conceptcarz.com

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi

The first horizontally opposed engine built by Ferrari was constructed in 1964, a 12-cylinder, 1.5-liter Formula One unit with 11:1 compression, Lucas fuel injection, and delivering 210 horsepower at 11,000 RPM. It received the designation 'boxer' in reference to early Volkswagen and Porsche engines, whereby the pistons opposed each other, much like sparring fighters. The cylinder banks form an angle of 180-degree, resulting in an engine with a flat, rectangular shape that enabled the car's lower center of gravity, allowing designers to pen the assertive stance that would dictate future Ferraris.

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi photo
Coupe
Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000049473
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Ferrari went in a radically new direction than previous road-going Ferraris with the introduction of the 365 GT4BB at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, built to compete with the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, and the Maserati Bora. The new model wore a sensuous Pininfarina design, a handbuilt body by Scaglietti, and a mid-engine 12-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, hence the car's designation, the Berlinetta Boxer. The total production of the 365 GT/4 BB was 387 units.

In 1976, an updated Berlinetta Boxer with a new 5.0-liter horizontally-opposed 12-cylinder engine was introduced as the 512 BB, and this platform was further developed as the 512 BBi in 1981. The primary difference between the 512 BB and 512 BBi was the replacement of carburetors with fuel injection, thus gaining the 'i' designation. The Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injected version was capable of achieving a zero-to-sixty mph time in 5.4 seconds, and a top speed exceeding 175 mph per hour. The use of fuel injection did not diminish the 512's power, but it did make it more available at lower RPMs, along with increased torque. Introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1981, Ferrari built 1,007 examples by the time production concluded in 1984, with 141 built in its final year of production of 1984.

With the 512 BB, Ferrari abandoned its long-standing practice of denoting a model by the capacity of an individual cylinder and adopted the Dino-type nomenclature where '512' indicates 5 liters/12 cylinders. The larger engine capacity size from the original Boxer's 4.4-liters was made not so much with increased power in mind but to enable the 512 BB to meet increasingly stringent emissions targets without loss of performance. The bore and stroke were enlarged, increasing the size of the displacement, and the compression was raised and dry-sump lubrication adopted. Together with revised gear ratios, the 512 was more tractable.

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi photo
Coupe
Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000047747
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The low profile and streamlined and shapely lines of the 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Box and its successor, the 512, dictated the styling approach at Maranello for years to come. Modifications to Pininfarina's inspired coachwork were minimal, including brake-cooling NACA ducts ahead of the rear wheel arches, an air-dam spoiler beneath the nose, revised air intake boxes, and four rear lights instead of six. The tires became slightly wider, resulting in the 512s width growing by just over 25mm. Revisions to the running gear were minimal, gaining stiffer springs/anti-roll bars and altered damping rates. The all-round ventilated disc brakes remained unchanged, and the interior was virtually the same as before but for the adoption of multi-way adjustable seats in place of the fixed originals.

The BBi was constructed on a tubular steel semi-monocoque frame with a steel body designed by Pininfarina. The flat-12 was backed by a five-speed manual rear transaxle, and the suspension was of traditional race-car style, with unequal-length A-arms with dual coil springs and an anti-roll bar at both front and rear. Initially, the BBi wore metric-sized metric-sized Cromodora alloy wheels and metric tires, but many owners eventually changed those out for conventional wheels that could accommodate more readily-available tire sizes. There were new running lights in the grille and the interiors were well-appointed with leather seating, thick carpets, power windows, three-point inertia-operated seat belts, and air conditioning.

The fuel-injected 512 produced 340 bhp at 6,000 RPM according to figures in the factory owner's manual, or 3,60 bhp at 6,200 RPM according to the factory service manual. The owner's manual stated the BBi had a top speed in excess of 160 mph while the shop manual stated 188 mph.

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi photo
Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000052153
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Despite the fuel injection, the 512 BBi was never approved for sale in the USA, though American customers were given assistance by Ferrari to import them privately and carry out the necessary 'federalization'.

Along with 387 examples of the 365 GT/4 BB, Ferrari built 929 examples of the BB 512, and 1,007 of the BB 512i model. The 365 GT/4 BB had a top speed of 175 mph, while the carbureted version of the 512 had a factory-claimed speed of 188 mph.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021

Related Reading : Ferrari 512 BBi History

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer was produced between 1973 through 1984 with a total of 2,323 examples of all BB models produced. This was a very important model for the Ferrari marque and one that followed in the footsteps of the mid-engined road car, the 206 GT Dino. The mid-engine placement had been proven to be a useful technique in improving handling and performance Cooper was one of the first....
Continue Reading >>

Related Reading : Ferrari 512 History

Raced in 1970 and 1971, the Ferrari 512 was a sports vehicle, related to the Ferrari P series of sports prototypes that was eventually withdrawn from competition after a change in regulations in 1968. A year later Ferrari decided to do what Porsche did six months earlier and build 25 5.0 L cars at one time to be homologated as sports car prototypes. The surplus vehicles were intended to be sold to....
Continue Reading >>

Related Reading : Ferrari 512 BBi History

After the 312 P project, Ferrari completely withdrew from sportscar and GT racing and began to focus completely on Formula 1. U.S. distributor Luigi Chinetti took Ferraris first mid-engine 12-cylinder road car, the 365 GT4BB and with minimal to no factory input and was modified for use by his North American Racing Team. Larger wheels and tires were fitted, rear bodywork was widened and weight-adding....
Continue Reading >>

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Vehicle Profiles

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi vehicle information
Coupe

Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000051847
Engine #: 00968
1984 Ferrari 512 BBi vehicle information
Coupe

Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000051073
Engine #: 00873
1984 Ferrari 512 BBi vehicle information
Coupe

Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000048253
Engine #: 00726
1984 Ferrari 512 BBi vehicle information

Chassis #: ZFFJA09B000052153

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

512 BBi

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
98.40 in.
12 cyl., 302.00 CID., 360.00hp
98.40 in.
12 cyl., 301.58 CID., 340.00hp
98.40 in.
12 cyl., 301.58 CID., 335.00hp
144
98.40 in.
12 cyl., 302.00 CID., 340.00hp
98.40 in.
6 cyl., 201.32 CID., 300.00hp

Related Automotive News

Pebble Beach Auctions Online Catalogue Now Live; Historic, Unrestored 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Unveiled as Headlining Car

Pebble Beach Auctions Online Catalogue Now Live; Historic, Unrestored 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Unveiled as Headlining Car

Gooding %26 Company launches its entire online catalogue for the Pebble Beach Auctions, announces a remarkably original 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta along major Italian star cars. Gooding %26 Company, the official auction house of the Pebble...
Blue-Chip Classics and Legendary 50s and 60s Sports Cars Added to Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auction

Blue-Chip Classics and Legendary 50s and 60s Sports Cars Added to Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auction

Gooding %26 Company is revving up for its upcoming Amelia Island Auction with a stellar lineup of offerings. The auction house today announced yet another spectacular group of consignments, consisting of iconic sports and racing cars from the 1950s and...
RM Sotheby's To Offer The Petitjean Collection 'Part Ii' – A Ferrari Only Collection From 1959 To 1989 To Be Offered Without Reserve

RM Sotheby's To Offer The Petitjean Collection 'Part Ii' – A Ferrari Only Collection From 1959 To 1989 To Be Offered Without Reserve

AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF 28 FERRARI ROAD CARS CELEBRATING THREE DECADES OF THE MARANELLO MARQUE HEADS TO PARIS SALE RM Sothebys announces The Petitjean Collection Part II Incredible collection of 28 Ferrari road cars to be offer...
Gooding & Company Unveils Online Catalogue for Pebble Beach Auctions, Announces Additional Star Consignments

Gooding & Company Unveils Online Catalogue for Pebble Beach Auctions, Announces Additional Star Consignments

The catalogue features major new additions from the auction house, including a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, a 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR Strassenversion, a 1957 Maserati 200 SI, and a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT. The...

RENAULT ANNOUNCES UK SPECIFICATION AND PRICING FOR NEW RENAULT TWINGO GT AND ENHANCED DYNAMIQUE S

New Renault Twingo GT and updated Dynamique S available to order from 1st December Renault Sport-developed Twingo GT produces 110hp and 170Nm torque Engine upgrades include a modified turbocharger, revised engine mapping and specially-developed ex...