Once upon a time, Ferrari was a marque not only synonymous with the best performance and equally luxurious sports cars in the game. The 70s and 80s were a time when the Ferrari image began to evolve into the super-exclusive and status symbol that it is now. After the departure of the 365 GT sports car, Ferrari looked to modernize its 4-seater option.
The 400i was released last in a long line of models that used the same chassis and engine. In 1979, the 400i debuted at the Turin motor show. It was more refined than most other offerings in the brand's lineup. The 400i was not intended for the Miami playboy, instead, it had an air of a Milanese diplomat to it.
A sense of maturity that lacked in other models. With its automatic gearbox options, the 400i was a fantastic cruiser. Today, it happens to be the cheapest V12 sports car money can buy and could be a good purchase if you're willing to look after it.
Looking Back At The Ferrari 400i
In November 1979, Ferrari unveiled the 400i at the Turin Motor Show. This became the quickest and most expensive Ferrari on sale at the time. Within a few weeks of the 400i's introduction, the Ferrari line-up was re-jigged completely, it seems that the 400i came to fill gaps left by other Ferraris.
Namely, the 308 GT4 was replaced by the Mondial 8, and the 308 GTB and GTS would become GTBi and GTSi. Leaving room for a sportier variant of their 2+2 grand tourer. Although the chassis on the 400i was essentially the same chassis that the previous 400s had used, it did increase in size.
The wheelbase was the longest of any Ferrari ever hence there was plenty of room to accommodate adult-sized passengers. It had independent all-around suspension, coil springs, and telescopic shocks with anti-roll bars on both ends.
Ferrari 400i Is A Gorgeous Italian Sports Car
Twin fuel tanks with an overall capacity of 120 liters were installed underneath the trunk floor and the rear fenders. This made for a fierce long-distance Grand tourer. Just what Ferrari was looking for. However, the most important factor of the 400i was the Colombo-designed engine.
A fuel-injected (this is what the "i" in 400i stands for) V12 power unit with a big bore, long stroke, and running dual overhead cams with a Peak output of 310HP. In order to package all of this, Ferrari went with their classic Pininfarina design house.
The Elegant lines were a discreet stylish package that went against the trend for flashy and sporty looks of the time. The 400 I still looked fresh despite its original design being nearly 10 years old. As you'll see on the used market, most of the paint and interior colors were very elegant and refined, unlike some of the colors found on Ferraris today.
How Much Is A Ferrari 400i Worth Today?
Production of the 400i ceased in 1985. At this time, 1,305 examples of the 400i had left the Maranello Factory. 883 of these cars were equipped with the automatic transmission, and the other 422 had the manual option. To replace it, Ferrari launched the 412i, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show that same year.
Despite its rarity, the market for the 400i is quite low. Examples have been sold for as low as $21,000. However, for a more complete and better looked-after example, expect to be paying around the $50,000 mark. Despite this costing the same as a brand-new Volkswagen GTI, you're getting a V12 Ferrari. We know which one we would pick!
The historic unreliability is the real reason this Ferrari is so cheap. So yes, one must be aware of high maintenance costs and the fact that parts will be much harder to come by however, we think this could be justified if you've got 50k to spend on a weekend Cruiser. It's also likely that the prices of these cars will increase in the coming years, as the inevitable end of internal combustion vehicles is nigh.
As it stands right now, there is an immaculate 1984 400i up for sale in Fort Lauderdale via a Ferrari main dealer. This is most definitely on the very top end of the market as its current asking price is just shy of 200 grand. Don't be put off, however, as just last month, one sold in the UK for £35,000, equivalent to $43,000.
With the right amount of searching and persistence, a very good example of a 400i can easily be had for less than $55,000. While usually, an Italian car from the 80s would throw up huge red flags, we think the 400i is worth taking a shot at. After all, you will not find a V12 sports car for any less money.
If we had to recommend, we would advise buying a manual, as these will be easier to fix if/when the gearbox goes and will be more enjoyable to drive as a whole. After all, those 80s auto gearboxes were very slushy. With the right love and attention, the Ferrari 400i is a classic Ferrari ready to be enjoyed.
Sources: Ferrari, Classic.com