Discussion
Just recently, I've been admiring these from afar
I don't have the means to pick one up, I'm sure they're ruinous to own and I've heard they're not particularly fun to drive.
But they seem so cool all of a sudden. I imagine them as transport for the European gent who wants performance but in an understated package. Or an driving car for the local Mafia boss.
Am I alone in liking the 'unloved' Ferrari?
I don't have the means to pick one up, I'm sure they're ruinous to own and I've heard they're not particularly fun to drive.
But they seem so cool all of a sudden. I imagine them as transport for the European gent who wants performance but in an understated package. Or an driving car for the local Mafia boss.
Am I alone in liking the 'unloved' Ferrari?
My old man bought a 400i on the spur of the moment at an auction. Brave move but luckily it turned out to be a good one.
I thought it was great. We took it on a 2,500 mile trip with the owners club around Europe and it was great. A Big, comfy and fast cruiser. Its no Elise in the corners but thats no surprise.
One of the fuel pumps gave up the ghost in Germany and we drove home in one hit on 6 cylinders but still managed to cruise at a 3 figure speed.
They are a lot better looking in the metal. A lot cooler now as is most 80's stuff.
Fuel and running costs are big and could be ruinous if you buy a bad one.
Unless you really lust after the 80's styling I would up the budget and look at a 456 instead which are unbelievably cheap for what was once a £170K car.
I thought it was great. We took it on a 2,500 mile trip with the owners club around Europe and it was great. A Big, comfy and fast cruiser. Its no Elise in the corners but thats no surprise.
One of the fuel pumps gave up the ghost in Germany and we drove home in one hit on 6 cylinders but still managed to cruise at a 3 figure speed.
They are a lot better looking in the metal. A lot cooler now as is most 80's stuff.
Fuel and running costs are big and could be ruinous if you buy a bad one.
Unless you really lust after the 80's styling I would up the budget and look at a 456 instead which are unbelievably cheap for what was once a £170K car.
Edited by Davey S2 on Tuesday 23 March 09:02
ferrari spider said:
With the right colour and interea combo, the 400/412 can look very nice.
And hey its a Ferrari V12, thats gota count for something
You're right there Chaz. Red doesnt work on them too well.And hey its a Ferrari V12, thats gota count for something
The old man's was light blue with black interior.
It also had the most gorgeous Nardi steering wheel I have ever used.
Muzzer said:
Just recently, I've been admiring these from afar
I don't have the means to pick one up, I'm sure they're ruinous to own and I've heard they're not particularly fun to drive.
But they seem so cool all of a sudden. I imagine them as transport for the European gent who wants performance but in an understated package. Or an driving car for the local Mafia boss.
Am I alone in liking the 'unloved' Ferrari?
The problem with most people’s "opinion" on the 400/412's is that they compare them to other Ferraris, when they should be compared to their competitors like the XJS / Camargue / Lagonda etcI don't have the means to pick one up, I'm sure they're ruinous to own and I've heard they're not particularly fun to drive.
But they seem so cool all of a sudden. I imagine them as transport for the European gent who wants performance but in an understated package. Or an driving car for the local Mafia boss.
Am I alone in liking the 'unloved' Ferrari?
Yes they cost as much to run as you'd expect from a car that cost the equivalent of £250k when new, getting hold of parts can be "interesting" and it’s always fun when Coker tell you it will be at least 6 months before they produce the next batch of milimetric tyres! They do tend to rust out underneath all the lead filler and the factory exhausts are made out of dog food can grade steel! Which has only served to reduce most none owners opinions of them
But ignoring all the negatives, its one of the easiest of the "proper" V12 Ferraris to live with and use and when coupled with a sports exhaust and an uprated modern gearbox surprisingly fun as a 300bhp+ v12 should be
They are also going up in value, which isn’t a bad thing as now people can justify spending money on restoration and servicing
tomtom said:
If I had pots of money I'd have a 400 as a smoker. So cool, especially in brown or dark blue. 
ExactlySomething nice and impractical for fun and track work in the garage and one of these for cruising in the sunshine.
Mine wouldn't be a 'smoker' but it would be a dark colour.
I only raised the subject of them because only a couple of years ago I didn't like them and they were about £4 to buy.
Now they're ice cool (IMO) and going up in value. Shows how times change.
Fairly profesional looking website here (in French).
http://www.ferrariclub400.com/
Seems to confirm that interest may be finally picking up in these...
The 365GT4/400/412 are lovely cars, always liked them. GTs are the coolest of cars and these are the coolest of GTs. They share a lot of their DNA with the Daytona, and some have been butchered to make Daytona Spider replicas. Were incredibly cheap to buy until quite recently, but even routine maintenance is highly labour intensive and expensive.
For a tad more you can have a Jarama, Espada and such.Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff