1984 Ferrari 400i Straman Convertible — Open-Top V12 Grand Tourer
About this vehicle
Richard Straman Coachworks, out of Costa Mesa, California, ranked among the most sought-after independent shops for open-top conversions on Ferrari 400-series cars — and this 1984 example is one of those rare results. Beneath the bodywork sits a 4.8-liter front-mounted V12 fed by Bosch K-Jetronic continuous fuel injection, the system responsible for the model's 'i' suffix when it displaced the carbureted 400's Weber setup. Drive goes through a General Motors Turbo-HydraMatic 400 three-speed automatic, historically significant as the first automatic transmission option Ferrari ever offered, fitted with a bespoke bell housing and tailshaft. Leonardo Fioravanti penned the body at Pininfarina, giving the 400i its angular character, pop-up headlights, and proper 2+2 cabin. Factory output is rated at approximately 310 BHP at 6,400 rpm.
Red over tan. The paintwork has had a full correction and ceramic-coating treatment, and the seller calls it beautiful. Riding on new correct-specification Michelin tires, the car looks exactly the part. The power-operated convertible top now works manually — hydraulic rams were pulled after their seals failed and couldn't be rebuilt — though the seller notes suitable replacement rams exist for anyone wanting to restore powered operation. A clean CARFAX report accompanies the car, and the seller references a previous PCARMARKET listing with further documentation.
Inside, the tan Ferrari leather is original — never re-dyed, free of shrinkage, described by the seller as exceptional survivor condition. Power windows work. Air conditioning works. The clock doesn't. During recommissioning, NOS Ferrari speedometer and tachometer units were fitted, with the originals retained; because the original speedometer failed and the NOS unit started at zero, accurate total mileage combines both readings, arriving at the 32,000 miles represented here.
The recommissioning was extensive. Fuel system: fully rebuilt, covering fuel distributors, warm-up regulators, fuel pump, and injectors. Brakes got a comprehensive overhaul — rebuilt booster and master cylinder, new calipers, fresh rubber hoses, new pads. The car also received a coolant flush, new thermostat, vacuum pump service, spark plugs, oil sender, and an air conditioning service. California emissions certification was completed on import.
Ferrari built roughly 1,305 total examples of the 400i across both transmission variants, with automatics accounting for approximately 883 of those — production was already limited before factoring in a Straman conversion. Finding one with this level of recent mechanical attention, original untouched leather, and 32,000 miles is genuinely uncommon.
Sale includes a clean title, toolkit, and spare tire.
