Ferrari 400: The GT Misstep That Never Reached America

Misguided Luxury - The automotive world is full of legends—cars that inspire awe and admiration, setting new benchmarks for performance, design, and engineering excellence. Ferrari, one of the most revered names in the industry, has a long history of producing such icons. But not every prancing horse was a masterpiece. Some models, despite wearing the legendary badge, failed to capture the essence of what makes a Ferrari truly special. One such example is the Ferrari 400, a car that carried the weight of grand tourer aspirations but fell short of delivering the magic expected from Maranello.

The Ferrari 400, a car that carried the weight of grand tourer aspirations but fell short of delivering the magic expected from Maranello. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

When the Ferrari 400 was unveiled at the 1976 Paris Motor Show alongside the stunning 512 BB, it promised a blend of performance and luxury, continuing the lineage of front-engined V12 four-seaters that began with the 250 GTE in 1959. It was essentially an evolution of the 365 GT4, featuring a larger 4.8-liter engine and subtle design updates. Yet, what made the 400 most infamous was its attempt to introduce something unprecedented in Ferrari history—a three-speed automatic transmission. This decision was aimed at attracting the American market, where effortless driving was preferred over the thrill of a gated manual shifter. Ironically, despite its intention, the 400 was never officially sold in the United States due to federal emissions and safety regulations.

The Ferrari 400, unveiled at the 1976 Paris Motor Show, promised a blend of performance and luxury, continuing the company's lineage of front-engined V12 four-seaters. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

The idea of an automatic Ferrari was controversial from the start. Enthusiasts saw it as a compromise, a dilution of the brand’s racing DNA in favor of convenience. Unlike the six experimental 365 GTs equipped with automatic transmissions for testing purposes in the late 1960s, the Ferrari 400 was a full-production model, allowing any well-heeled customer to own one. However, its grand touring credentials were overshadowed by a lack of excitement. The 340-horsepower V12 had the pedigree of Ferrari’s legendary Colombo engine, but pairing it with a sluggish Borg-Warner three-speed automatic drained much of its spirit. While the manual variant, the 400 GT, retained some driving engagement, the automatic version, the 400 A, felt like a missed opportunity for a brand known for its exhilarating machines.

The Ferrari 400 lacked the visual drama expected from the brand, with Pininfarina's understated, boxy design resembling luxury coupes rather than high-performance exotics. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

Even in terms of styling, the 400 lacked the visual drama expected from a Ferrari. Designed by Pininfarina, its understated and boxy appearance was more in line with luxury coupes of the era rather than high-performance exotics. Practical? Yes. Exciting? Not quite. Compared to its rivals, such as the Lamborghini Espada, it was the more discreet choice—favored by conservative buyers who wanted a fast yet low-profile grand tourer. While some appreciated its refinement and spacious interior, it never achieved the desirability of other Ferraris from the same period.

The Ferrari 400 featured a luxurious interior, offering premium leather seats, electric windows, and a well-appointed air conditioning system for added comfort. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

The chassis and suspension setup provided a comfortable ride, featuring independent suspension with self-leveling technology, power steering, and disc brakes on all four wheels. The car even had a luxurious interior with leather seats, electric windows, and air conditioning. However, none of these features could disguise its hefty weight, which reached 1,700 kg—significantly heavier than its predecessor. The added weight, combined with the automatic transmission, dulled its acceleration and handling, making it feel less like a Ferrari and more like an expensive European cruiser.

The Ferrari 400 featured a luxurious interior, offering premium leather seats, electric windows, and a well-appointed air conditioning system for added comfort. (Picture from: SupercarNostalgia)

Despite its underwhelming reception, the Ferrari 400 remained in production until 1979 before being succeeded by the fuel-injected 400i. Out of the 502 units produced, nearly two-thirds were automatics, proving that Ferrari’s attempt at catering to a more relaxed driving audience had some level of success—just not in the way they originally intended. Since it never officially reached American dealerships, a handful of cars made their way across the Atlantic through grey market imports, where they had to undergo costly modifications to meet US regulations. | zDSY6FonYwY |

Today, the Ferrari 400 remains one of the most overlooked models in the brand’s history. It lacks the collectibility of the 250-series classics, the raw excitement of mid-engined icons, and the groundbreaking innovation seen in later Ferraris. However, it serves as an important lesson in Maranello’s journey—an experiment in balancing performance with comfort, and a reminder that not every Ferrari is destined for greatness. While it may never be remembered as a legend, the 400 still holds a unique place in Ferrari’s timeline, if only as a cautionary tale of how even the most celebrated automaker can occasionally miss the mark. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FERRARI | TOPGEAR.NL | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA ]

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