Satan's barge - 1983 Ferrari 400i
Discussion
bolidemichael said:
So why is it consigned to the bin of terrible ideas if it’s tremendous spankingly marvellous?
I must be tired or due a parrot.
Because that's a Quattroporte V.I must be tired or due a parrot.
This is a Quattroporte III
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auctions/2...
Had a wonderful run out to Shelsley Walsh this evening. Beautiful midsummer skies, empty roads - I later found out that there was a football match on, which might have explained the lack of traffic - and the always charming atmosphere at Shelsley. Went in convoy with a friend in a Boxster.
I remember driving early Boxsters on track when they first came out, but this is the first one I've driven on the road. I couldn't possibly have one - I'd rag it to death every time I got in it
Great cars.
Ferrari is running well. My bonnet now opens, but doesn't shut properly. It's a work in progress
I only have room for one V12 in my life, and this could have been it. A manual Jaguar coupe with those fabulous tailpipes
Modern exotics (a 458?)
Some nice BMWs
'80s coupes
Brit metal
Eclectic mix. The Volvo was simply lovely
I remember driving early Boxsters on track when they first came out, but this is the first one I've driven on the road. I couldn't possibly have one - I'd rag it to death every time I got in it
Great cars.Ferrari is running well. My bonnet now opens, but doesn't shut properly. It's a work in progress
I only have room for one V12 in my life, and this could have been it. A manual Jaguar coupe with those fabulous tailpipes
Modern exotics (a 458?)
Some nice BMWs
'80s coupes
Brit metal
Eclectic mix. The Volvo was simply lovely
Purosangue said:
you are evoking memories of our daily armoured crew bus journeys pre Covid in West Qurna -Iraq
Ah, Basra. The Venice of the east - so claimed a fridge magnet I bought at the airport. I can only assume that whoever said that had never been to Venice. I spent Christmas at Zubair once, not far from Qurna.So! Loaded up at 0430 for a gentle run down to Portsmouth as the sun was rising
In the line to board, got chatting to a chap who had driven down from Rutland in a beige Polo breadvan which had a genuine 34k miles on it. Terrific little car. On for the 0800 sailing
I fly dozens of times a year, and generally find it a grim way to travel, so it's nice to bob around for a few hours on a boat. As with long train journeys, I always end up thinking of Agatha Christie-like murder mysteries and wondering who all these other people really are and whether they'll all reach the destination alive and with their trunks of jewellery intact.
It's a fairly cool afternoon here, and a leisurely drive of 40 minutes or so got us to a hotel near Deauville.
We'll see how the world looks after some bubbles and a slab of raw steak. Better, I expect.
In the line to board, got chatting to a chap who had driven down from Rutland in a beige Polo breadvan which had a genuine 34k miles on it. Terrific little car. On for the 0800 sailing
I fly dozens of times a year, and generally find it a grim way to travel, so it's nice to bob around for a few hours on a boat. As with long train journeys, I always end up thinking of Agatha Christie-like murder mysteries and wondering who all these other people really are and whether they'll all reach the destination alive and with their trunks of jewellery intact.
It's a fairly cool afternoon here, and a leisurely drive of 40 minutes or so got us to a hotel near Deauville.
We'll see how the world looks after some bubbles and a slab of raw steak. Better, I expect.
After a couple of nights at the Manoir des Tourgeville hotel, where the food was magnificent, the club weekend began with a rendezvous on Saturday morning at a golf course. We were the second car to arrive, after a dark blue 412. Then an absolutely beautiful metallic brown 365GT4 2+2, a burgundy 412, and two first generation 400s made up a half dozen.
There were two immediate failures to proceed. Hot start issues with the carburettor cars, so four of us set off for the Chateau du Champs de Bataille, where the grounds have been spectacularly landscaped over the past thirty years by the current owner.
There were two immediate failures to proceed. Hot start issues with the carburettor cars, so four of us set off for the Chateau du Champs de Bataille, where the grounds have been spectacularly landscaped over the past thirty years by the current owner.
Edited by Rumdoodle on Thursday 25th July 22:52
Lunch had a typically French duration, and it was great to get to know the other club members a bit. Mostly French, plus one Belgian family. Some were avid collectors of large engined cars, with several other V12s and V8s, including several Jaguars and RR/Bentleys.
The afternoon saw a trip to the Chateau de Breuil and a tour of their calvados production. The weather has been ideal. There was a bit of rain in the afternoon, but it's generally been cool and overcast, so it's never been getting too hot in the car or under the bonnet.
The afternoon saw a trip to the Chateau de Breuil and a tour of their calvados production. The weather has been ideal. There was a bit of rain in the afternoon, but it's generally been cool and overcast, so it's never been getting too hot in the car or under the bonnet.
Then to the Hotel du Golf at Deauville, where the missing 400 reappeared, and the 365 had been replaced by a 512TR for the rest of the weekend.
which made for a smart convoy to dinner on the beach
The weekend has been a good opportunity to compare cars and ownership experiences. I noticed that my self-levelling suspension had far more travel than anyone else's. My car is almost on the floor ten minutes after switching off the engine, while none of the other cars were dropping more than a couple of centimetres. Mine isn't leaking any fluid, and it pumps up to more or less the right level, but I want to work out if something needs fixing or if it's just a matter of tweaking it a bit.
After a day's running, my sub 2k rpm rough running returned, and I think it's probably the same fuel metering issue as before. It's making it a bit grumbly around town but at cruising speeds it's fine.
I hadn't really looked closely at a 412 before, and they really are a nice evolution of the 400. In the right colours, they are very imposing cars.
which made for a smart convoy to dinner on the beach
The weekend has been a good opportunity to compare cars and ownership experiences. I noticed that my self-levelling suspension had far more travel than anyone else's. My car is almost on the floor ten minutes after switching off the engine, while none of the other cars were dropping more than a couple of centimetres. Mine isn't leaking any fluid, and it pumps up to more or less the right level, but I want to work out if something needs fixing or if it's just a matter of tweaking it a bit.
After a day's running, my sub 2k rpm rough running returned, and I think it's probably the same fuel metering issue as before. It's making it a bit grumbly around town but at cruising speeds it's fine.
I hadn't really looked closely at a 412 before, and they really are a nice evolution of the 400. In the right colours, they are very imposing cars.
Sunday morning was a drive through the charming Pays d'Auge. Stopped for a coffee at a place that attracted like-minded motorists
and on to an immense lunch
after which we went our separate ways. Some went off to vote in the elections, some for a round of golf. I stayed in Deauville and had a mooch around town today. The dusty air means the car washes must do good business. Fuelling up this morning, a 355 was getting a rinse in the background
Had a stroll along the beach, which was hellish, as you can see
A couple of tidy Minis
and an evening at the Le Normandie beckons
and on to an immense lunch
after which we went our separate ways. Some went off to vote in the elections, some for a round of golf. I stayed in Deauville and had a mooch around town today. The dusty air means the car washes must do good business. Fuelling up this morning, a 355 was getting a rinse in the background
Had a stroll along the beach, which was hellish, as you can see
A couple of tidy Minis
and an evening at the Le Normandie beckons
Mr Tidy said:
Yes it looks like a great trip in great company. 
But it does look like the rear of your car has collapsed in that last photo!
It's just resting - honest!But it does look like the rear of your car has collapsed in that last photo!
On the 400, the tailpipes are exposed, whereas the 412 has an extra valance under the rear bumper which encloses them and can make it look even more extreme.
Gave the old thing a rinse this evening and the contrast between the rear suspension at its lowest and its highest isn't quite as pronounced from this angle. It's nose down on a bit of a slope, which seems to compensate a bit. Anyway, it goes up, it goes down. As with self-levelling suspension, so with planes and other things in life, we should be thankful for that.
Doofus said:
Does one sphere (or both) have a small leak which releases pressure at rest, but is small enough to be overcome when running?
I think you're right. That's probably where the problem lies. I took this photo next to a first generation car, which may not have exactly the same system, but it's noticeably higher. This was just after switching off the engines.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff