1979 Ferrari 400i

Of its era, Ferrari’s 2+2 grand tourer platform was a curious step away from its spectacular line-up of thoroughbred sports cars. Leonardo Fioravanti imagined the 365 GT 2+2 while designing cars for Pininfarina, introducing strong angular shape lines in a departure from the car’s direct predecessor, the 365 GTC/4. The new 2+2 formula allowed Ferrari to carve a niche that moved away from existing out-and-out grand tourers, such as the 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta. The 2+2 grand tourer evolved over time, rebranded as the 400 in 1976 and updated with a fuel injected engine in 1979, then badged as the 400i. The fuel injected car came in a bid to comply with global emissions standards. The same 4.8-litre Tipo F101 V-12 of the earlier 400 was instead fed through a Bosch K-Jetronic system, replacing the six-fold Weber carburettor set-up. The shift to fuel injection resulted in a sacrifice of 30 horsepower, but the thundering V-12 was still good for 310 horsepower and a top speed of 240 km/h—ideal for effortlessly delivering cross-continental journeys in seamless comfort and style as its manufacturer intended. The automatic version of the 400i was the more popular choice among customers, with 883 units made compared to the five-speed manual’s 422. The 400i offered for sale here was produced in 1983, configured in right-hand drive. The Ferrari is among the first Prancing Horse-badged cars to join The Factory Fresh Collection and has spent most of its life in storage. The odometer reads only 2,743 miles at the time of cataloguing, and the 400i retains its matching-numbers engine. Presented in a smart dark blue over cream colour scheme, the timeless styling of this attractive 400i will no doubt appeal to Ferrari fans and grand tourer enthusiasts alike.