1985 Ferrari 412

In 1973, the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 replaced the curvaceous 365 GTC/4. The new Ferrari was a luxurious four-seater that signaled a new stylistic direction for the Pininfarina design house. It made its public debut at Paris in 1972 and utilized the basic mechanicals of the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta. It was clothed in a crisply tailored Pininfarina-designed body that remained virtually unchanged through the evolutionary 400 and 400i (fuel injected) models of 1976 through 1984, culminating in the 5.0-litre 412 from 1985 to 1989. Its 17-year lifespan made it the longest-running Ferrari series. The 412 was the last front-engine Ferrari until the arrival of the 456 in 1992.

In typical Ferrari fashion, the model designation denoted the swept volume of each of its 12 cylinders. The 412 displaced 4,943cc and produced 340 horsepower. Either five-speed manual or GM-sourced Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic gearboxes were available. The 400GT had been the first Ferrari to offer an automatic transmission as an option, a decision vindicated by the fact that more than two-thirds of customers took up the option. ABS was available for the first time in a Ferrari. Zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in under 7.0 seconds and had a top speed exceeding the magical 150-mph mark.

The Ferrari 412i is the ultimate version of the 400-series four-seat Grand Touring cars and remains highly respected for its performance, luxury, and ease of operation. A total of 576 examples of the 412 model were produced during the production run, in the chassis number range 56275 to 82153. It would be another three years before a 2+2 model reappeared in the Ferrari range catalog, with the 456 GT, and nearly seven years before automatic transmission would once again become available on a Ferrari.

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