Satan's barge - 1983 Ferrari 400i

Satan's barge - 1983 Ferrari 400i

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Discussion

bolidemichael

14,113 posts

204 months

Wednesday 26th June
quotequote all
Gary C said:
Rumdoodle said:
Purosangue said:
Rumdoodle said:
[url]|https://forums-
Is there something you aren't telling us ??
ie the AK47 in the back ground

yikes
Oops! Didn't realise that was in the shot. I was very excited about the new ventilation levers.
err, that still doesn't explain its presence...
He’d tell you, but he’d have to kill you…

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Wednesday 26th June
quotequote all
Actually, it's not an AK47. It's an AKM.

classicaholic

1,774 posts

73 months

Wednesday 26th June
quotequote all
Rumdoodle said:
Actually, it's not an AK47. It's an AKM.
Standard issue with a 400!

Purosangue

1,044 posts

16 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
Rumdoodle said:
Actually, it's not an AK47. It's an AKM.
you are evoking memories of our daily armoured crew bus journeys pre Covid in West Qurna -Iraq


Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
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.

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
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.

Spinakerr

1,220 posts

148 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
Lovely stuff. Right car for the ferry aswell - surely with a 400 they still allow you to book Concorde?

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Thursday 27th June
quotequote all
Spinakerr said:
Lovely stuff. Right car for the ferry aswell - surely with a 400 they still allow you to book Concorde?
biggrin I called them on my massive car phone. Apparently they don't fly it anymore.

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Friday 28th June
quotequote all
Spent a few hours in Honfleur.

Pretty little town

with a 2km suspension bridge, the Pont de Normandie

Bought some local cider

A local motor

An artist's impression of my motoring adventures

bolidemichael

14,113 posts

204 months

Friday 28th June
quotequote all
I enjoyed lunch last Saturday at the Haras National du Pins and lounged on the terrace whilst watching some equestrian activities.

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

After a couple of nights at the Manoir des Tourgeville hotel, where the food was magnificent, the club weekend began with a rendezvouz 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.


Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

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.


Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

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.

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

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

paulguitar

24,434 posts

116 months

All looks very civilised, top work.




Craikeybaby

10,495 posts

228 months

Sounds like a good trip, my family come from that part of France, and I love wandering along the boardwalk at Deauville.

tim0409

4,572 posts

162 months

You mentioned the brown metallic (Marrone metallizzato) on the 365 GT4; I’ve seen a few Ferrari’s in that colour and it does look absolutely stunning.

Really enjoying your posts.

Mr Tidy

23,018 posts

130 months

Yes it looks like a great trip in great company. thumbup

But it does look like the rear of your car has collapsed in that last photo!

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Craikeybaby said:
Sounds like a good trip, my family come from that part of France, and I love wandering along the boardwalk at Deauville.
It's been really great to explore the region for a few days. I'd definitely come back again.

Rumdoodle

Original Poster:

802 posts

23 months

Mr Tidy said:
Yes it looks like a great trip in great company. thumbup

But it does look like the rear of your car has collapsed in that last photo!
It's just resting - honest!

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.