When talking about barn finds, Ferraris aren't the first cars that come to mind. But while these Maranello-made sports cars aren't common barn finds, some were forgotten in storage or abandoned at some point. And occasionally, a Ferrari worth a big chunk of cash will emerge after decades in hiding.
The Ferrari you see here is not exactly expensive. Part of the 400 series produced from 1976 to 1979, it's one of the least desirable Ferraris out there. But it's a true-blue Prancing Horse and an authentic barn find—a combo you don't see very often.
Found by YouTube's "IMSTOKZE," this Ferrari 400 Automatic spent a lot of time off the road. Specifically, it was last driven in 1991, which means it has been sitting for a whopping 33 years as of 2024. The car is now parked outside, but its condition suggests it spent much time in a building. Most likely in the wooden barn next to it.
While 30+ years of improper storage is enough to turn a classic into a rust bucket, this 400 is still in relatively good shape. There's no visible rust on the outside, but the bubbling around the fenders suggests something is definitely going on underneath the paint. The latter is weathered in places. The car appears complete at first glance.
Sadly, the interior is in poor shape. The floors show surface rust, while most of the upholstery is covered in mold, a clear sign this Ferrari sat in a poorly ventilated building until recently. Moreover, the rear seats have huge holes in them. It appears some mice were busy chewing through the leather and the foam. The odometer shows 66,000 miles (106,217 km), which may be accurate given that this Ferrari was driven for a little more than a decade.
The original V12 is still under the hood. And luckily enough, no rodents have chewed through the wiring or set up nests. But needless to say, this 4.8-liter V12, which produced 335 horsepower and 347 pound-feet (471 Nm) of torque when new, will need some work to fire up again.
This 2+2 grand tourer is also a rare gem. Ferrari sold only 502 units, and just 355 of them left the factory with the automatic transmission. Part of Ferrari's longest-ever production series, the 400 was preceded by the 365 GT4 2+2, which went into production in 1972. It was replaced by the fuel-injected 400i version in 1979. The latter was discontinued in 1985 to make way for the update 412 (built through 1989).
All four iterations shared similar design features and V12 engines based on the Colombo F101 series. The 400 was the first Ferrari to feature an automatic transmission, a THM400 three-speed unit sourced from General Motors.
Although it's already old enough to be a classic, the 400 is among the least desirable Ferraris ever produced. It is also listed among the worst Ferraris ever made, alongside the Dino 308 GT4 and the Mondial. As a result, this series is quite affordable today, with most 400 examples in great condition rarely exceeding $50,000.
All told, restoring this Ferrari 400 Automatic would probably cost more than its current market value. And this means it may end up sitting here for a very long time. What a shame. Check it out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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