The Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 was introduced in 1976 as the successor to the rather larger 365 GT 2+2. With its much sleeker looks the Ferrari 365, also designed by Pininfarina, remained in production with very few styling changes until 1989 and proved to be a great success for the company. The 412 was introduced in 1985 and was a technically much-improved and modernised version of the classic design, whilst still retaining a timeless and elegant shape. With a displacement of nearly 5-litres, the V12 engine now produced a healthy 340bhp and ABS was available for the first time in a Ferrari. The Ferrari 412 was the ultimate development of the 400-Series of four-seat Grand Touring cars and remains highly respected for its performance, luxury and ease of operation. Just 574 in total were built, of which 85 were right-hand drive and just 24 were fitted with manual gearboxes.

This stunning 412 is one of those 24 right-hand drive, manual gearbox cars. Superbly presented in Argento Silver with a pristine cream leather interior, this exceptional Ferrari was showing just 9,627 miles at the time of cataloguing. It was supplied new in 1986 to Sir Michael Fay of Auckland, New Zealand by Maranello Concessionaires and they carried out its first service and delivered the car to Sir Michael for a European Continental tour. Following his tour, the car was returned to Maranello prior to being shipped to New Zealand, where it remained all the way up until 2016.

In 2015, just before being sent to the UK, the 412 was entrusted to the Ferrari main agent, Continental Cars of Auckland, for a recommissioning and there is paperwork detailing the attention it received at that time in the accompanying history file. In 2016, the Ferrari arrived in the UK and was subsequently purchased by its current owner at Silverstone Auctions' NEC Sale of that year. It has resided in his private collection ever since, only covering around 3,000 miles in his ownership in that time. In March 2022, the 412 was treated to some work carried out by marque specialist, Nick Cartwright, again with the invoice and full details in the accompanying history file. A further £1,500+VAT has also been invested recently in a set of new Michelin TRX tyres.

Supplied with a handbook, service book and a Ferrari toolkit along with the aforementioned invoices, this must be one of the best 412s available today. Any right-hand drive, V12 Ferrari coupled to a manual gearbox is a special thing and, combined with this indicated mileage, we don’t really know where you’ll find another and so we welcome and urge prospective bidders to come and see this car at the NEC for themselves.