Registration No: FJF 535V
Chassis No: 27387
MOT: Exempt

• 1 of only 123 UK-supplied, right-hand-drive examples manufactured (from a total of 502)
• Previously the resident of a private collection from 2004 until 2023
• Subject to a bare metal bodywork restoration and interior refresh completed last year
• Recent health check, ignition overhaul, fuel line replacement, carburettor re-jet and set-up by specialists Bell Sport & Classic

For many years Ferrari was famous only for making two-seater cars, it's very first close-coupled four-seater (the 250GT 2+2) going on sale in 1961. That car soon established a new pedigree within the brand, leading to the arrival of a new, larger, and more spacious 365GT4 2+2 in 1972, and to the car which supplanted that model, the 400GT, in 1976. All Ferraris built in this period were costly, low-production machines, based on increasingly complex tubular chassis frames, clad in hand-crafted body shells which had been styled by Pininfarina, and which were produced at the Scaglietti coachbuilding works in Modena.

At this time, progression from one model's chassis to the next was evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, so even when the 400GT arrived it was possible to trace its lineage back to the 1960s, though, of course, the newcomer had all-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. All the four-seaters were powered by one or other of the several types of Ferrari's famous vee-12 engines. Launched in 1972, the 365GT4 2+2 (of which 525 examples were built) had a smart four-seater style, but only two passenger doors, and used the familiar 4390cc V12, which had twin overhead camshafts per bank. When the 400GT took over four years later, the self-same body style was retained, but the engine grew to 4823cc and produced 340bhp. This was the very first Ferrari on which automatic transmission (a GM design) became optional, with the top speed of such cars being 156mph.

In the three-year production period, just 502 400 GTs were produced (with a mere 123 of which being supplied to the UK in right-hand-drive specification) before, in 1979, it was replaced by the fuel-injected 400i, which had identical styling, and finally, the 4943cc engined 412 then took the pedigree through until 1988. Manufactured in 1979, the 400 GT offered is one of the United Kingdom supplied cars, being registered new here on the 11^th of August 1979. Finished in Blue Monaco Metallic paintwork with Magnolia and Blue leather interior upholstery, ‘FJF 535V’ was specified from the factory with the automatic transmission. Acquired into the previous private collection in 2004, it resided there until 2023 when purchased by the vendor. The 400 covered just shy of 84,000 miles at the time of consignment and has covered less than 1,000 miles in the last thirteen years.

Lavished with a professional renovation from 2021-2023, the 400 has benefitted from a bare metal bodywork restoration and repaint; a mechanical renovation that comprised brake calipers renovated, carburettors soda blasted and overhauled, and new downpipes; a refreshed interior with the seats refurbished and the dashboard wood re-lacquered; and the alloy wheels have been fully refurbished and shod with new tyres. Elegantly understated and seemingly great value, this Prancing Horse is offered with over 100 images of the restoration work that has been completed. A very rare opportunity with only 123 UK-supplied, right-hand-drive 400 GTs produced, and with the example offered being a freshly renovated example, the Ferrari has also recently benefited from a health check, ignition overhaul, fuel line replacement, carburettor re-jet and set-up by specialists Bell Sport & Classic this year.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452