years. By the way, the 456, which is no longer in production, still unconditionally leads in comparison ratings with the successor of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and especially the FF and GTC4 Lusso, etc.
Large 4-seater Grand Turismo coupes from a certain point in time began to play one of the most important roles in the Ferrari production program. Therefore, immediately with the release of the final version of the Ferrari 412 GT, which was already quite outdated over many years of production (the car was discontinued in 1989 after 16 years of continuous production), the search for an alternative successor began.
The first sketches in the Pininfarina studio started back in 1985 - the F116 project. It was then that the development of the first design of the large Ferrari began. It is worth noting that by the beginning of the 90s the car was almost completely formed both technically and stylistically and practically ready for production. Pre-production mules of the car were even tested on the roads.
Being the successor of the Ferrari 412 GT, the new project continued to carry the seemingly completely forgotten philosophy with a classic layout with the engine in the front. But! The Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989 confused all the cards with the further development of the first version of the design of the large coupe. It was then that the BMW 850 debuted in the E31 body. And it was this striking similarity between the BMW 850 and the F116 project that prompted the then president of Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo to decide to restart the design development, thereby postponing the debut of the new car for several years. Not wanting to produce a car that looked like another brand, much less an Italian one like BMW, Montezemolo commissioned Pininfarina, under the then-retired Aldo Brovarone, to restart development of the F116 Fantasma project on the rather straightforward grounds that it was “too similar to the BMW 850i.” It’s worth noting that rumors of Pininfarina’s potential involvement in the BMW E31 had been circulating for years, suggesting a collaboration that may have been more secretive than widely acknowledged. It was, and still is, common industry practice for automakers to bring in outside design houses to submit proposals early in the development of cars, in search of fresh ideas. In these cases, the design houses can provide valuable insight without necessarily taking responsibility for the final product. The speculative nature of these rumors suggests that BMW may have solicited design proposals from Pininfarina, perhaps compensating the design house for their advice and work, while retaining the autonomy to implement the project as they saw fit. It is worth noting that concrete evidence of Pininfarina's involvement in the design of the BMW E31 remains part of the intriguing rumors in the automotive industry. And yet, the similarities between the projects are very large, and rumors do not come out of nowhere.
The restart of development resumed in October 1989, and after an internal design competition at Pininfarina.
The design project was led by future Pininfarina chief designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti together with Pietro Camardella - it was his first sketches of the first version, as well as the second, that the management of both companies really liked."

See also this link with more photo's of the Ferrari 456 prototipo

https://www.carrozzieri-italiani.com/listing/ferrari-f116/

And this great article:

https://driventowrite.com/2020/03/05/maranello-model-mystery/

We suspect the spionage photo's of that particular prototipo was an early version of the successor of the 412 : the 456. Enzo Ferrari provided his approval in 1988. It now becomes apparent why it took so long before it got launched. 

Remarkably Pininfarina was again involved with a concept car for the BMW 8 series in 2013:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept/

Ferrari 365GT4 2+2 card - early production model ?

This Japanese card got offered for sale on Ebay. I'm adding it here just for the records. I suspect this is a very early one produced but maybe I'm wrong. Even the badge on the bonnet is missing.

Art - Ferrari 400i is a painting by Yoshiharu Miyakawa

For those interested:

https://pixelsmerch.com/featured/ferrari-400i-yoshiharu-miyakawa.html

Dutch garage : Project works at Forza Service - Ferrari 400 / 412

By coincidence I noticed the project section at a Dutch garage specialized in Ferrari:

https://www.forzaservice.nl/en/ 

https://www.forzaservice.nl/werkplaats/projecten/

Nice to see some of the project activity does include the 400 series and their owners do invest money and love in the maintenance of these verhicles :

https://www.forzaservice.nl/werkplaats/projecten/400-i/

https://www.forzaservice.nl/werkplaats/projecten/400-i-stramann/

https://www.forzaservice.nl/werkplaats/projecten/412/

Maranello concessionaires - catalogue accessori - 1978

And another great catalogue by Maranello Concessionaires from 1978

Click the photo's to enlarge:

 

Pistonheads: Ferrari 412 | The Brave Pill

And another online article I missed out somehow. It was already published about 2,5 years ago.
Still a good and well written article to mention on my blog. And by now also 203 comments to read. The last comment made:

"ELEGANT DESIGN AND VERY ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE.I HAVE TWO OF THEM AND HAVE OWNED 33 FERRARI' S INCLUDING F40 AND SF90'S

400/412 HUGELY UNDERATED"

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-spottedykywt/ferrari-412--the-brave-pill/45456

Prototipo - Prototype - Prova - Concept car

A new photo I bumped into on this mysterious prototype:

Click the photo to enlarge:

Effectively its the same one as in these two blogs:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2022/12/la-nuova-ferrari-4-porte-quattroporte.html

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2021/07/magazine-auto-hebdo-1987-numero-horse.html

I'm still unsure what this test model eventually became. It's from 1986/87 so it's not the Pinin (1980) and the 412 was already released in 1985. It looks like to be based on the 400 series ....

If you fancy Ferrari concept cars you definately need to buy this e-book per Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ferraribook/permalink/1479436006062103/

As can be read it's available for € 5,- only (or 5 USD). It's a very large and comprehensive document with many supporting photo's. 

Ebay - Ferarri 400 / 400i / 412 parts

By the looks of it this seller is parting out a Ferrari 400i. Some of the items are listed on Ebay. So if you are searching for something this is a good opportunity

https://www.ebay.com/usr/ferrarimv

Youtube : MB 560SEC und Ferrari412 - Ein Zweikampf der Luxuscoupés

And another new Youtube video. A German comparisson test between MB560SEC and a Ferrari 412.

You can put on subtitles and translate to English in the YT settings. Click the link or hit play below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW2XpEFVgCM

Youtube : Ferrari 400 GT carburetor and distributor maintenance by Tom Yang

A worthwhile video to watch for the tinkerers or for those who are considering a cheap 400.

A Ferrari 400GT got delivered to my shop by a new owner. It needed some help to get running right again. #tomyangnet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-lvIJdWOno

The last "Affordable Ferrari?" The 5-speed makes it more sporty than the Automatic versions of this car, but the cost of entry is just the beginning. 35 hours of labor in this video alone, and I still need to do a clutch!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19jo6HgV3c/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDzLNWuRBGb/

Similar Magic - Ferrari 400 vs Citröen SM

An older article I bumped into this week. Not sure when this was published though. It's from the Dutch Citröen SM club and written in English:

 https://citroensmclub.nl/sub/soortgelijke-magie-ferrari-400/

Instagram : Period 80ies photo's in London

Some nice period photo's from Robert Westall via Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDvMEdBCl-7

Ferrari 400s in blue in the late 1980s in and around Cadogen Square in London, including two blue cars in the same photo.

After seeing 985GYT on the street so much, it appeared looking immaculate for sale at @Talacrest in Egham in 1993, where the first photo is taken.

The Ferrari 400 is an extremely handsome GT Ferrari, but it can be hard to capture its sheer elegance in a photo.

985GYT can anyone identify this car? I have enough photos of it!
B98VYO 53275
OPC110W 35683

#ferrari400 #ferrari400i #ferrari400gt #bluchiaro #car #cars #supercar #ferrarigt #gtcars #1970s

In one of the Instagram comments it is mentioned "Michael Winner" had one as well. When checking I found this quote in Ferrarichat:

"Nice! You probably know it was originally the HR Owen demonstrator, photographed at Stanford Hall for publicity shots, then subject to a road test by Autocar Magazine. After its time as a demonstrator, it was acquired in October 1978 by the film director Michael Winner."

Ferrari Borrani Wheels & Stainless Steel Exhaust System Brochure - Maranello Concessionaires UK - Wire Wheels

I noticed this brochure and spotted this Borrani option page for the 400 series. Apparently it was also available for the 308 ? Note the incorrect spelling of the Borriani name on the brochure.

See also these blogs:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2015/07/borrani-wheels-ferrari-365-gt4-22-400.html

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2021/09/borrani-wire-wheels-ferrari-400.html

Click the photo to enlarge:

Youtube : Why the Ferrari 400i is the Best Kept Secret of the ‘80s

 As per previous blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/11/instagram-ferrari-400i-carsandcaffe.html

Hereby the full video of this gentleman and his 400i stick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjfOKGkwSmg

Youtube : Unloading a Trailer Full of Rare Ferraris in Monaco! - Ferrari 400i

And another Youtube video with a nice capture by a Dutch spotter in Monaco. It's a whole trailer full of Ferrari's including this 400i

Click on the link for the full video:

https://youtu.be/aom_rmBojlE?si=TWgdFVqZoPlJLHOk

Or hit play below and it starts at the 400 section:

It's only now I see the license plate with l'astarossa. When checking it's an auction in Monaco:

https://monacocarauctions.com/  

And apparently they have a special Ferrari auction. It was already held in June 2024

The 400i Automatic is still for sale:

https://monacocarauctions.com/ferrari-400i-automatic-40561

April's garage - Hoovie Tyler : Hagerty just put out their weirdest (and worst?) bull market list of collector cars to buy in 2025 - Ferrari 400

And another review with another remark about the Borg Warner automatic.

See earlier blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/12/hagerty-2025-bull-market-list-11-hot.html

For a full view click on the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqTxHbvfp0I

Or hit play below and it will start immediately at the 400 section:

Ferrari 400 Seat Adjuster - Hinge - Trim / Cover Set - Compatability

It only became known to me very recent the seat hinge covers used are the same as the ones in the Fiat 124 spider by Pininfarina, 1966 - 1978, Fiat 124 coupe and Alfa Romeo 1750-2000 GTV Bertone. Which is good news as these cars were produced in large numbers. I therefore also suspect the actual mechanism to adjust the chair is similar but for now this is not known to me. Note that on the 400 they have the chair adjustment knob on the innerside while on the Fiat it's on the outside. And the 412 seats are electrical adjustable and thus have both covers closed since there is no adjustment knob.

These covers can be found online in various shops and I suspect they are all new reproductions. They are only available in black plastic so you will need to chrome them for the 400 series.

Alternatively, you can contact this French person who is going to reproduce them as well (and the tool suitecaseholder as well). See ferrarichat post:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/refabrication-support-malette-dans-roue-de-secours.700915/

It's the same guy who reproduces the rear bumpers:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/10/rear-bumper-reproductions-for-sale.html

The original part numbers are: 

Cover outside: 1905383 passenger seat
Cover inside: 1905384 passenger seat

Cover outside: 1905385 driver seat
Cover inside: 1905386 drivers seat

I also checked this on the Pininfarina part list for the Ferrari 412

All the various parts for the seats are numbered except the hinge cover plates?

See also this page for the 412 seats: https://trutlands.com/shop/product-category/parts/ferrari/412/222-front-seats/

Or for the 400i seats: https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/diagram/ferrari/400i/219-front-seat-components

Now also added to the larger list of compatabilities per blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2014/02/ferrari-400-compatabilities-inter.html 

Art : Personalized handmade artwork of your car - Ferrari 365GT4 2+2

Due to the blog earlier this week I also bumped into this one via https://runoff.studio/

Click the photo to enlarge:

Automatic gearbox lever

On TikTok I came across this video:

https://www.tiktok.com/@thelatebrakeshow/video/7385966703332707616

Watch on TikTok

It's the first time I hear someone knowing about the origin of the automatic gearbox lever. I only discovered it by surprise in 2018, see this blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2018/08/amazing-discoveries-ferrari-400.html

As for the late brake show, this car (collection) is owned by Jane and shown in this episode per blog:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/07/youtube-late-break-show-private-car.html

Ferrari 400i: classic elegance with the power of a V12 engine

A new online article published today:

 https://tork.buzz/classics/Ferrari-400i-classic-elegance-with-the-power-of-a-V12-engine-20241211-0003.html

Art : hand drawn vehicle images : Ferrari 400

I came across this drawing and when doing a reverse lookup I see it was done by: 

CVD Custom Vehicle Drawings 

They are on X: 

www.twitter.com/customcvd  

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cvdcustomvehicledrawings/

If you are interested in printouts and mugs.

Hagerty : 2025 Bull Market List: 11 Hot Rides on the Rise Right Now - 1976–1989 Ferrari 400/412

 https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/bull-market-2025/

Or jump straight to the article:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/bull-market-2025/#ferrari-jump

And on Youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz6X3hoIgAQ

It starts immediately at the section of the 400:

And yes, another example whereby incorrectly it is stated the used automatic gearbox is a Borg-Warner instead of a GM THM400. 

Read this blog for more background:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2017/01/ferrari-400-thm400-borg-waner-automatic.html

Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 - AUTO DIDAKT Design Review

 Enjoy this episode:

A Ferrari is a Ferrari is a Ferrari is a Ferrari? Well, not quite. Certainly not, if the singular Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 is anything to go by. Where other Ferrari designs are flamboyant and extrovert, the 2+2's is calm and sober. Get acquainted with the modernist Ferrari in all its glory in the video. And also get in touch with us through Instagram: www.instagram.com/autodidaktcritic www.instagram.com/maltedi #ferrari #ferrari365 #pininfarina #cardesign

https://youtu.be/2kMWVBPJGIA?si=eLJGnNgpcPmbHTGE

Blueprint prototipo detail : rear lights 365GT4 2+2

I did posted this blog a few days ago:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2024/11/auction-ferrari-365gt4-22-working-blue.html

And then later realized I do have a photograph about one specific part of this blueprint: the rear light section. I don't think I have published these photo's yet, at least I couldn not find it on my own blog :-) 

In fact I do have a few more photo's I bought. I have the rights to publish these on the internet only, so these can not be published in a book. See this related blog about the background:

https://erwin400.blogspot.com/2015/08/design-story-part-ii-pininfarina-paolo.html

Dutch spot - 1977 Ferrari 400

Adding this one for the records. Compliments to the owner who enjoys his car during this time of the year on the Dutch road (A4 towards Schiphol). It's a very early 400 carburettor 30-6-1977. Very cool!

Via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCgOiz9KaiK/?img_index=1