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Let’s be honest, did you ever think Ferrari would ever make a truck? Or an SUV? Or, for that matter, a four-door sedan? Nobody expected it to happen. And yet, here we are, the Purosangue SUV is upon us. If Ferrari was ever going to sell out, wouldn’t it have been with a four-door sedan? It thought about it and even built one. Just one. Carrozeria Pininfarina proposed this four-door concept.

What did Enzo Ferrari think about this sedan prototype?

Ferrari four-door
Ferrari four-door sedan concept | Sotheby’s

At the time, it took off from the 365 GT4 2+2 styling, which became the 400 and 412. And while you won’t believe it, Enzo Ferrari himself signed off on it. Sergio Pininfarina said it was the “ideal car.” Alas, nothing came of the ideal car. Two non-running prototypes were built before crushing one of them. That leaves the one and only four-door Ferrari shown here.

It was a typical Ferrari with its front engine and rear-wheel drive. Basically, a 400 with a longer wheelbase to accommodate the extra two doors. Styling was similar to the 400, which is not a bad thing. Granted, it gets no respect from Ferrari enthusiasts, but they can’t see how fantastic the 400 and 412 Ferrari coupes actually are. 

Would this Ferrari sedan have had a 12-cylinder engine?

Ferrari four-door
Ferrari four-door sedan concept | Sotheby’s

Don’t forget, Ferrari’s grand touring coupes featured 12-cylinder engines. And that’s exactly what this concept would employ. The coupes got a V12, whereas this concept, should it get to production, would feature a flat-12 engine. Unfortunately, the two concepts were pushers. Neither had complete engines or transmissions. 

While both concepts should have met the same fate, one did escape. This one got into private hands. It sold in 2008 for $250,000. Then, it appeared a couple of years later as a running prototype. Rather than the flat-12, it received a V12 Ferrari engine. Transferring that power is a five-speed transaxle. 

Would you buy it for the asking price?

Ferrari four-door
Ferrari four-door sedan concept | Sotheby’s

So now it is advertised for $795,000. The price doesn’t seem excessive taking into consideration that this drivable concept sedan is a one-off, looks great, and has extensive documentation. Since being offered in 2008, why hasn’t it sold? 

When you squint at the images, you could stick your thumb into the panel gaps. That is typical Italian coachbuilding. And that’s not a bad thing. More than a few Ferrari’s have garnered extra dinero by virtue of its miles-wide door gaps. Who are we to judge?

Ferrari four-door
Ferrari four-door sedan concept | Sotheby’s

Considering that it is a bonafide Ferrari prototype, built by Carrozeria Pininfarina, and in this crazy world of money-no-object collectors, what would you think it could sell for? Panel gaps and four doors be damned, it should garner $2.3. 

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