1974 Ferrari 365 GT4/BB

At the 1971 Turin Motor Show, Ferrari debuted the 365 GT4/BB. Mounted mid-ship was a 380 horsepower horizontally-opposed 'boxer' 12-cylinder engine. The 4.4-liter engine was based on the successful Ferrari 312B F1 Racer. Zero-to-sixty took just over five seconds and the top speed was reported to be around 180 mph. There were a total of 387 examples constructed with all original sales being for markets other than the US. Only recently have the 365 GT4/BB been brought to the states.

It had become clear by the dawn of the 1970s, the Ferrari's front-engined, Daytona's replacement would need a mid-engine configuration in order to remain at the forefront of the supercar market. Lamborghini had its popular Miura that was selling well, and Maserati had just introduced the mid-engined Bora, and even the attractively priced DeTomaso Pantera offered an exotic layout.

The Daytona had become known as the ultimate Grand Tourer and building a suitable replacement seemed an impossible feat. Nevertheless, Ferrari forged ahead, introducing the all-new 365 GT4/BB at the 1971 Turin Motor Show where it received a rapturous reception. The design was streamlined and low, with very aggressive lines. This was the first production Ferrari to be powered by the boxer-type twelve-cylinder engine derived from the F1 unit. The longitudinally-mounted engine featured opposing cylinder banks, a technological approach that had not been pursued by any of the classic front-engine V12s. The two Bs represented Berlinetta Boxer and the 'Boxer' reference was derived from the fact that the cylinder banks form an angle of 180°, producing an engine with a flat, rectangular shape that allowed the car's center of gravity to be lowered. The gearbox received equal attention and thought, being placed under the engine and next to the oil sump. The chassis was a tubular steel spaceframe that was reinforced by the addition of integral steel panels around the cockpit section, making it virtually a 'monocoque' construction.

The wedge shape design of the nose has many similarities to the 1968 Pininfarina P6 concept car. The lower section of the nose contained a full-width aluminum egg-crate radiator grille, from the upper edge of which an indent line traversed around the perimeter of the body, visually creating an upper and lower half and adding to its streamlined appearance. Two-tone paint emphasized the separation, the lower portion being matte black and the chosen body color on the upper section. This contrast in color enhanced the cars sporty and modern appearance.

With the 380 horsepower from the 4400cc engine, the 365 GT4 BB had a top speed of around 180 mph, earning it the 'fastest car in the world' when it was unveiled. Contemporary road tests were complimentary, praising the 365 BB as being the fastest Ferrari to date. Despite the accolades and great press, Enzo Ferrari was reluctant to officially export the car to North America, worried that US regulations would dampen the 365 BB's lively nature. This belief resulted in just 387 examples built over the three-year period, between 1973 and 1976.

The 365 BB was succeeded by the less powerful, heavier, and more abundant 512 BB.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 17543
Engine number: F102A/00098

This example carries chassis number 17543 and was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $115,000 - $145,000. This car has been given modifications since new, such as a modified cylinder head and updated transmission.

This car was brought to the United States in the 1980s. It has been treated to a restoration and still retains its original tool kits. It is finished in Blue Ribot blue over a black/tan interior.

At auction, the bidding quickly escalated and surpassed the estimated value. There was much interest in this vehicle with the final sale value reaching $176,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Only 378 Ferrari 365 Berlinetta Boxers were ever built. A supercar of the 1970s, its 380 horsepower 380 horsepower flat 12 engine and its four triple throat carburetors make it a very responsive machine. This car is one of a handful in this rare color of blue. It was restored in the 1990s by local California native and The Ferrari Club of America judge Mike Dunn.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Ferrari's 365 GT/4 BB debuted at Turin in 1971. It was the company's first road-going model with a mid-mounted flat 12-cylinder engine which was subsequently nicknamed the 'Boxer.' The design was derived from the company's three-liter Formula One car and took two years to bring into production. It was finally launched in late 1973 as a 1974 model. 387 were built in the following three years. Road & Track hit 175 mph in one during a road test in 1975, dubbing the car 'the fastest road car we've ever tested.'

As the replacement for the iconic 365 GTB/4 Daytona the 365 GT/4 BB, was produced alongside the Daytona before Ferrari fully transitioned to the Berlinetta Boxer.

This is one of the first 365 Boxers imported to the United States. It has been restored to its original color combination.

Coupe
Chassis number: F102AB18171
Engine number: 00230

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer was introduced in 1971 at the Turin Motor Show with the production version arriving in 1973, wearing different taillights and exhaust treatment. The mid-mounted, 'Boxer' engine was a 180-degree 4.9-liter 'flat-twelve' with 380 horsepower and paired with a five-speed manual transmission positioned below the engine. This mechanical package was mounted longitudinally in a tubular steel chassis with a rigid steel cockpit and wrapped with razor-edged Pininfarina coachwork. It rode on traditional Ferrari five-spoke alloy wheels with Rudge knock-off center hubs.

Over a three-year production lifespan, Ferrari built 387 examples of its original 365 GT4 BB, followed by a lineage of Berlinetta Boxers (the BB 512 and BB 512i) which remained in production until 1984. The 365 GT4 BB was the first mid-engine road-car to wear the Ferrari name and the Cavallino Rampante (prancing horse) logo.

This particular Ferrari 365 GT4 BB completed production in Maranello on October 16, 1974. It is a left-hand drive example with Argento Metallizzato livery that was dispatched to official Swiss importer SAVAF (Société Anonyme pour la Vente des Automobiles Ferrari) in Geneva later that year and then exhibited on the Ferrari display at the Geneva International Motor Show in March of 1975.

This Ferrari's first private owner was Egon Holzmann of Germany who purchased it from dealer Auto Becker in Düsseldorf. Later, the 365 BB was exported to the United States, finding a long-term American owner who would retain the car from 1982 until 2008. During this time, the exterior was refinished in the trademark Boxer livery of Rosso Corsa with Nero (black) lower body panels. The interior was retrimmed in Nero leather upholstery with contrasting red Daytona-style lateral strips on the seat inserts in 2010.

In 2014, the Ferrari was issued a Ferrari Classiche 'Red Book' certifying that it has a correct type F102A engine and F102AB gearbox, and that the body and chassis are original. The current owner purchased the car in 2015 from Gary Schaevitz.

This Ferrari has been exhibited at the 2015 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, where it was awarded Best in Class – Italian Sports/GT, 2015 Lime Rock Great Ferrari Display, 2016 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, 2016 Concorso Italiano (Second Place Ferrari), and The Bridge in 2021.

Recent mechanical service includes a major engine-out service in 2015 including the replacement of the camshafts and clutch, another significant service in 2018, and the replacement of the master brake cylinder and repair of the fuse box and A/C blower in 2021.

by Dan Vaughan

The 365 Series was introduced in the late 1960's and stayed in production until the early 1970's. The 365's were often powered by a Columbo SOHC 4390 cc V-12 engine with three Weber carburetors capable of producing around 300 horsepower. The front and rear suspension for most of the series was independent with double wishbones and coil springs. The 365 GT4 2+2 had an independent with transverse parallelograms and coil springs suspension. The 365 California had a live axle with coil springs rear suspension. The chassis was an oval tube ladder-type frame layout.

Disc brakes were standard on all the vehicles, as was the five-speed manual gearbox. Many of the series received standard options such as power steering and air conditioning, uncommon at the time. When most manufacturers such as Lamborghini and DeTomaso were creating vehicles with mid-engined design, Ferrari continued to use their tried-and-true front-engined, rear-wheel design.

In 1967 Ferrari dominated the Daytona 24 Hours race with a first, second, and third-place finish. At the 1968 Paris Auto Show, the public and press were expecting Ferrari's new Berlinetta to be dubbed 'Daytona'. They were proven wrong when Ferrari dubbed the vehicle the 365 GTB/4, however, the name Daytona is a common reference to the vehicle even to this day. Ferrari had intended on using 'Daytona' but it was revealed prematurely so the traditional Ferrari naming sequence was used.

During its production lifespan lasting from 1968 through 1974, 1383 examples of the Pininfarina designed 365 GTB/4 Daytona vehicles were created.

The famous coachbuilder Pininfarina was tasked with creating many of the designs for the 365 Series. The designs were not new, rather they borrowed many of the styling cues of the prior 330 GTC and 275 GTS models. The headlights were courtesy of the 500 Superfast. The result was a visually stunning automobile with proven Ferrari mechanics and performance.

GT represented Gran Turismo. GTB represented Berlinetta or coupe. GTS stood for open models which were either a Targa roof or a full convertible. '4' represented four-cam engines. 'C' represented 'Competizione' or 'Corsa' meaning 'to race'.

365 California

In 1966 Ferrari introduced the 365 California at the Geneva Auto Show as a replacement for the Ferrari 500 Superfast. The famous coachbuilder, Pininfarina, had been tasked with creating the body for the vehicle. The result was a two-door, two-seat, convertible. The 365 borrowed many of the mechanics of its predecessor including the five-speed manual gearbox, chassis, and suspension. The front of the vehicle was similar in design to the 500 with the remaining portions all new. With a top speed of 240 km/h, it was the fastest convertible in the world at the time. Disc brakes provided excellent stopping power for the 1300 kg vehicle. Production continued for only a year with a total of fourteen examples being created.

365 GT2+2

In 1967 Ferrari introduced the 365 GT2+2, only its second production four-seater vehicle. The vehicle would stay in production until 1971 during which around 800 examples being created.

The rear passengers had limited headroom but there was sufficient legroom for most passengers. The purpose of the vehicle was to provided performance and comfort. As a result, the vehicle was outfitted with electric windows, leather interior, power-assisted brakes, full carpeting, and optional air conditioning.

365 GTC

Near the close of 1968, Ferrari introduced the 365 GTC which stayed in production until 1970. During the production lifespan, 168 examples were produced. The 365 GTC was basically a 330 GTC with a SOHC 4390 cc V-12 engine. Visually, the vehicle was very similar to its predecessor except for the air vents in the front wings had been removed. In their place were black vents placed in the back corners of the hood.

365 GTS

The 365 GTS was a replacement for the 330 GTS. It featured a 4390 cc SOHC engine and had its cooling vents removed in favor of vents in the hood. Only twenty examples were created.

365 GTC/4

In 1971 Ferrari introduced the 365 GTC/4 as a replacement for the 365 GT 2+2. It sat atop a Daytona chassis and given an independent suspension. The same Daytona ventilated disc brakes were used. The gearbox was mounted in the front and the engine was the 4390 cc V12 but with six side draught Weber carburetors and wet-sump lubrication resulting in 340 horsepower.

The design was once again handled by Pininfarina. The two-door, 2+2 coupe had pop-up headlights and five-spoke alloy wheels. During its production lifespan lasting until 1972, around 500 examples were produced. Strict American safety and emission regulations were partly responsible for the demise of the GTC/4.

365 GT4 2+2

The 365 GT4 2+2 was debuted to the public at the 1972 Paris Auto Show as a replacement for the 365 GT 2+2 and the 365 GTC/4. It sat atop an enlarged 365 GTC/4 chassis and given the same mechanics. The larger chassis meant more interior room for the passengers, especially the rear passengers, and their luggage. The styling was once again assigned to Pininfarina. The design was different from the prior 365 models.

During its production lifespan lasting until 1976, 524 examples were created.

365 GT4 BB

The 365 GT4 BB, meaning Berlinetta Boxer, was introduced to the public at the 1971 Turin Auto Show. Its styling was similar to the P6 show car built in 1968. The engine was a flat-12 cylinder power-plant mounted longitudinally. The gearbox was mounted under the engine. This was a great design but ultimately created an unbalanced weight distribution with most of the weight over the rear axle. The weight distribution problem and the fact that the engine was mounted high in the vehicle resulted in a car that had poor handling and never achieved successful racing status.

The 365 GT4 BB was replaced by the 512 BB in 1976. The 512 BB was similar in design but featured a five-liter engine.

by Dan Vaughan