PROVENANCE
Original Owner, Oakland, California (acquired new in 1967)
Frederic Paroutaud (acquired from the above in 1982)

THIS CAR
This splendid Lamborghini 400 GT is robed in its original color combination of silver with black leather interior and appears almost exactly today as it did when it was manufactured in late September 1966 in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy.

Coming fast on the heels of the Lamborghini 350 GT, production of the 400 GT Interim began in 1966 but was soon usurped by the 400 GT 2+2. The new Touring-bodied model was fitted with a more powerful 3,929 cc V-12 engine producing 320 hp and offering a top speed of 155 mph. The Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 model was developed to compete in the exotic sports car market with Ferrari, Maserati, and Aston Martin, incorporating a roofline and a slightly enlarged body to accommodate the rear seats for two passengers.

It cost $14,750 and became the new darling of the Lamborghini line. The 400 GT 2+2 was presented at the Geneva Auto Show in 1966. With fewer than 250 examples produced between 1966 and 1968, this lovely example is a rare and remarkable car.

In 1982, Frederic Paroutaud purchased this 400 GT 2+2 from its original owner, a physician at a children’s hospital in Oakland, California. An aficionado of classic Italian cars, Paroutaud was an accomplished composer and pianist who wrote for television and film, including Murder, She Wrote and adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Mr. Paroutaud viewed his cars with an artist’s eye. Until his death in 2012, he lovingly maintained this Lamborghini for more than 30 years, during which time he restored it mechanically and preserved its original cosmetic character. The car has been repainted in its factory-correct color of Grigio Argento, and the black interior is beautifully preserved and likely original.

Mr. Paroutaud’s widow intends to donate a portion of the proceeds of the Lamborghini’s sale to La Cheim Community Mental Health Center in memory of her late husband. La Cheim, based in Oakland, California, has been providing specialized mental health and social services for more than 40 years, and the funds will be used to further the center’s mission to provide quality mental health care to those in need.

This two-owner car is a largely original example of the beautiful and undeniably rare 400 GT 2+2. It comes with copies of its factory build sheets, an original tool kit, and a photograph of Lamborghini Chief Test Driver Valentino Balboni with the car in 2013. The silver coupe was highly prized by Mr. Paroutaud and his wife, who drove it enthusiastically and exhibited it at numerous shows over the years. On a recent drive, this very presentable GT was found to run smoothly and start on the button. It can be expected to bring delight for years to come, just as it has in the past.