Ferrari’s 400i was introduced in 1979 as the successor to the 400 and was their first model to offer an automatic transmission. The “i” suffix signified the car’s Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injection system, which replaced the triple Weber carburetors found in the earlier model. Pininfarina’s styling was less dramatic on the 400 than on Ferrari’s of the past, but that didn’t seem to faze customers at the time, as there has always been a market for elegant four-seater Ferrari grand touring cars.

Originally powered by a non-aspirated 4,823-cc, 310-hp Ferrari V-12 with a GM 400 Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, this 2+2 Ferrari retains the same low beltline, open airy feel with excellent visibility and a nice clean free-of-frills design similar to the previous 365 GT4 2+2. These are luxurious touring Ferraris and it also has leather on almost every surface, loads of trunk space and room for children or friends in the back, as you could cruise all day at speeds well above 100-mph safely and comfortably.

This outstanding example is finished in Argento Silver with Beige leather interior and has custom components that begin with an expert fitting of a twin Garrett T3 turbo system that was beautifully executed by Greg Armstrong of Historic Race Engineering in Costa Mesa, California; perhaps most well-known for being contracted to produce a run of seven Lamborghini Diablo twin turbos in the early 1990s. The Ferrari conversion included a standalone MegaSquirt engine and fuel management system. The transmission is an upgraded GM four-speed automatic to better handle the increased power of the powerplant. At the same time, the V-12 engine was fully rebuilt including forged pistons to successfully handle the boost.

The spacious and refined interior is all-the-more comfortable with an upgraded Sanden air conditioning unit with R134a refrigerant that provides proper cooling, even in Florida summer-level heat. The suspension has also been rebuilt in front and rear with new bushings and shocks to provide a suitable replacement for the often troublesome self-leveling system Ferrari originally incorporated into the platform.

The owner expresses that “while this Ferrari may not win any awards for originality, it may well be the most well thought out effort in upgrading a 400i that I’ve ever seen.” The car bears the style and exterior detail of the original, including the attractive factory alloy wheels. Other standards include complete Veglia instrumentation, Pininfarina badging, Blaupunkt sound, rear window defogger, remote deck releases; power windows, steering and four-wheel disc brakes.

This car has been a “labor of love” and it easily shows; the individual who had the upgrades commissioned must have enjoyed a "seemingly bottomless checkbook" in making this 400i to their exacting specifications. If you enjoy the vintage styling of the 400i; but desire the amenities of modern vehicles along with world-class performance, look no further than this enhanced Ferrari 400i for understated character. To add to the desirability; it is shown in reliable sources that over the production run (which concluded in 1984), only 1,294 Ferrari 400i’s were built, 873 of which were fitted with the automatic transmission. The open roads await you.