Seeing this 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 as a gutted shell just seems wrong somehow. Ferrari’s take on a two-door sedan-like shape might not be universally admired like other models in the 1970s, but it had a purpose, and a V-12, and the prestige of the rampant horse badge. Yet, for this particular model, life went pretty south. Everything…virtually every last thing…was raided out of the car. It isn’t too surprising that the V-12 and the transmission disappeared…they probably went to keep another vintage Ferrari 100% Italian. And it’s no shock that a Chevrolet drivetrain was used to prop the car up after that. But to see this car sitting on casters, with the suspension in boxes, the glass missing, the trim somewhere in Narnia being cared for by Tumnus…well, most people would see a waste. But I see opportunity.
Enzo Ferrari didn’t like that some of his cars were toys, or museum pieces. He wanted his cars in motion, being driven hard, racing and winning. While the Tipo 101 platform was never earmarked as a race car, instead working as a grown-up and mature Ferrari for the discerning gentleman racer to drive in-between track blitzes, we think that this blank slate deserves a better shot at life than whatever brought it to this condition.
In our eyes, Verde Chiaro Metallico (a metallic green) would be a great color to pick, and we’d try our best to track down the Ferrari interior bits…at least the dashboard and the steering wheel, anyways. After that? Roll the dice: modern Hemi, Coyote, LS…anything that has a manual trans backing it. Keep the four-wheel independent suspension, but make sure it’s up for the power, add disc brakes and a good set of wheels and tires. While it’d look good with Borrani wire wheels and knockoffs, our idea of a corner carver might not mesh with that choice.
Forget the cost…just go nuts with the theoretical build. Air suspension or coilovers? Don’t want a V8 in there? Have a better idea? Let’s hear it!
Craigslist Link: 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 (some assembly required)
(Courtesy: Bring A Trailer)
To right the wrong of a Chevy transplant just source a Ferrari V12 and restore it to stock condition.
Ah, you English are okay but too conservative: 1)It ain’t a popular model. 2)It wasn’t Enzo’s personal car. 3)To chase down all the missing tidbits would be pointless($$$$) Here is a full size model kit, ready to assemble! Lexan makes replacement glass & carbon fiber makes nice dash/interior parts 🙂
With a car like that, it’s a tough decision between going for maximum horsepower or maximum trollage. For a good compromise of both, I’d swap in a Ford 5.0 with a “GT40” intake and heads package, just for the symbolism of the name. And the result would be more fun to drive than swapping in the engine that “powers” (if that is even the word for it) countless faux-Italian kit cars, the Iron Duke.
Enzo pups come back from the dead if GT40 heads were in one of his cars! Paint red with a. Pack and white stripe like the lemans winning gt40, or go gulf colors for ultimate troll
Make a good chook shed
A Viper drivetrain would do wonder to motivate this Ferrari!
Find a Ferrari engine out of some opened wheel race car that is mangled beyond rebuilding. Build it up like a IMSA/ or SCCA vintage racer. Going original would cost more then you could buy a complete running car in great condition. If you think New-Old-Stock GM and Ford parts can get pricey, that stuff in garbage shape is beyond stupid money.