Story in the Wall Street Journal

Awesome, congrats! I love this section of the WSJ.

Cheers!

Ruben

 

Nice article!

 

+1

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Nice one. Lots of uninformed posts as usual!

 

Great !

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That's pretty neat - doesn't happen every day that an article is featured on a well known site/source about an individual and their car. Congrats!

 

Actually while not every day, it is every week in the WSJ All sorts of people/cars profiled- the other week, a his and hers Ford Pinto... By the way, the WSJ is the best newspaper in the US, bar none.

Great article!

 

Congratulations! And don't let any of the negativity dampen your mood. That's as real as it gets, its a real Ferrari, and you made an exciting buy! Wonderful story. I bet it further enhances the ownership experience. Forza!

 

I once did a f-club drive in my 400i and had several people with new 488s, etc., chatting me up about the car, saying they wished they had the patience and skills to own a vintage model. If one hasn't owned and driven a 365/400/412 fully sorted, they really have no basis from which to provide their two cents.

 

Great story, and I love your being able to teach your kids to drive on it, and that its a family joy. My kids learned on an Escort. Not so neat. My wife just took our 1982 to her 50th reunion, and its a manual. She wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Out of curiosity, I just did a search on all of F-chat on the word 'escort'...

- 90% Radar Detector
- 9% no comment

hehe

 

Rick,

Great article! I used my 330 in a similar manner - using and sharing the car is what makes it fun!

Who is doing the service on it? Even if you are doing the work yourself, I'd have Francois Sicard go through it - that way, you'll know what it should feel like.

Best of luck to you!

Art S.

PS. I didn't take any of the posts as negative. Some were uninformed (they don't seem to know the difference between timing chains and timing belts) and a couple were snobbish but overall, they seemed positive and encouraging.

 

Rick,

Honest narrative and great pictures.

Just curious - did the Journal approach you or did you approach the Journal.

Best

 

I agree with that! Any negativity that is mentioned on these cars is from an uninformed person & should be ignored- this is a real grand touring V12 Ferrari- and a beautiful one at that. The lines are quite nice on the 365GT 2+2/400/412...always loved them.

 

Very cool to read this as I sifted through the WSJ this morning.....

 

Bullseye! As a former, 15 year owner of a 412, most Ferrari owners and enthusiasts had never have seen or heard one of these rare beasts. I actually had an "experienced" exotic car salesperson, upon seeing my vehicle, arrogantly tell me, "I sold a bunch of those 400's". I told him, "I don't think so" as I rose from my chair and left his office. That is the reason for my Fchat username, nota400.
These cars are "misunderstood", as they were designed as "practical" Ferrari's. The T400 automatic transmission and chain driven cams of the 412 were huge selling points for me. I had heard "horror" stories of the cost of "engine out" servicing every few years. Plus you can put 2 full sets of golf clubs in the trunk of a 412!
I hope my newer 599, also with it's chain driven cams, provides me with the mostly trouble free enjoyment I had with the 412.

 

A friend just sent me the link and I was going to post it here - you beat me to it. Nice article. There's always negative comments about 400s from people who've never even seen one but have just read the garbage by Clarkson and others. I'd love to read articles about their own cars!

 

That is cool. Your kids will love you if you leave it for them, 50 years from now.