400i 5-Speed arrives- First day on the road...

The 400i arrived in Boston from Florida in record time- Loaded on the truck with palm trees in the background, offloaded with 15 foot high snowbanks in the background.

You never really know how good or bad your new "Vintage" car is until it's really yours and you can give it a little blast. This car is 44121- the car that received a rather thorough rebuilding by Sebastien in St Petersburg. In my opinion it's been sorted about as thoroughly as any one on the road right now- but as Brett has advised- you don't get a "restored" Ferrari for $30K!! This is a "Somewhat" restored Ferrari- new paint, leather, carpets, suspension bushings, tires, exhaust, headers, Valves and many, many more details. The math makes your head hurt though- Start with a tired but very solid 83 5 speed for $28,500, spend $30K in parts- several hundred hours of labor, spend two years tracking down parts all over the globe, then sell it for a fraction of your investment. Not a great business proposition but it worked out Ok for me.

That said the car is pretty special. My initial thought when purchasing it was that the cream paint was not done to a terribly high standard, and I would deal with that at some later date, perhaps changing the color to Serra Blue or something that makes the car's lines look more elegant. Upon arrival it's really quite good. The single stage paint has been color sanded and buffed to a very high level, and the few areas that needed attention responded beautifully to a few hours of effort with the Porter Cable buffer and some Menzerna polish. I have a bit of work ahead to remove the SS trim around the Driver's Door and get some of the nicks and dents repaired, but other than that the car is remarkably straight and clean.

The interior is amazing for an 83- Certainly nowhere in the same league as my Museum-Quality 88 412, but EVERY SINGLE inch of leather is new- and the square weave carpets and headliner are gorgeous. The car smells new- and while you are very, very aware that you are in a "Vintage" car- it does not have the tired, worn feel that I got from test driving so many early 80's Ferrari's.

The engine fires almost instantly and settles into a silky idle right away- The rebuild of the engine is evident as the engine is remarkably quiet- almost no chain noise and virtually no valve clatter. The Stebro exhaust is loud as hell and a bit droning when stuck in traffic- but just glorious when you open it up. Nice work on the new clutch and flywheel resurface- clutch action is very progressive and not as stiff as some of the cars I've checked out. The gearbox is as good as any I've used- 2nd gear "Snicks" right in even when ice cold.

Cannot tell you what a difference it is to drive a 400 that has had motormounts, tranny mounts, front suspension bushings and rear load levelers attended to- the car is so smooth and so "soft" yet the couple of highway on-ramps I attacked it really holds a nice line. This is all stuff that's a revelation to me since my test drives were always with the owner or dealer in the passenger seat. Brand new TRX's also change the equation dramatically- The car sticks quite well- no match for my 355 but certainly far better than my 2006 E Class MB.

On the road- open road- it's unmatched. I have a very, very good 928 S4 but it cannot hold a candle to the sheer muscle of this car at speed- It feel faster, torquier and "Stronger" than the 928 at ANY speed or RPM above 20 MPH. From a standstill the 928 is much more of a hotrod- even considering the 400i is 5-speed and my 928 is auto. The motor on this car is so strong and so willing it just inspires you- I've had the chance to drive a few Daytonas and the sound and seat of the pants feel is very, very similar.

While this car is much more than I had hoped for- i am really glad that i also have a minty-mint 412 auto coming in another week. The automatic gearbox and the brand-new condition of this particular 412 are really at odds with this 400i. I'll do a back-to-back comparison when the snow is all gone here in new England- but the auto 412s are JUST as fun to drive in my mind- and I'm just thrilled that I'll be able to drive great examples of each series of cars.

Thanks again to those who helped me through the decision process- As I stated when I came into this part of Fchat- i was willing to spend the money, just wanted to make sure i was getting the right car at a reasonable price- and I'm really pleased.
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Sounds like a beauty AND a bargain. Congrats
I'm anxious to hear your comparison with the slushbox car.

 

Is this white one the same as in these YT clips? [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUlbyi5mJr4[/ame] / [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_AR0aOwts&feature=related[/ame]
I love the sound of this one. Almost as good as a carbed version

 

I had a 400GT five speed a few years back. It was a wonderful car...I miss her still.

 

Yes that's the car- But it has had the engine rebuilt since those videos were taken. I also think since the videos it has had the Stebro rear exhaust installed which is quite loud but really full throated.

 

Congrats again Jay...
i was really thrilled with how our inhouse 400i stick turned out and really had to eat some crow regarding the performance of the injected car...they're fantastic.
coincidently, i'll have to eat a little more regarding white paint on a 400...'cause that actually looks much better than i expected.
the purchaser of our 400GT is leaning toward white, despite of my protests...i might just 'let' him paint it white afterall.

 

Jay

Congrats on the new addition, it sounds as though it is in excellent mechanical shape and the cosmetics are pretty good overall. I can't wait to see it around NE sometime this spring or summer!

 

Brett-

Thanks- If these cars continue to amuse me over the course of this year maybe it's time I have you build me something!!

White is funny on Ferraris- Looks great on TRs, lousy on almost any of the 2+2 cars- but looks good on the 400s for some reason. I'm gonna live with this color for a while and see how I like it.

John-

Thanks- I think there's at least 6 400/412s around New England- I wonder what the biggest grouping of these has been?? maybe we can get all the New England/New York guys together for a nice Summer cruise- Let's try and work that out- I'll bring BOTH of mine.

 

Congrats, Jay: she looks spectacular.

 

congrats...

 

Jay,

Looks great. Keep the details coming. My 365 was originally bianco duco, or at least I was told as much. We should all try to get together at some point--ideally with each car represented within the series--and maybe even twist the arm of an enthustiast magazine to do a piece featuring the entire run and breath some life back into the 'ole 365/400/412 sails.

 

Jay

I think that there are 3 400i 5 speeds in CT, (mine, Chuck Queener's '83 5 speed in Stamford and Mark Diebolt's '85 5 speed in eastern CT) with possibly an additional 5 speed coming to eastern CT. I don't know about any automatics in the state. Up your way there is a recently acquired 5 speed (Icecar-1).

It would be fun to try and get as many out as possible. I've never seen more than 2 together at one time around here. One possibility would be at the new version of the Hartford Concorso on Father's Day, we'll have to see if that or other events are convenient for people to show up.

 

John-

Yeah and there's Aidan up here as well as SlickMurphy who is waiting on the arrival of one of Brett's rebuilt 365s...

I can bring my 5 speed and the auto 412.

 

Congrats Jay! That car really does look nice in white...

 

Good day Jay,

Congrats indeed! Enjoy both of your cars in excellent health!

Cheers,

Sam

 

Looks Great !!! The white flows well with the dark accents and soft interior.. And white is such an easy colour and hides body imperfections,," if any",, very well.
Something tells me you'll be using this car the most and the 412 will be the show Star.. I can tell your very excited about theses new car's.
If your having a get together,, i'm sure a few of us just north of the border might make a trip also..

Best Regards, Robert

 

Jay

You must be thrilled with you new 400! It looks good in white - I remember regularly seeing a beautiful white 412 in London in the late 1980s.

Aidan

 

Yeah I'm curious as well-I tend to think I'll rotate them through equally as I have done with my older and newer Porsches- But the 412 is going to be entered in a few shows for sure...

 

I don't care what Mike Sheehan has to say about the 400i, I think it is a classic shape that has aged well. Nice car Jay. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

 

Hello Jay,

Very nice. I always like reading your posts.

Looking forward to hearing more about it and the 412 on the way.

By the way, I think the white suites it. Detail the hell out of it and enjoy it as is. Someone else spent the dollars so for once take advantage of it. Its always more enjoyable when its someone else's funds.

Enjoy them,

Max

 

Hi all, I have a 412 auto in southwest Ct and when we finally lose the snow berms we've acquired this winter we would love to meet up with some of the others for a tour or coffee or....all the best , Marc

 

Hi Marc, I knew I was forgetting someone and how could I do that after seeing you and your car at the Fairfield County Concours only a few months ago?

I'm beginning to think, with 4 current plus 1 on the way 400 series cars, that the little state of CT has got to be one of the epicenters of the series. Jay is singlehandedly trying to make Massachusetts take the lead in that department though!

 

Hey- I'll do my best!!

So a good night of wrenching on the old girl- Rebuilt Power Steering pump was leaking like a pig- removed it and cleaned all gaskets, hoses and used new clamps- seems fine now. Put a clean sheet of foamcore under the car and this morning NOT ONE DROP of anything.

Used my official "Doctor of Italian Electronics" degree to good use, and cured a few gremlins in the relay board- Mine is in remarkably good shape- nothing melted, noting burned- but the old corroded Bosch relays are mostly toast- Had a box of old 308 stuff so swapped a few and got working wipers and headlights that actually work- so I'm good.

Got in her this morning turned the key and VROOOM she roars into life with 1/2 second. I HIGHLY recommend a reduction starter if you have not done so- It's among the best things you can do to the car.

Luckily in Mass we have no real inspection for classic cars- just drive it in, get approved- so now that I'm legal took it out on the highway.

Nothing is uglier for white cars then Springtime in New England, but it's 50 degrees and I'm driving her.

First of all- that Stebro is one loud exhaust- Thrilling for sure but I'll have to see if I can live with it. That said- the car is FABULOUS. Power is ridiculous- even in Fifth it pulls like a train - third gear hitting offramps is really exciting, the car burbles through the gears as yo downshifts and then knocks you back in your seat as the power out of a turn. The steering that feels so cumbersome around parking lots is light and fairly accurate at speed- After driving my Carrera and my 355 this morning it's not in that league- but still really good in a "Classic" sense.

My car rides incredibly well- handles bumps like a luxury car, very tight in corners and my self levelling suspension is working perfectly. I think a lot of the great road feel of this example is the brand new TRX tires- A few I drove were like riding lawnmowers- just harsh and bumpy and very nervous over even tiny imperfections in the pavement.

I'm going to need to sort out the fuel smell if I'm going to live with this thing in warm weather- but it's not too bad. Once you get back from a spirited drive you get that classic Ferrari smell- The V-12 smell that the Daytonas and cars from that era have- little bit of oil, little bit of gas, little bit of exhaust and a little bit of that "Hot Aluminum' smell that only old Ferraris have. It's a "Ferrari-Guy" thing for sure, but very intoxicating.

This car- with it's strong rebuilt engine, LOUD exhaust and 5-speed is a beast- I don't think I would use the word "Elegant" to describe any single aspect of it, yet the 412 that I will have next week does feel fairly elegant- such VERY different cars.

In my 1/2 hour on the road got several approving looks and a few toots of the horn. Once people get a sense that it's a Ferrari they're pretty curious- i stopped to wipe off the windscreen (Gotta get those washers working) And three cars pulled in behind me. "What year is it".. "What is this thing... A Kit Car?"... and th elast gy- "Wow a 400i and a 5 speed to boot- Can I see the engine"... and then much OOhing and AAhing ensued.

Yo uguys are right- VERY different reaction than my 308/328/355 experiences... People like the car and they like YOU when you drive a "Classic" like this. They're curious not about how much you make and how much the car costs, but how the car works and when they made them and how many are around. It's pretty damned cool to own one of these things!

Washed off the grime and some of my crew came out to inspect- Everybody loves the lines of the car- and of course the interior blows everyone away. A really fresh looking and smelling interior on these transforms the driving experience and the reaction of people.

Here are few car wash pics- still piles of snow around here so usage will be limited for now.
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Pull the carpet back from the back of the rear seat and the fuel tanks and check the vent lines that run into a cannister or whatever it is called that is attached to the back of the rear seat in the trunk. I think you will find that gas has been leaking here and that is the source of your fuel smell and why to never top off the tanks in a 400i.

 

As i wrote before,, Those are the reaction I get also.. and the Silver car with the glowing red interior will add even more presence to the occansion. You'll see..
I get people leaning out the windows of there cars on the highway taking photos of mine. Never thought such an "unloved" Ferrari would get so much attention did you... and its not even summer yet.
I really enjoy cruising comfortably down the Hwy at about 65mph and the growl of the exhaust is just intoxicating.
Jay .. I have 5 911's and a few other classics also. I enjoy all the cars for the particular experience but but I drove the 400 the most last year. I just added a modern 550M beside the 400iGT. Cant wait to start comparing once the snow melts..

Take care..

Regards, Robert