1990 Ferrari 412i

Thought to be one of only 82 right-hand drive manuals ever built, this time-warp example sports just 8,600 miles on the odometer, which the seller believes is genuine.

The online MoT history suggests a ten-year hibernation between 2011 and 2021 but that is, we regret, the extent of the history we’re able to bring you.

Finished in Blu Chiaro Metallic, this is a rare opportunity to get your hands on a car whose appearance has been frozen in time…

The Blu Chiaro Metallic (clear blue metallic) coachwork looks terrific, doesn’t it? So much more interesting than the red or silver ones you see more commonly, it lends the 412 a gravitas its grand touring credentials deserve.

As you’d expect of a cherished Ferrari with so few miles to its name, everything lines up very well with neatly aligned swage lines, excellent panel gaps and ripple-free flanks.

There are no dents, dinks or other damage either; this is a car that bears close scrutiny as convincingly as it does from a distance.

The body-coloured bumpers and clear indicators give the car a fresh, modern look; it may be a simple trick but it’s been carried off to perfection here.

The paint is also in great shape, as is the glazing and badges.

The headlamps rise and fall as they should, snugging down neatly into the bodywork when they’re not needed – and does anything say period supercar like pop-up headlamps? The rest of the lamp lenses are also good.

The five-spoke metric alloy wheels are also free of blemishes and they’re fitted with a matching set of (very good) Michelin TRX tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

That the worst thing we can find to mention is a small patch of rust on the wiper arm (#193) says it all…

If you were to draw an eighties sportscar interior from memory, this is what you’d end up with: with orange lettering on the dials; angled gauges in the centre console; big, chunky colour-coded buttons; and a stark simplicity to its modular design, you can almost hear Duran Duran singing Rio on the Blaupunkt Bremen stereo - this is actually a modern unit with DAB capability, retaining the classic look of the original.

The three-spoke Momo steering wheel is not only very of-the-period but it, like everything else inside, is very nearly as good now as it was when it rolled out of Modena 33 years ago.

This means bright colours, clear dials, crisp lettering, and plump seats.

The headlining, door cards, and carpets are all excellent. But then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

Other highlights are the simplest gearknob in existence and some lovely stitching to the instrument binnacle.

The original torch is still in the glovebox too, and the presence of spare Agip oil in the boot confirms an owner who’s prepared to be painstaking in ensuring his car is filled with the correct lubricants.

It even has electric boot closing; you just close it most of the way and the boot mechanism then engages, gently pulling it fully closed. The boot itself is not only clean and in good order, it also contains a car cover, a full-size alloy spare wheel, the tool kit and a number of spares; please see the photos for details.

Of course, none of us survives 33 years without the odd blemish but the only real wear is to the edge of the driver’s seat which is lightly creased and a little soft (e.g. #16, #133, and #187), a tiny area of wear to the nearside rear carpet (#174), and a few scratches to the lid of the ashtray (#134).

The leather seats could do with cleaning too, but doing that yourself would be a joy and a chance to start to bond with it.

As you can see in the video, it fires into life with enthusiasm and makes all the right noises with a muted power at the front end and a lovely woofle at the rear.

The engine and underbonnet area is clean and neatly organised without being obsessively so. Those of a fastidious nature will find something to do under there but everyone else will be content to lift the bonnet and admire their new purchase.

The underside is similarly good but we do note the likely need for a new rear exhaust silencer shortly (#237).

The seller tells us that he bought the car from a very well known collector in 1996, who made his fortune manufacturing and selling big yellow diggers...

There are  bills from Dick Lovett Swindon, from August 2022, relating to a partial repaint and bodywork repair, plus new Michelin tyres, a new starter motor and a new windscreen wash pump. This work adds up to just over £32,000.

The car is registered on its age-related plate, G471AFW.

As you'll no doubt agree, we can see it attracting an awful lot of attention, its absolutely beautiful and has had a fairly recent recommission by one of the UK's very best Ferrari specialists. We think the 412 deserves, and has started, its inexorable rise into the stratosphere to join the rest of the collector Ferrari models.

We estimate somewhere between £80,000 and £100,000, fully justified when you set against the condition and provenance of the car it’s buying.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located BonhamsICars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.