About to buy a 79 400 automatic, NEED HELP please | FerrariChat
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About to buy a 79 400 automatic, NEED HELP please

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by 1cool400, Apr 11, 2010.

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  1. 1cool400

    1cool400 Rookie

    Apr 9, 2010
    4
    #1 1cool400, Apr 11, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2010
    Hi I am new to this site and new to the Ferrari market. I have owned many muscle cars but I have never owned an Italian classic. I have been looking into buying a 1979 Ferrari 400 automatic. It is a very low millage Gregio Ferro with red interior, it must be an early production 79 because it is not fuel injected but carburetter. The car is a two owner ride with 30,000 kilometers on the odometer and it has the Dual a/c option. I would like to know what I should look for and what is a reasonable price to pay for this car. I know i am being pretty vague but I don't know what you need to know. As far as I know the car has never been hit and it has been maintained. The current owner worked for the original owner so he nows the history of the car. Any help or input would be great, thanks Dave.
     
  2. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,401
    Central NJ
    #2 ArtS, Apr 11, 2010
    Dave,

    If you poke around in this section, there are several threads discussing exactly what you are asking. The one thing I will suggest is to get a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) by a mechanic who is very experienced in older Ferraris. These cars are VERY expensive to bring back (much more expensive than buying a great one), so make sure you know what you are getting into first. Also, if you plan on doing the work yourself, you will still be surprised by the cost of parts. One positive note, the auto tranny is a GM Turbo 400.

    Welcome aboard and good luck!

    Regards,

    Art S.

    PS. do a search of this section, the car you are looking at may have been discussed - one of the advantages of rare types is that most of individual cars are known.
     
  3. 1cool400

    1cool400 Rookie

    Apr 9, 2010
    4
    #3 1cool400, Apr 11, 2010
    How do I find out if the car I am looking at has been discussed on this site? thanks for the advise.
     
  4. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,401
    Central NJ
    #4 ArtS, Apr 11, 2010
    If you want to share details about the car, post them and you may get a response. If you are not comfortable with doing so, use the search function (upper left on the header) and/or simply begin opening threads in this section.

    By the way, here is an article about 400s: http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2009/08/01/hmn_feature9.html
    When I bought my 330, they were viewed similarly.

    Regards,

    Art S.
     
  5. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
    32,274
    Seattle Area
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #5 Jedi, Apr 11, 2010
    Post the VIN - if anyone here knows it, they'll chime in.

    Welcome to the Fcar world - it can be a real hoot :)


    Jedi
     
  6. 1cool400

    1cool400 Rookie

    Apr 9, 2010
    4
    #6 1cool400, Apr 11, 2010
    Thanks for the info guys, I will get the vin and post it. I think the chassis number is #27797.
     
  7. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
    13,477
    Never home
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    Dr. Dumb Ass
    #7 judge4re, Apr 17, 2010
    Hmmm, funny. The Toyota Camry reference I made was to Mondial 8s. 5 years prior...

    http://www.velocetoday.com/cars/cars_71.php
     
  8. Ashman

    Ashman Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 5, 2002
    33,264
    MA
    Full Name:
    John
    #8 Ashman, Apr 17, 2010
    Not a particularly insightful article, especially the comment about the styling "screaming 1980's". I guess that is a compliment of sorts since the design debuted in Paris in 1974 or so.

    I also liked the last comment in the article about how an absolutely perfect 5 speed might fetch original MSRP.

    Since the delivered and converted for EPA/DOT cost of a 400i in the mid-80's was over $70K, I like that valuation! :)
     
  9. 1cool400

    1cool400 Rookie

    Apr 9, 2010
    4
    #9 1cool400, Apr 18, 2010
    What was converted for EPA/DOT on these cars and can they be brought back to original specs.
     
  10. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
    13,477
    Never home
    Full Name:
    Dr. Dumb Ass
    #10 judge4re, Apr 18, 2010
    DOT: Lights, bumpers, side impact beams in the doors.

    EPA: Mainly exhaust systems.
     

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