Description
1979 - Ferrari 512 BB
Chassis no. 28057
French registration
Owner's manual:
"A unique BB carbu, improved by a true connoisseur!"
In the mid-1960s, as manufacturers began to move the engines of their sports cars behind the driver, Enzo Ferrari stubbornly kept the V12 of his flagship under an interminable front hood. Tenacious but determined to make his name shine at the top of the supercar pyramid of the time, Il Commendatore eventually gave in to the recommendations of his engineers and developed a mid-engined GT, inspired by the Pininfarina P6 study. The first mid-engined Ferrari was the 365 GT4 BB, presented in 1971.
Replacing the 365 GTB/ 4 "Daytona", it featured a new engine, combining tradition and modernity, adopting the 12-flat architecture of the brand's Formula 1 and Sport-prototype (Ferrari 312) models, as well as components from the Colombo V12. Producing 375 hp, the engine propels the newcomer to the insane speed of 300 km/ h thanks to its exceptional physique. Shorter but above all lower and wider, the BB was reminiscent of Maranello's racing prototypes. Evolving throughout its career to adapt to the constraints of the times, the BB would undergo two incarnations before being replaced by the Testarossa, eleven years after its launch in 1984.
The first evolution, the BB 512 replaced the 365 GT4 BB in 1976. Slightly modified on the outside, it underwent major changes on the inside. Like its little sister, the 308 GTB, it lost its six lights and mufflers in favor of four lights and four mufflers, while a spoiler and wider wheels were added to improve high-speed stability. The engine's displacement was increased from 365 cm3 to 411 cm3 to compensate for the loss of power due to the new American standards. Although it lost 20 hp, its performance continued to outstrip the competition. Its second and final evolution arrived in 1981, and was named BB 512i, for Injection: a technology Ferrari had gained considerable experience of through motorsport.
Our example was delivered new to Germany, before spending part of its life in Austria and then passing into the hands of its current owner, a fine collector and connoisseur of the mechanical cause and the brand with the prancing horse. He acquired this beautiful BB in 2012, and made a few minor modifications to make it perfect in his eyes: adding two additional round lights in place of the usual rectangular ones, adding spacers and painting the rims, and replacing the carburettor horns for nicer ones! Today, the car is presented with an interesting patina and runs well!
Presented with a very attractive valuation, this BB is sure to please ferrarists wishing to drive their car! What's more, BB valuations have not yet gone up... So don't miss this chance!
