1980 Ferrari 512 BB

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

The 180-degree flat 12-cylinder engine used in the 365BB/512BB was the first for a Ferrari production car, and the four camshafts on these engines were belt-driven, another 'first' for Ferrari.

The first BB (Berlinetta Boxer) was the 365 GT4 BB and was the first mid-engined road-car to wear the Ferrari name and the Cavallino Rampante (prancing horse) logo. The first mid-engine Ferrari road-car was the Dino 206 GT and 246 GT/GTS introduced in 1967. These six-cylinder models were built alongside Ferrari's flagship V-12 models through the early 1970s.

The first Ferrari to use the flat-12 cylinder engine was the 512 F1 race car of 1964. Its 1.5-liter engine was designed by Mauro Forghier and it would go through incremental upgrades in several Formula One and sports prototype racing cars, as well as being the basis for the road-going flat 12 engine in the 365 GT4 BB.

The Ferrari 365 GT4 BB

Mechanical Design and Specification

Although the 365 GT4 BB shared the same numerical designation with the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, its layout and engine were very different (same dimensions). The mid-mounted flat-12 Tipo F102A engine was positioned longitudinally and was derived from both the Mauro Forghieri-designed Tipo 001 3.0-liter flat-12 engine used in the 1969 Ferrari 312B Formula One car and the roadgoing 365 GTB/4 engine. The heads of the 12-cylinder were positioned at a vee angle of 180 degrees, and it had a bore size of 81 mm, a stroke of 71 mm, with a total displacement of 4390.35cc. The engine block was constructed of Silumin alloy, the cylinder liners of cast iron, the crankshaft of forged steel, and the pistons were light alloy. There were dual overhead camshafts, and two valves per cylinder, and the four camshafts were driven by two timing belts. Four three-barrel Weber 40 IF 3C carburetors supplied the air and fuel. Lubrication was via a wet sump, and the ignition system used a single Magneti Marelli distributor and two coils.

The engine was paired with a five-speed manual transaxle and limited-slip differential that resided directly underneath the engine, alongside the oil sump. The Fichtel & Sachs single-plate dry clutch was located at the rear of the engine. A set of drop gears and a horizontal shaft sent power to the transmission.

The compact arrangement of the engine and transmission allowed for a short 98.4-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 173.2 inches. It had a width of 72 inches and stood 44.1 inches tall.

The chassis was formed from steel tubing with the central bodywork forming a semi-monocoque with the steel chassis. Light subframes supported the unstressed front and rear bodywork.

The suspension was independent with double wishbones, coil springs, and shock absorbers. Four-wheel disc brakes were placed front and rear, and the steering was by a non-powered rack and pinion setup. Michelin XWX tires of size 215 70 VR 15 were placed all around, with later models having staggered configurations with wider rear tires.

Styling

The aerodynamically shaped penned at Pininfarina was overseen by Leonardo Fioravanti and influenced by the Ferrari P6 Berlinetta Speciale concept car created by Pininfarina in 1968. Perfected through wind tunnel testing at Pininfarina's facility, the wedge-shaped form was attractive, functional, and thoroughly modern. Its shape would continue through the final model of the series, the BB 512i, with only minor changes.

Production

The Ferrari 365 GT4 BB was produced from 1973 to 1976, with a total of 387 examples built. The bodywork construction was handled by Scaglietti, and the final assembly was done at Ferrari's factory in Maranello. A mere 88 examples had right-hand drive configuration with 58 of these originally destined for the U.K. market.

Performance

With 339 horsepower at 7,200 RPM and 302 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 RPM, the 365 GT4 BB was capable of sprinting from zero to sixty mph in 6.1 seconds and had a top speed in the neighborhood of 175 mph.

The Ferrari BB 512

The Ferrari BB 512 (512 BB) was introduced in 1976, and its model name represented the car's 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine. It made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1976, and 929 examples would be built by the time it was replaced in 1981 with the BB 512i (512 BBi).

The engine's displacement increase was a result of an 82mm bore and 78mm stroke, resulting in 4,943cc size. With 9.2:1 compression, the company's sales literature stated an output of 360 bhp, but later brochures stated 340 bhp. Although its claimed power was lower than the 365 GT4 BB, its peak power was reached at 6,200 RPM, lower than its predecessor peak of 7,000 RPM. The slight increase in torque to 331 ft-lbs at 4,300 RPM was handled by a dual plate clutch. Lubrication was via a dry sump setup. The front tires continued to measure 7.5 inches wide, but the rear wheels grew to 9 inches (the rear track increased to 1563mm and the rear bodywork was widened).

Styling modifications were minimal, with the addition of a new chin spoiler upfront, eliminating the nose lift at high speed. Cooling to the rear brakes and exhaust system improved with the new NACA ducts added behind the door on each side. The triple tail lights were now twin lights, and the panel between the taillights was now slats, instead of black mesh.

Between 1976 and 1981, Ferrari produced 929 examples of the BB 512.

The Ferrari BB 512i

The Ferrari BB 512i (512 BBi) came with a Bosch K-Jetronic CIS fuel injection system to improve emissions. Introduced in 1981 and produced through 1984, it was the last of the series. A total of 1,007 examples were built. Producing 340 horsepower at 6,000 RPM, it was the least powerful model in the series.

Along with fuel injection, the camshaft timing was changed, and the Magneti Marelli 'Dinoplex' electronic ignition system now had a built-in rev limiter.

The Michelin XWX tires used on earlier BB models were replaced by Michelin TRX metric-sized tires and wheels. The front wheels measured 180 TR 415, and the rears measured 210 TR 415.

Styling revisions were minimal; the front grille exposed the driving lamps, updated badging, small white running lights in the front fascia, and changes to the rear valence incorporating red fog lamps outboard of the exhaust pipes.

The list of standard equipment included power windows, a stereo, and air conditioning. Among the list of optional equipment included an interior trimmed with Ermenegildo Zegna wool cloth in the seats, headliner, and door panels.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Enzo Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 to build race cars. His long and distinguished history of podium finishes confirm that he did this quite well. The road cars didn't arrive until 1947 and even then only as a concession to keep his beloved, but expensive, racing program funded. Today the prancing stallion is recognized around the world, symbolizing luxury, power, speed, and wealth.

The 512 BB was introduced at the 1971 Turin Salon. It followed the 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta Boxer - Ferrari's fastest road car to date. The 512 BB engine was mounted behind the passenger compartment. The Pininfarina styling was similar to the 365 GT4 BB, but with a chin spoiler and NACA ducts to cool the exhaust system. The wider rear track aided handling and a dry sump helped lower the center of gravity. The 512 BB's 4.9-liter flat-12 was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It boasted a higher compression ratio than its predecessor yet retained the four triple-barrel Weber carburetors.

The 40/60 weight distribution could make handling tricky at the claimed 188 mph top end. Despite slightly less power than its predecessor, the 512 BB produced more torque which allowed for better drivability and acceleration. In particular it matched up quite well with its nemesis, the Lamborghini Miura, and held its own with the new Countach. Interestingly, this car was used by Road and Track Magazine - driven by Sam Posey - in a 1982 'Super Car' comparison with Lamborghini.

Coupe
Chassis number: 31359
Engine number: 00563

This 1980 Ferrari 512 BB was manufactured in April 1980 and was imported to the United States via Trend Import Sales, Inc. It resided in New Mexico in 1987 and 1988, moving to Southern California when it was purchased in the summer of 1988 by Jefferey B. Lewis. It remained in his care until Walter Medlin purchased it in October 1996.

This Ferrari wears a two-tone Rosso Corsa color scheme over black with Vitaloni side-view mirrors and Cromodora center-lock alloy wheels with Borrani spinners. The interior contains beige carpets, a Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, a black leather-wrapped dash, and Pelle Beige 'Daytona'-style leather seats with black inserts. It has power windows, a Yamaha radio unit, and air conditioning.

At some point, this Ferrari was given an MSD ignition system and aftermarket ignition coil. Currently, there are 44,434 kilometers on the odometer.

by Dan Vaughan

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 marque's to showcase the potential in motorsports.

When Ferrari introduced their 206 GT Dino, they also introduced a model that stayed true to their heritage, with the 'cart before the horse.' The 365 GT/4 Daytona front-engined car was a phenomenal vehicle, equipped with a V12 powerplant, and soon became legendary.

The 365 GT4 BB, for Berlinetta Boxer, was introduced at the 1971 Turin Motorshow. It incorporated many design features from the P6 Show Car of 1968. Mounted mid-ship was a flat-12 engine that shared its design and construction with Ferrari's racing program. It was introduced to rival Lamborghini's Miura. The production version was shown at the 1973 Paris Motor Show with sales beginning that same year. A total of 386 were constructed with 58 being right-hand drive.

The flat-12 engine was longitudinally mounted in the engine bay at a 180-degree angle with the gearbox mounted directly under the engine. The flaw in this design was too much weight in just one place and not evenly dispersed throughout the vehicle. Sixty percent of the weight was in the rear, as well as the engine sat rather high since it was above the gearbox.

In 1976 at the Paris Motor Show Ferrari introduced their next iteration of the BB series, the 512 BB. This version brought changes to the vehicle's design along with a five-liter power plant. The triple tail lights were replaced with double units.

In 1981 the 512 BBi was introduced. The 'i' signified a fuel injection system. The 512 BBi remained in production until 1984 when it was replaced by the Ferrari Testarossa.

by Dan Vaughan

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 racing customers.

The 512 S carried a motor with a new V12 with 560 PS output. Unfortunately not air-cooled like the Porsche's flat-12 the 512 was equipped with a variety of cooling pipes and a heavy radiator. Weighing more than 100 kg than the alloy-framed 917, the chassis was of sturded steel that was reinforced with an aluminum sheet. Despite the weight difference, the Ferrari 512S and Porsche 917 were evenly matched.

Predictable teething problems and a weak suspension and transmission were the main issues with the Ferrari 512s in the beginning of 1970.

Produced between 1973 and 1984, the Berlinetta Boxer, or the Ferrari 512 was the name for a series of vehicles produced by Ferrari in Italy. A huge venture for Enzo Ferrari, the Boxer was a mid-mounted flat-12 engine that replaced the FR Daytona and succeeded in the Ferrari stable by the Testarossa.

Though Enzo feared that the mid-engined road car would be too difficult for his buyers to handle, he eventually agreed to his engineer's request that he adopt the layout. In the late 1950s, this attitude began to change as the marque lost its racing dominance to mid-engined competitors. The result of all this was the mid-engined 4, 6 and 8-cylinder Dino racing vehicles that Ferrari eventually allowed for the production Dino road cars to use the layout also. While the Daytona was launched with its engine in front, the company moved its V12 engines to the rear with its P and LM racing vehicles. Finally, in 1971, a mid-engined 12-cylinder road vehicle came on the scene.

Released at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, the first Boxer was the 365 GT4 BB with the production intent to rival Lamborghini's Miura. In 1973 it was finally released for sale at the Paris Motor Show. A total of 386 units were sold with only 58 of them being right-hand drive. The most prestigious of all Berlinetta Boxers, this was the fastest and most rare model.

The Boxer was as unique as possible, though it shared its numerical designation with the Daytona. Like the Dino, the Berlinetta Boxer was a mid-engined vehicle that housed the now flat -12 engine mounted longitudinally rather than transversely. Sharing the internal dimensions of the Daytona V12, the engine was spread out to 180_ as on Ferrari's 1970 Formula One car. Mounted above a five-speed manual transmission the engine produced 344 hp at 7200 rpm and 302 ft_lbf of torque @ 3900 rpm. This engine also used timing belts instead of chains.

In 1976 the 365 was updated as the Ferrari 512 BB, resuming the name of the previous Ferrari 512 racer. A total of 929 of the 512 BBs were produced. Though peak horsepower was off slights to 340 hp @ 6200 rpm (redline 7000 rpm), the engine was larger at 4942 cc. Due to a larger displacement and a longer stroke, torque was now up to 46 kgf_m from 44 kgf_m at 4600 rpm. To achieve a lower center of gravity dry sump lubrication was used. New external features were a front spoiler, added NACA side air vents that ducted air to the brakes, four tail lights instead of six and wider rear tires.

In 1981 the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injected 512Bbi was released. The end of the series, the new fuel-injected motor released cleaner emissions and 340 hp at 6000 rpm and produced 333 ft_lbf of torque at 4200 rpm. New updates included badging and a change to metric-sized wheels along with the Michelin TRX metric tire system, red rear fog lamps outboard of the exhaust pipes in the rear valence and small running lights in the nose. A total of 1,007 512Bbi units were produced.

A total of 25 512S Ferrari's were produced within the first nine months with even chassis numbers from 1002 to 1050. In 1970, 19 of those units were raced, with five of them being spyders. At the end of the season, the 1020 was converted as a 512M and sold to NART which entered it in competition a year later.

by Jessican Donaldson