400iA at Bobileff | FerrariChat

400iA at Bobileff

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by judge4re, Aug 19, 2005.

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  1. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Okay, how bad is this car?

    http://www.bobileff.com/ferrari_82_400ia.htm

    According to FML, its been on the market SINCE MARCH 2003!!!

    Should I shake out the couch for loose change and make an offer? The color is kinda growing on me, it is "period" correct.
     
  2. jtremlett

    jtremlett F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2004
    4,696
    You know you want to!

    Looks in pretty good shape from the pictures. Jody Scheckter used to have a 400 in that colour so you'd be in good company...

    Jonathan
     
  3. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    Sep 30, 2003
    17,564
    Savannah
    i like it. the automatic turns me off though. go for the "Gold" Judge .... :)
     
  4. brettski

    brettski Formula 3

    Feb 29, 2004
    1,754
    north of toronto
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    brett swaykoski
    to me it looks like it's in really rough shape. if there are parts on the motor (vapour condenser and rad cap) that are that crusty, i would hate to see the exhaust, suspension,etc. and only a major service on the motor would do at the very least.maybe even rebuild time. wow,it's gonna be expensive...
    judge, i'm confused by your interest. you already have a way cooler version of the same car ???

    brett
     
  5. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    Same but different. Injected and auto is a different car than a carbed manual.

    I've got a bad case of Ferrari accumulation disease. I believe it is 100% different than what Urotrash has...
     
  6. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
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    Franklin E. Parker
    I owned Al Garthwaite's former 400GT 5 speed and it was a great car. I would never buy an automatic Ferrari whether it be a torque convertor or F1 type.
     
  7. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
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    Judge,

    That car has been there for about 3 years.

    One thing about Bobileff, You can buy a car from hm sight unseen. He's cars are tops. But I am sure you know that.
     
  8. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    Going by there anytime soon Matt?
     
  9. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

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    I can.

    He's only a 1 1/2 away. If he is open tomorrow I can go then.
     
  10. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    If you do, send me some pics. Just don't let Spicy know...
     
  11. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

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    I just noticed this.

    I first saw the car on his website back in 2002
     
  12. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

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    Do you know if he is open tomorrow?
     
  13. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    No idea. My guess is they're up at PB this weekend.
     
  14. Zanny1

    Zanny1 Formula Junior
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    Dec 19, 2003
    974
    Arizona
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    Mike
    I´ve seen it. It´s OK but just OK. I don´t know about the mechanicals, but knowing Gary the thing probably runs just fine. The cosmetics are a little rough, however.
     
  15. Dane

    Dane Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2002
    1,512
    The color in the second and third photos looks nice but there's too much of a mustard tint in the first. I'd have to see it in person.

    Buy it, tint the windows and buy a Fila jogging suit. You'd be stylin!' I would like to hear your impressions of an automatic V-12, though. I think any V-12's pretty sweet.

    Dane
     
  16. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
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    Jon
    I live nearby, too - about 8 miles away.

    I'd guess the automatic would scare a lot of people away. I've heard the tranny in the 456GTA is Major Bucks if it goes south - this might be the same deal.
     
  17. andrewg

    andrewg F1 Rookie
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    Sep 10, 2002
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    AndrewG
    Nope its an off the shelf GM unit (the same as in lots and lots of Jaguars, rolls, and billions of GM products)
     
  18. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 26, 2005
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    Jon
    I stand corrected. Wish they'd done that with the 456, come to think of it.
     
  19. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    Sep 30, 2003
    17,564
    Savannah

    yep GM TH400 auto with ferrari specific bell housing bolt pattern. has a firmer 2nd gear shift point and 1 extra set of clutch packs than a regular GMTH400. the TH400 uses a electric switch for the "downshift" / passing gear where as the TH350's use a detent cable hooked to the carbs. :)
     
  20. David512

    David512 Formula 3

    Dec 15, 2003
    1,654
    Northern California
    I know that a lot of people feel good about Bobileff, but my experience was different. In doing tons of work on my Boxer, he overlooked one of the known weaknesses in the Boxer: the distributor. Three months after I picked up the car, the bearing inside the distributor completely disintegrated. Although Gary Bobileff said he stands by his work, he ran as fast as possible from even touching this issue. (He never found out the diagnosis, just basically said, I am not dealing with this.)

    After getting the distributor repaired and replacing the cooked cats, the car still had a noticable running problem, which took two failed and costly diagnoses before a third mechanic found a burnt valve. So I had a valve job and a second 30 K service (after Bobileff's) and threw in a clutch replacement, all on the very long road of getting this car right. (It had been mostly ignored by the two previous owners.)

    I have spent well over $25K getting my Boxer right, and at least I now have a very high level of confidence in it. However, I attribute $13K of repairs that should have never been required to Gary Bobileff, whose motives might have shifted when he went from purely repairs and restorations to sales when I bought the car in 2000. (His sales guy, John Miller quit and maybe started his own sales.)

    In addition, on the Saturday I picked up the car, I was sitting in his office when he took a call from a party interested in the low-price black 308 in his showroom. He totally downplayed the extent of the big tear in the dash, saying it was only minor. After hanging up the phone, he remarked, "I sure would like to get rid of that ugly piece of ****." I started to worry, "Is he also being that duplicitous with me?"

    So there you have one story that contradicts what many say about Bobileff and his lineage of Lamborghini restorations. I would not consider doing any business with Bobileff for anything.

    Also, if there is any doubt about the state of this 400iA, as there seems to be from some of the posts here, I would not consider it. Sounds like another piece of **** that Bobileff wants to unload.

    Although I would never buy an automatic, I like the 412. Beware that the engine compartment layout significantly increases labor costs. Also, there's the costly business of the 400/412's exhaust and the suspension.

    (PS Matteo, hope you're health is good.)
     
  21. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    I've slept on it and will pass. Who knows, it might still be on the market in 2 years when I think about it again.
     
  22. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

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    David.

    Yes. Thank you. That was a pretty big scare. But since then I have dropped a few pounds and I feel a lot better.

    Thanks for asking.
     
  23. LennyZeutzius

    LennyZeutzius Karting
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    Dec 21, 2004
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    Lenny
    First let me say that I too hope your health is better Matteo, whatever it was that was wrong.

    I wish I could agree that you could buy a car sight unseen from Gary, but my experience wasn't so inspiring.

    Last year I went down there to see a red/tan 328 that had had a major service, some interior work, and was told to me to be very nice (basically very very nice).

    When I arrived there, the car did not show as well as I expected, but that's a matter of opinion.
    The big problem came on the test drive, the car smoked quite a bit and coolant was over flowing from the expansion tank when we arrived back (not a drop or two, I mean gushing out). Clearly the car had not been tested and put through the paces despite whether it had had the "major service " done, and to what level became scary to me.

    Basically I ran from the car because what I felt I was told both cosmetically and mechanically was somewhat not truthful.

    IMHO only.
    Lenny
     
  24. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

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    Lenny,

    I am sorry to hear this as well.

    I will refrain in the future from recommending Bob. In the past, he was good. I guess his focus has changed.

    Matt
     
  25. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
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    Lenny,

    On a side note. I am in Valencia. Off the 5 and McBean. Drop me a line if you are in the area.

    Matt
     

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