1978 Ferrari 400

Ferrari took some time to come into the four-seat market although Aston Marin, de Tomaso, Lamborghini and Maserati had established that there was a niche for such a car. When Ferrari did decide to make a real four-seat car rather than the two-people-plus-a-mall-dog approach of the 250 GTE and 330 GT, it seems to have shaken up Pininfarina. Presented with the problem of styling a large car with a sporting pedigree, however, they pulled out all the stops.

The result is timeless elegance. Note the way that the large circular rear lights contrast with the otherwise severe rear panel. Note the way the Ferrari badge is placed on the car: it is discreet, but placed in such a way as to announce its presence to other road users. The beauty of its design is its infinite subtlety.

The model went through many phases, starting life as the 365 GT4 and ending as the 412i; it was as attractive on the day it ended as on the day it first began.

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