Broken Dreams: Ferrari Pinin. The Temptation of a Four-Door

When Enzo Ferrari and Battista “Pinin” Farina met for the first time in May 1951, halfway between Turin and Maranello, in the neutral territory of a restaurant in Tortona, Pinin’s young son, Sergio, was also there. Just four years after producing his first car, Ferrari had become famous, but his cars had not yet been bodied by Pininfarina. In order for Enzo and Pinin to meet — both proud of their successes — the two decided that neither would go to the other’s office and that the meeting would take place “on neutral ground”, as it was by no means certain that an agreement would be reached. And yet, an agreement was made, and an immediate one — one that led to countless successes, demonstrated by a series of magnificent Ferraris that over the years combined Maranello's mechanical excellence with the elegant and refined style of the Turin-based coachbuilder.

It may not be red, but the all-Ferrari attitude remains, even with four doors.

It is therefore no surprise that in 1980, in memory of his father Battista — whom everyone knew as Pinin — his son Sergio decided to propose something truly unprecedented to the great Enzo: for the first time in the brand’s history, a four-door Ferrari. And thus, the Pinin was born. It was built on an extended version of the 400GT chassis and powered by a mock-up of the flat-12 engine from the 512BB. For Enzo, it was a surprise—a sign that the maturity of Ferrari’s success could even allow it to venture into the world of large luxury sedans.

The elegant and clean lines of the Pinin were designed by Diego Ottina under the direction of Pininfarina’s head of design, Leonardo Fioravanti.

Many within Maranello pushed for the idea to become a reality. But Enzo’s experience prevailed and advised caution: despite being a legendary, world-coveted brand, Ferrari still operated with quasi-artisanal production methods. Entering the market of premium sedans, with its demand for high volumes and proven quality, could prove too great a challenge. After all, a four-door is far more complex and demanding to design and manufacture than a two-door sports car. So, the project remained a dream. The Pinin was eventually purchased by Enzo Ferrari’s close friend Jacques Swaters, the brand’s importer for Belgium and founder of Ecurie Francorchamps. In 2008, it changed hands again — this time bought by a collector who wanted to complete the vision and make the car fully operational.

A very classic rear, that doesn’t push the stylistic boundaries of the brand, but remains highly functional.

And who better than Mauro Forghieri — the legendary Ferrari engineer whose name is tied to countless racing victories — to adapt a real 512BB engine to a car that was originally built more as a concept than a functioning model? The result, although realized many years later, proves that this model could have become a production reality. However, it remains a one-off — a unique piece — now in the hands of an American collector, ready to dazzle at Concours d’Elegance events and exhibitions that celebrate the most extraordinary chapters in Ferrari’s history.

The Pinin as it looks today, after engineer Mauro Forghieri transformed it into a running vehicle by installing an authentic 12-cylinder engine from the 512BB.