1984 Ferrari 412 Prototipo

Roadster
Chassis number: PROTO4120E0065201
Engine number: 18667

This 'Prototipo Scaglietti' Ferrari is a usable road car and not just a 'mule' or styling exercise. It was designed by Sergio Scaglietti and created to evaluate the use of advanced composite materials in the load-bearing structure of road vehicles. It was given a four-seater configuration and convertible top as this is the most demanding structural design. It was created in 1984 though its VIN identifies it as a 1986 model.

The passenger compartment is a tub consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar, taking advantage of each material's performance characteristics and formations such as honeycombs and sandwiches. The engine, clutch, and gearbox units are positioned in the front subframe. The four-wheel independent suspension with coil springs and tubular shock absorbers are from a Mondial.

This is a lightweight car that weighs just over 1400kg and is nearly 400 kg lighter than the 412 from which the drivetrain is borrowed. Power is from a V12 engine with Bosch Mechanical fuel injection system and dual overhead valves. It displaces 4943cc and produces 340 bhp. The gearbox is a five-speed manual.

The bodywork is created from fiberglass and given a wedge-shaped design. There is a horizontal crease down the sides that joins the front and rear bumpers. Underneath, the central load-bearing tub is comprised of three distinct structural elements, the central tunnel containing the transmission and driveshaft, and the two sill boxes. The result was an increase in torsion by ten times and is five times stiffer in bending than a conventional tube frame.

After this very advanced car was completed, it was used by the factory as a long-term endurance tester. The results of the study were used by Ferrari's engineers and designers to further examine and understand the efficacy and durability of composite materials and structures in road vehicles. Three years later, Ferrari introduced the F40 which featured a composite tub structure, and soon after, the Ferrari 384 was introduced which also took advantage of composite materials in its structural design.

This one-off, four-seat convertible was owned by one of Ferrari's favored clients, Greg Garrison. In 2007 it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA where it was estimated to sell for $50,000 - $60,000 and offered without reserve. Obviously, this is a very important vehicle and a unique creation that took Greg Garrison years and literally dozens of important Ferrari acquisitions and restoration to be in a position to acquire this Prototipo Scaglietti. Bidders eager drove the final bid above the estimated value, setting at $110,000 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

First introduced in 1976, the Ferrari 400i lasted until 1984. A total of 507 of the Ferrari 400i were produced and introduced at the Paris Show in 1972.

The body style was a coupe and had a 4.8 L FI V12 engine.

At first, the chisel-edged Pininfarina shape was showcased as the 365 GT4 2+2 with a four-cam 4.4-liter V12 with a five-speed manual gearbox only. A short-lived variant, the 365 was a 150 mph 4-seater that was replaced in 1976 by the 400GT.

In 1979 the 400i came with a Bosch injection to enhance smoothness though it robbed the V12 of 30 bhp. The Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection replaced the carburetors on the 400. The emissions were much improved but the power was down substantially.

1985 introduced the 412 the last of the 400 line and considered to be the best model lasted until 1989. Improved with an increase in displacement to 4943 cc, the newest 400, now came with ABS.

The most civilized Ferrari of its generation, they were the first models to offer an automatic transmission. Introduced in 1976 at the Paris Motor Show, the 400 Automatic (or 400A) offered a 3-speed unit from General Motors.

The engine was based on the Daytona, was a 4.8 L (4823 cc) V12 that was capable of producing 340 hp. It carried the traditional GT car layout with driving rear wheels mounted in front.

Only 147 models were five-speed manuals which showed the direction that the market was heading.

by Jessican Donaldson