1983 Ferrari 400i £49,995
A ex-wham GT has provenance to wake you up before you go-go, but also the odd careless whisper, says Rob Scorah
Originally red, though now looking far more genteel and classy in this shade of darkest green, this Ferrari 400 was the property of Andrew Ridgeley of the pop group
Wham! earlier in its life. The big GT comes with quite a good history file, though there’s not much to be said about a repaint. However, the paperwork does document how Ridgeley changed the interior colour to the cream we see today. There are also a couple of letters from other owners passing the coupé along to its next steward.
The next in line will inherit a very tidy machine. The invoices for this car show good servicing, most recently including a thorough brake overhaul in 2016. It also has fresh oil and fluids.
The bodywork is in very good order, with only the lightest blemishes to the paintwork. There are a couple of very small grazes in the paint on the leading edge of the bonnet and the headlight edge (driver’s side), and the front bumper sits very slightly proud of its usual position. There is a small scratch on the driver’s mirror surround and faintly discoloured patches in the steel surrounding the windows – small details, but this car’s price pitches it among the best examples on offer.
Panel fit is good; those origami-like folds in the metal continue from front to back without interruption, and the car looks symmetrical about all relevant axes. The interior is similarly in good order. The retrimmed (in 2000) cream leather shows no scratches or discolouration and the carpets are clean and little worn. All instruments and switches are working fine, although the heating rotary controls are a bit vague – or loose.
The car’s immobiliser is temperamental – it can be decidedly recalcitrant in handing over control to the driver. That’s worth having sorted before purchase. Once this device has decided you are worthy, the V12 fires up easily and immediately settles into a splutter-free idle (this is a fuel-injected car). The GM four-speed automatic slots smoothly into gear and the Ferrari pushes off without any shunt from the drivetrain.
This 400 is a smooth operator and can be left to its own devices as regards gearshifting. The V12 smoothly spools up power from seemingly any revs, taking the car easily through uphill B-road bends. But if you do want to take more control through the corners, a tap of the T-bar will hold the gear where you want it.
Less satisfactory is the gearbox’s kickdown response, though it may just need a little more use after the car’s long lay-up. And considering how fast this much metal can shift, the brakes are less effective than they should be and could use attention (or perhaps just more use).
A good car with sound provenance, though this asking price certainly puts it in the ‘everything sorted’ bracket.