Prancing Project: 1981 Ferrari 400i V12 5-Speed

This is a potentially interesting opportunity for the Ferrari collector, or someone who wishes to become one (more likely the latter). The 400i is far from the most desirable model out there, but that all changes when it’s equipped with 3 pedals. This car does have a manual, which would typically dictate a fairly strong asking price. However, it has two significant strikes against it: the engine is partially disassembled, and it’s right-hand drive. However, if you can get past the steering wheel location (and you should) and have some ability to reassemble an engine (I don’t, but you might!), then this manual Ferrari 400i listed here on eBay for $24,500 makes an awful lot of sense.

The 400i is listed for sale by Gullwing Motor Cars. I wish – oh, how I wish – that Gullwing would provide some backstory on the cars they find. They manage to uncover all sorts of intriguing barn finds and the listing descriptions lack any excitement or drama. Please, if you’re reading, hire someone to capture the details of your finds. We would all like to know how you discover cars like a RHD Ferrari 400i manual in the States. With the British market license plates and a rear fog light all still attached, the story of how it was imported and left for dead would keep every enthusiast I know fully engrossed in your listings for minutes, not seconds.

The 400i was always considered the thinking man’s Ferrari. If the 308 was the bodacious, in-your-face model that every extrovert pined to own, the 400i was for the conservative man with a panache for extended weekend trips requiring open roads and some luggage (perhaps along with a companion). The 400i cockpit was larger than the 308 and allowed one to relax without feeling trapped inside a rolling homage to Magnum, P.I. The presence of a backseat likely limited interest to a small slice of the motoring population who wanted to spend Ferrari money but did not want a car that looked like a Ferrari.

This, here, is likely the biggest reason for the discounted price. The 310 b.h.p. V12 engine is not the sort of mill you waltz over to the parts store to find a set of head bolts for, and the listing makes no mention of the removed parts being included with the sale. Was there cause to replace the headgasket, or perhaps a previous owner felt compelled to tackle a proper rebuild before time or health ran out? Mileage is not provided, so we have no way to know what caused this 400i to undergo a rebuild that never reached completion. When the engine is reassembled, the RHD steering will still limit its attraction stateside, but I’m guessing you could sell it to an overseas market customer for a fair price when your enjoyment runs out.