The Ferrari 412 relied on the 400 which was a continuation of the 1972 model 365 GT4 2+2. It was constantly updated and it was the longest-ever car ever built by the Italian car-maker.

As emission regulation got stricter, in 1979, the Ferrari 400 got an updated engine. Instead of the 6 carburettors, the V12 received a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system.

An updated version of the 365 GT4 2+2 came by 1976 by the name of the Ferrari 400. As with the model it replaces, the name refers to the swept volume of a single cylinder.