Unveiled at the 1979 Turin Motor Show, the Ferrari 400i marked a refined evolution of Maranello’s grand tourer with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection replacing the earlier carburetors for improved drivability and emissions compliance without compromising Ferrari’s hallmark performance. Beneath its crisply tailored Pininfarina bodywork lay a front-mounted 4.8-liter V-12 factory rated at around 310 horsepower, delivered seamlessly through either a five-speed manual or, more unusually for Ferrari, a three-speed General Motors-sourced automatic gearbox. The 400i offered 2+2 accommodation with a level of comfort and practicality rare among Ferraris, including leather-clad interiors, air conditioning, and electric windows as standard. Though often overlooked in favor of its mid-engined contemporaries, the 400i was a true gentleman’s express, blending understated sophistication with genuine high-speed touring capability.

The 400i offered here, chassis 33847, certainly ranks among the most well-preserved examples extant, displaying just over 1,525 kilometers (~948 miles) at cataloguing. Cloaked in Nero Tropicale over Pelle Beige leather trim, this European-specification 400i is one of approximately 422 400i specified with the desirable five-speed manual gearbox.

According to its original warranty booklet, the car was delivered new on 22 May 1981 by Tayre of Madrid to its first owner, a resident of Altea on Spain’s Mediterranean Coast. There, chassis 33847 enjoyed a careful life of sparing use before reportedly changing hands in 1989. It remained cherished under long-term ownership until its acquisition by the consignor in 2025. Immediately upon purchase, the car was treated to a nearly $10,000 service by Francorchamps of America in Costa Mesa, California, including new fuel heads, thermostat, and fan switch, along with an engine and radiator flush. Most recently, paint meter readings conducted across the car have indicated the presence of a factory-applied finish. The car’s original warranty booklet and period registration document copies complete the sale.

Today, the 400i stands as one of Ferrari’s best-kept secrets, a grand tourer combining V-12 charisma, genuine usability, and period-correct elegance, with this example, boasting unrepeatable preservation and just 1,525 kilometers at cataloguing, certain to enhance any discerning collection.