Ginetta F400: the Farbio GTS reborn

The Ginetta F400 was a low-volume British sports car sold by Ginetta in 2010. It was the Farbio GTS under a new name, itself developed from the Farboud GT shown in 2004, and Ginetta’s main change was a new supercharger for the Ford V6 that raised output to 410 bhp. Production stopped after a limited run and the car was redeveloped into the Ginetta G60.

Ginetta F400 at a glance

Based on one source (English Wikipedia).

History of the Ginetta F400

From Farboud GT to Farbio GTS

The car began in 2002 as the Farboud GT, conceived with a twin-turbocharged Audi V6 from the Audi RS4. It was unveiled at the 2004 British International Motor Show with that Audi engine, developing 440 bhp (328 kW). Arash then sold the rights to the newly established Farbio Sports Cars, which launched the car as the Farbio GTS in 2007, with sales starting at the beginning of 2008. Three engine options were offered. The GTS 260 used a 262 bhp (195 kW) engine and reached 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the GTS 350 and GTS 400 shared a supercharged 3.0-litre Ford V6 derived from the unit in the Ford Mustang. In the GTS 400 it produced 384 bhp (286 kW), giving a 0–60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of more than 175 mph (282 km/h).

Ginetta takes over

Ginetta acquired the rights to the car in 2010. Very little was altered from the Farbio GTS apart from a new supercharger for the Ford V6, which lifted output to 410 bhp (306 kW) and was coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. Standard equipment included an adjustable black leather interior, a leather-trimmed dashboard, power-assisted sports steering, a Kenwood audio system and air conditioning. Bespoke options covered interior carpeting, coloured headliners, carbon-fibre racing bucket seats with a four-point harness, a carbon-fibre steering wheel, coloured door inserts and Alcantara trim. The F400 rode on 19-inch forged alloy wheels in gloss black or silver, and exterior options included special paint, bare carbon doors, red brake callipers and a heated front windscreen.

The end and the G60

Ginetta quoted 0–60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h), figures the company itself admits were never tested. The F400 was sold in limited numbers at £95,000 (US$154,770) when production was halted in 2010. The car then underwent significant redevelopment and was relaunched at the end of 2011 as the Ginetta G60.

Design and features

• Supercharged Ford V6: the 3.0-litre engine, derived from the Ford Mustang’s V6, was boosted to 410 bhp by a new supercharger.
• Mid-engined layout: the car kept the two-seat, mid-engined package of the Farboud and Farbio designs.
• Touring equipment: air conditioning, a Kenwood audio system and a leather-trimmed dashboard were standard.
• Carbon options: bare carbon doors, racing bucket seats and a carbon-fibre steering wheel were available to order.
• 19-inch wheels: forged alloys in gloss black or silver were part of the specification.

Ginetta F400 versions

• Farboud GT (2004): the show car with a twin-turbocharged Audi V6 of 440 bhp.
• Farbio GTS 260 (2008): the base model, 262 bhp, 0–60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
• Farbio GTS 350 and 400: supercharged Ford V6 models, the GTS 400 with 384 bhp.
• Ginetta F400 (2010): new supercharger, 410 bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox.
• F400 bespoke cars: carbon doors, bucket seats, special paint and other options.
• Ginetta G60 (2011): the redeveloped successor built from the F400.

The F400 was the most expensive car in the Ginetta range of its day, well above the G50 racer, and its line went back through the Farbio GTS to the G4 era of small Ginetta sports cars. More cars are in the Ginetta collection.

Sources

• Ginetta F400, English Wikipedia: history, engines, equipment, price, successor