1983 Ferrari 512 BBi

Coachwork by Scaglietti
Design by Pininfarina

5.0-Liter DOHC Flat 12-Cylinder Engine
Bosch K-Jetronic Fuel Injection
340bhp at 6,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*Highly original example retaining most of its factory finishes
*Just 21,701 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloging
*One of 1,007 512 BBi models produced
*Iconic Pininfarina designed 12-Cylinder Ferrari


THE FERRARI 512 BB 'Berlinetta Boxer'

The stunningly handsome and very rapid Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer, or 512 BB, was introduced at the October 1976 Paris Auto Show, although actual production had begun several months earlier. The 512 BB was the successor to the 365 GT4 BB, and offered a similar mechanical layout and exterior appearance, but with the addition of a new front chin spoiler and NACA intakes on the flanks. There were now just four taillights instead of six.

Most notably, the 365BB/512BB series was Ferrari's first with a 180-degree flat 12-cylinder engine in a production car. The four camshafts on these engines were belt-driven, another "first" for Ferrari. The 512's engine produced 360 DIN bhp at 6200 rpm, breathing through a quartet of Weber three-barrel carburetors. Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection replaced the carburetors in late 1981 to help meet increasingly tough US exhaust emission regulations, with the car's name being altered to reflect that change. Horsepower dropped to 340 and torque to 333 foot-pounds at 4600 rpm. The injected Berlinetta Boxer remained a strong performer, however, capable of 0-60 from a standing start in six seconds flat, and reaching almost 175 mph (the factory claimed an optimistic 188 mph), covering the standing quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds at 103.5 mph.

A plush leather interior, full instrumentation, electric window lifts, three-point inertia seat belts, and air conditioning were standard. A unique "single-arm, twin blade" windshield wiper is fitted to help clear the huge windshield glass. Road & Track magazine called the 512 BB "the best all-around sports and GT car we've tested".


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This highly original, low-milage Ferrari 512 BBi 'Berlinetta Boxer' presents beautifully inside and out, and it is very apparent upon close inspection, that the car has been fastidiously cared for since new.
Although the car's early history remains unknown, the Carfax report on file picks up the Ferrari's ownership history in San Francisco, California, in 1993, where it appears to have remained until 2009, when it relocated to Illinois. By 2018 the Rosso Corsa 512 BBi joined the impressive collection of the consignor, a Reno, Nevada-based enthusiast with a taste for the very best European sports cars ever produced. Finished in its original livery of Rosso Corsa over black leather sets, with original grey cloth inserts and black carpets, this Boxer stands out as a beautifully preserved car, retaining much of the original exterior paint and factory-installed interior. Looking at the seats and door panels, one really realizes just how careful previous owners have been with this Ferrari. The exterior features the black 'Boxer trim', and the original and iconic 5-spoke aluminum wheels are in place fitted on period-correct Michelin TRX tires.

The original import plate is located in the door jamb, indicating that this 512 BBi was imported by Grand Touring Leasing back sometime before it appeared in San Francisco. Of course, none of these cars were factory certified for the US market. Owner's manuals are with the car in the original pouch, as are the original keys. Just 21,701 miles are recorded on the odometer at the time of cataloging, indeed a figure believed to be original when inspecting the car in person. Original factory-applied decals and ID plates remain intact, and the front compartment contains factory finishes, including the original Michelin space-saver spare tire. The original Glasurit paint sticker is in place, documenting the original color as Rosso Corsa. On a recent test drive by a Bonhams specialist the Ferrari performed very well, with smooth shifting and a feeling of a very original, tight, and unmolested car. This opportunity to find a 512 BBi with such originality should not be missed.