1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Coupe

The Ferrari 512 BB, a replacement for the 365 GT4, was introduced at the 1976 Paris Auto Show. It had an aerodynamic profile with a low nose. The design was courtesy of Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, with coachwork by Scaglietti. The longitudinally mounted, horizontally opposed engine twin-cam engine was sourced from the 365 with the displacement enlarged from 4.4 liters to 5.0-liters. The enlargement was done to counter progressively stringent emissions requirements that threatened to compromise performance.

The next evolution of the 512 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1981. It was the third version of the Boxer - the 512 BBi - with the 'i' representing the implementation of Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. The fuel injection system made more power at lower RPMS and it increased the torque. Rated at 340 brake horsepower, the BBi's power was channeled through a five-speed manual rear transaxle. The car had a tubular semi-monocoque frame with a steel body and suspended in place via an independent suspension setup with dual coil springs and anti-roll bars. Minimal styling changes were improvement on the 512 BBi from its predecessor. It was given new rear fog lamps, new running lights in the grille, and a shift to metric-sized Cromodora alloy wheels and tires. Standard equipment included power windows, air conditioning thick carpeting, leather seats, and three-point inertia-operated seat belts.

This particular example was imported to the United States in 1984, its last production year. It was purchased through North American Imports in Torrance by a California resident. It was sold at least once on the West Coast before making its way east in the late 1980s. It returned to California in 1999 when it was acquired by its current caretaker. It has been stored in a private temperature-controlled facility for several years. In 2000, with approximately 22,000 miles on the odometer, it was given a comprehensive restoration.

The black-on-black color scheme is the car's original combination.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016