1987 – Ferrari 412 “Manual”

French registration title                                 

Prugna Metallizzato and a manual gearbox!

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1976 and powered by a 4.8-litre V12 with four camshafts, the 400 GT reaffirmed Ferrari’s determination to compete with the world’s finest luxury sports cars. Its spacious, comfortable interior, luxuriously finished and upholstered in leather right up to the headliner, makes it a superb GT ready to tackle long distances, whilst its 12-cylinder engine, coupled with a manual gearbox, gives it a sportiness and driving pleasure never before seen in a GT of its class.

The 412 presented here was first registered in June 1987. Built for the Swiss market, it was subsequently sold in France in 1993 by Daverat garage, at which point it had 38,000 kilometres on the clock.

This version is particularly interesting as our 412 is part of a small series fitted with a manual -gearbox – 270 cars according to Ferrari’s production figures. Its colour and interior configuration make it even more appealing. We are looking at the very elegant “Prugna Metallizzato”, whilst the leather is beige.

The car is a third-hand vehicle and the current owner has owned it since 2003. As he only drives it occasionally, he has had it meticulously maintained. The TRX tyres are recent, the shock absorbers have been serviced, and just before the sale the exhaust system was completely overhauled with the fitting of two Ansa silencers. The Heritage Mecanique workshop in Touraine has just carried out a service following a brief period of inactivity.

Today, the Ferrari 412 is in a very satisfactory original condition and has never been restored. Its road handling is excellent; the responsive V12, coupled with a manual gearbox, makes for a truly enjoyable drive, especially when you let the engine sing.