Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, 400 and 412

Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, 400 and 412 at a glance

These were Ferrari's family cars of the 1970s and 1980s, built at the same time as the mid-engined Dino 308 GT4 2+2; all models are listed in the Ferrari catalogue. The story of the company is told in our history of Ferrari.

Design by Pininfarina

Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina gave the 365 GT4 2+2 a three-box shape with a separate boot - a clear break from the fastback 365 GTC/4 it replaced. The wheelbase was 200 mm longer than that of the GTC/4, at 2,700 mm, to give real space for four people. A swage line ran along the whole flank; the 365 GT4 2+2 was the second Ferrari, after the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, to use this styling feature. Pininfarina built the steel bodies in Turin, and Ferrari assembled the cars in Modena.

The cabin was well equipped for the time, with leather upholstery, electric windows and air conditioning. The basic shape stayed in production for 17 years with only detailed changes.

The four versions

365 GT4 2+2 (1972–1976). The first version used the 4.4-litre V12 with six Weber carburettors and a five-speed manual gearbox. It ran on five-spoke alloy wheels with knock-off hubs; Borrani wire wheels were optional.

400 (1976–1979). The engine was enlarged to 4.8 litres. The big news was the 400 Automatic with a three-speed GM Turbo-Hydramatic THM400 gearbox, the first automatic in a Ferrari. It outsold the manual 400 GT: 355 Automatics against 147 GTs. Other changes included five-stud wheels instead of knock-off hubs, a revised interior, a lip on the front spoiler and twin instead of triple round tail lights. Wikipedia gives 0–60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

400i (1979–1985). In 1979 the carburettors gave way to Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, which cut emissions but also reduced output to 228 kW (310 PS). A late-1982 update with new camshafts and exhaust manifolds raised it to 232 kW (315 PS), and the car received a revised interior, a narrower grille, body-coloured bonnet vents and tail panel, new mirrors with a small Ferrari shield and Michelin TRX tyres on metric wheels. The top speed was about 240 km/h. With 1,305 cars, the 400i was the most successful version.

412 (1985–1989). The last version was also the most visibly changed: its black rear valance integrated the fog lamps and exhaust pipes, and the side window frames were finished in black. A 1 mm larger bore took the displacement to 4,943 cc and gave the new name. Output returned to 250 kW (340 PS). The 412 had a raised boot lid for more luggage space, body-coloured bumpers, a deeper front spoiler and new flat-faced wheels. It was the first Ferrari offered with Bosch ABS. Of the 576 cars, 270 had a manual gearbox.

Reception

Opinions about these cars have always been divided. The engineer and journalist L. J. K. Setright praised the body in CAR magazine in August 1984. Later commentators were much less kind: the BBC book on "crap cars" ranked the model 18th, and Jeremy Clarkson called it "awful in every way" on Top Gear. Buyers, however, clearly liked the comfortable automatic versions: 355 of the 502 400s and 883 of the 1,305 400i were automatics.

The 400i is an interesting case in another way: its fuel-injected engine met American emissions standards, but according to Wikipedia the car was never officially imported to the United States. A black 1987 412 starred in the 2006 film Daft Punk's Electroma; the car was later sold for charity.

Legacy

Production ended in 1989 without an immediate successor, leaving the mid-engined Mondial as Ferrari's only 2+2. The front-engined V12 four-seater returned in 1992 with the 456, and the idea continued through the 612 Scaglietti, the FF and, today, the Purosangue.

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