Description

1977 Ferrari 400 Automatic

From long-term ownership; 65,000 miles; requiring recommissioning after 22 years of dry storage; exciting project

The 400 series Ferrari was produced between 1976 and 1989. Based on the original and highly sought after Daytona, it started life as the 365 GT4 2+2, but was renamed the 400 after an increase in capacity to 4823cc.

Around one third of these were equipped with a 5 speed manual gearbox, the more common version using a GM 3 speed automatic transmission as on offer here. Even in automatic form it could sweep to 60mph in under 7 seconds and comfortably crack 150mph.

The 412i appeared in 1985 with ABS and another engine enlargement, the car being dropped altogether in 1989. Its successor didn’t appear for several years until the 456 entered the market.

This 1977 carburettored Automatic 400 was delivered new through Cooper Car Sales in Bothley, Leicestershire in October of that year. Its first of seven owners was a Mr J Morgan, who took it back to them for service three times according to the service book. A year later, Chapman Spooner Ltd were servicing the car, adding a further three stamps to 1979. It also comes with the original handbook.

The ownership history is near complete, the car being owned by N Smith and P Docker in 1988, a Mr Commander in 1989 and Mr Chappell in 1991. He spent £11,000 with DK Engineering soon after acquisition, fixing numerous items and refurbishing the car to a high standard. It was showing 53,960 miles at this time. It changed hands once again in 1994 before our vendor acquired it that same year.

He enjoyed it very much, adding some five thousand miles, before putting it away in dry storage in 2000. The car was running well at this time, but business pressures and lots of choice meant he simply stropped driving it.

Since then, he has not attempted to start it, and neither have we, but the engine turns over and the car is ready for recommissioning.

For more information - contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com