Ferrari Pinin Saloon Concept

Cars

We’ve posted relatively recently on how we believe Ferrari’s 400 GT is perhaps one of the most underrated, undervalued cars ever to wear the badge.

And we reckon the Pinin concept 4-door saloon produced by Pininfarina in 1970 is perhaps one of the greatest Ferraris that never was.

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Obviously based on the chassis of a 400, the concept was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina. It was basically an attempt on behalf of Ferrari to see if it was feasible to go head to head with makers of executive saloons like Jaguar and Mercedes.This was a time, of course, when Jag’s XJ ruled the higher end roads of the world.

Apparently the four door concept was much loved by the commendatore himself, and according to reports the only reason it didn’t go into production was that the notoriously questionable production processes of Ferrari in the seventies meant that the flaws for which Ferrari sports cars were known (and perversely, loved) would not be acceptable to the stringent requirements of the exec saloon market.

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The design, we reckon, had a distinctly American feel – and we presume that the USA would have been a key part of the marketing strategy had the car ever gone into production.There was a lowered, egg-crate style grille, raked pillars swathed in future-forward smoked glass, and an interior that echoes the futurism of that installed in the Lagonda.

The car has been bouncing around the auction market of late – and recently was rumoured to have a seven figure reserve price. Strange how these also-rans in car history now seem to be used as bitcoins for the world’s private investors.

We wonder why the 400 GT is not as appealing to the market?

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