During the peak of the 1970s, Ferrari was widely renowned for its lineup of high-performance sports cars like the 308 and 512 BB. However, the esteemed Italian brand also ventured into the realm of grand tourers, utilizing the potent engines from their sports car counterparts to create opulent and exceedingly comfortable models. This endeavor began with the introduction of the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, followed by the 400 and eventually culminating in the 412.
Unveiled at the 1976 Paris Motor Show, the 400 Automatic and 400 GT replaced the outgoing 365 GT4 2+2. Pininfarina, the coachbuilder, manufactured the bodies at their Turin factory, utilizing a steel construction with a fiberglass floor. The 400 GT boasted an upgraded 4.8-liter V-12 “Colombo” engine paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 400 Automatic marked a milestone as the first Ferrari to offer a three-speed Borg Warner automatic gearbox.
Both iterations of the 400 series were equipped with six 38 DCOE 110-111/M Weber carburetors, specially developed for the 4.8-liter engine. With an impressive output of 340 horsepower, the 400s could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over seven seconds, a commendable feat for that era. Production of the 400 series took place at the Modena factory from 1976 to 1979, resulting in a total of 502 examples produced, encompassing both the GT and Automatic variants.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
