Ferrari 400i
 

My thoughts have been wandering a lot lately towards the 400i. I would like to purchase one and convert it to a spyder. I have always had a soft spot for these cars and think it might make a nice project. Any thoughts good or bad about the car itself?
oh here's a picture

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1310994379.jpg

Can you light $100 bills on fire without flinching?

If so, it does sound like a cool project.

Explain? I found a one owner car that is in great shape, it's not far from here and I know the dealership that services it.

Don't get me wrong - they're extremely cool cars and there aren't a lot of them around. However if there are two words in the English language that should strike fear into anyone's accountant, they're "Ferrari" and "project". ;)

Is there a cookbook for making the spyder conversion? Will the body lose a significant amount of rigidity? I think this looks like a cool project and I'm sure you'd enjoy having a family Ferrari that you can drive with the top down. :)

edit: Just saw this article: http://old.sportscarmarket.com/Profiles/2004/July/Ferrari/

I am not sure there is a "cookbook" but I have a wonderful artisan who is restoring a bmw 507 for me, I am very confident that the project can be engineered correctly and he can make it happen.

there were a couple of 400 spyder conversions on ebay just last week, and they looked nice.

I almost bought the Daft Punk 400i back in April. Still kicking myself.

What is wrong with a Mondial?

Get a 3.4T if you wanted a Spyder...

I admire the styling of that car. Its like a crisp Armani suit. Since the model is rather unloved and not worth much anyway, and you're going to devalue it more with a spyder conversion, perhaps go a step further and swap the motor (or be prepared to do so)? Then you won't have the problem of the next major service costing half of the car's value.

I think the V12 is the only reason to own this car. Is the one FS with the Chebby auto trans? That might be a deal breaker for me. But, then again, there are places that can go thru those trannys and make them shift like a new paddle shifter. It's only money.

This doesn't sound like it would be a problem to Mark, based on his postings here.

I've always really liked the clean and focused look of these cars, and suspect it would look sensational in spyder form. So I think this is a fine idea.

Hey Jyl,

The only reason why I am buying the car is because I like the V12 engine, I can justify doing a spyder conversion but not an engine swap. I might also add that the conversion should add considerably to the level of enjoyment I might get from the car and isn't that the point anyway??

If you where really wanting to spend some coin on a V12 powered spyder, why not make a car from scratch resembling a 275NART or a LWB California? It'd be a much sportier car to drive. I just can't see the 400i being a fun car to drive after taking the roof off, I could be wrong...

I rescind my comment about just get a Mondial now that I know its the V12 you are after. Sadly, not a lot of options there that aren't really expensive(365GTS/4, Ferrari F50, 550 Barchetta?)

Having owned both the Mondial and the 328 in the past the answer is simple they have no real leg room, I am 6'5 and when I was young and foolish I thought it was cool to drive these cars , never mind the fact that I looked like an idiot getting in and out of them even with the roofs off. My 360 has a longer wheelbase therefore more legroom for those of us that are a little taller than others

Why butcher a one owner car and kill the value?:eek:

I kind of like the Pinifarina design, it's neat and uncomplicated

What value?

I would come out of retirement AFA as welding and fabricating to do this.

http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-cont...rari_400i1.jpg