Jay Leno and the Audrain Museum showcase the Ferrari 400i, a luxurious 1970s V12 coupe unlike any other Ferrari.
When Jay Leno climbs into a Ferrari, the expectation is usually an F40 or an Enzo — the kind of machines that embody raw speed and racing pedigree. Instead, in a new video with the Audrain Museum Network, the comedian and car collector surprised fans by taking the wheel of a very different kind of Ferrari: the 400i, a V12-powered grand tourer built for comfort as much as performance.
Produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Ferrari 400i was known as the “executive’s Ferrari.” Unlike the brand’s lightweight exotics, the 400i offered leather-lined luxury, power steering, air conditioning and space for four adults. Its restrained, squared-off styling — penned by Pininfarina designer Leonardo Fioravanti — reflected the era’s taste for understated elegance over flamboyant curves.
Under the hood, however, the 400i remained faithful to Ferrari tradition. It carried a 4.8-liter V12 paired to a five-speed manual transmission, capable of delivering the kind of acceleration and agility that reminded drivers of its Maranello heritage. Leno and Audrain CEO Donald Osbourne, who joined him on the drive, emphasized how the car balanced refinement with performance, describing it as smooth, composed and surprisingly quick.
Osbourne even dubbed the 400i “the most American Ferrari” — despite the fact it was never officially sold in the United States. With its plush interior, long hood and muscle-like presence, it drew comparisons to American luxury coupes of the same era, from the Pontiac Grand Prix to the Ford Galaxie.
For Leno, the car’s rarity and character made it stand out among the Ferraris most people expect to see. It may lack the poster appeal of the Italian marque’s supercars, but the 400i’s blend of muscle and manners has quietly earned it a cult following.
See it here.
