But it invoked a form of divine assistance by letting none other than Pope Leo give the new electric Ferrari his own blessing.

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On camera Pope Leo checks the rear suicide door of the Luce, asking if this is the first four-door Ferrari? ’The first 5-seater,’ comes the reply.

And Pope Leo discovers that as so often with Ferrari there is an interface between the Luce and the Formula 1 experience that Ferrari has employed in the development of its electric vehicles. (As I am sure you are aware, the company founder Enzo Ferrari initially only developed the commercial road line of Ferraris to finance his motorsport dreams.)

Back at the launch of a superb Ferrari that we presently have at BHCC, it came unfortunately without such a direct papal blessing. Yet its magnificence could take you to the highest of heights. I am talking about our 1982 Ferrari 400i Automatic Euro Spec, showing 49,931 miles on the odometer.

Finished in Grigio Scuro Metallizzato, this elegant grand tourer is beautifully complemented by a Tan (Cuoio) interior with black inserts. A notable fact about the Ferrari 400i is that it was the first Ferrari offered with an automatic transmission, marking a significant shift toward luxury-oriented grand touring while still retaining the marque’s signature V12 performance.

Under the hood is Ferrari’s fuel-injected V12 engine. The Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system improved drivability and reliability over earlier carbureted Ferrari models, making the 400i one of the more usable V12 Ferraris of its era.

Exterior details include retractable headlights, black-finished bumpers, quadruple exhaust outlets, Pininfarina fender badging, dual-side mirrors, and 15-inch alloy wheels mounted with Michelin tires and Ferrari-branded center caps. The trunk compartment is properly fitted with a jack and a full-size spare tire, further emphasizing the car’s grand touring intentions.

The interior offers a combination of comfort and classic analog design, featuring Veglia instrumentation, an E.Nardi 3-spoke steering wheel, toggle switch controls, center console, power windows, air conditioning, and an Alpine radio. The spacious 2+2 configuration provides practicality uncommon among vintage Ferraris while maintaining the driver-focused atmosphere expected from the brand.

Accompanied by $58,642.28 in receipt copies dating from 1988 through 2026, along with manufacturer’s literature, this Euro-spec Ferrari 400i presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a well-documented V12 Ferrari with timeless styling, refined road manners, and increasing collector interest. A distinctive grand tourer from Ferrari’s front-engine lineage that remains mechanically sound.

The 365 GT4 2+2 was introduced in 1972 to replace the 365 GTC/4. It then evolved into the 400, the first Ferrari available with an automatic transmission.

In 1979 the 400 was replaced by the fuel injected 400i, the car that we presently have at Beverly Hills Car Club. The improved 412 ran from 1985 to 1989, bringing to an end Ferrari’s longest-ever production series. The 400i was the first production Ferrari to be equipped with fuel-injection, coming with a fuel-injected V12 instead of a traditional bank of six sidedraught Weber carburettors.

Although the option of an automatic transmission might imply it may have been designed for the American market, no version of these grand tourers was ever officially imported there as Enzo Ferrari believed that emerging environmental and safety regulations and a 55 MPH national speed limit suggested the company’s eight-cylinder cars would suffice in the US market. Many, however, entered as grey imports.

The carburetors on the 400 were replaced with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection in 1979. As in the smaller 308GTBi and 308GTSi, power was down to 310 PS (228 kW; 306 hp), but emissions were much improved, complying with U.S. standards. Top speed was 240 km/h (149 mph). Initially differences between the 400 and 400 i were limited to the fuel injected engine and an ‘i’ badge on the tail.

Enzo Ferrari used the 400i as his daily car to the factory, which many might see as the ultimate endorsement. And as with most Ferraris, celebrity names were immediately drawn to the 400i. Rolling Stones bass-player Bill Wyman was a proud owner, as was actor Richard Burton, singer Whitney Houston, and Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. In the mega-hit movie Rain Man, the actor Tom Cruise drove a Ferrari 400i.

In August 1984, UK motoring journalist L J K Setright described the 400 series in CAR magazine as ‘one of the few most beautiful, and one of the two most elegant, bodies ever to leave the lead of Pininfarina’s pencilling vision.’

I couldn’t agree more.

-Alex Manos, Owner