1980 Ferrari 512 BB/LM

Coupe
Chassis number: 32131

Ferrari 512 BBLM with chassis number 32131 was never raced. In June of 1980 the car was purchased by a United States resident named P. Paul Pappalardo. He kept the car for a period of time before selling it to Ed Wettach, also of the US. Ron Spangler became the cars next owner who later sold the car to Johnson.

In 1988 the car was sold to Ed Wettach, his second time to own the car. Wettach entered the car in various concourses and events. In 1988 the car was shown at the Ferrari Club of America Concours in Elkhart Lake where it was awarded a second place in class. In 1989 it was shown at the Ferrari Club of America Concours in Lanier Island where it finished First in Class. In 1990 it was shown at the Ferrari Club of America Concours in Watkins Glen where it finished First in Class.

In 1990 the car was sold to Bob Rapp of the United States. Chassis number 32131 is now in the ownership of Kurt Schulz of Union Dale, PA. It has continued to be shown at events and be entered in historic competition. It is seen here at the Cavallino Classic in West Palm Beach.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 38181

Ferrari 512 BBLM with chassis number 38181 has engine number 024 031. It has never been raced except in historic competition. In November of 1981 the car was sold to P Paul Pappalardo. By 1982 it was in the ownership of Gary Schaevitz. The next owner was Ed and Eleanor Wettach of Jackson, Ms. The car had been sold for $475,000.

Under the Wettach's care, the car was entered in the FCA Concours in 1986 where it achieved a First in Class. In 1987 it was shown at the FCA Concours Wolf Trap Farm where it finished First. At the 1993 Cavallino Classic it finished First in Class. Also in 1993 it was shown at the FCA National Concours Palm Beach Gardens where it finished First in Class.

In 1994 it was apart of the International Ferrari Concours in Monterey, CA where it was awarded a First in Class.

Ray Hartman of Montecito, CA became the cars next owner in October of 2000. Todd Morici purchased the car in 2003 and has engine number 031 installed in the car. It is seen here at the Cavallino Classic in West Palm Beach.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: F102BB*34445

Ferrari 512 BBLM with chassis number 34445 was sold to Ron Spangler of 'Prancing Horse Farm' for the 1981 '24-Hours of Daytona.' It was the only BBLM to ever lead at Daytona. Under Spangler's care the car was entered into competition. In 1981 the car was entered into the 24 Hours of Daytona where it was driven by Adamowicz and Knoop. The car wore number 65. The car failed to finish the race. The following year the car was entered into the same event, the 24 Hours of Daytona where it was driven by Knoop, Pumpelly, and Baird. It failed to finish. A few months later the car was entered into the 12 Hours of Sebring where it was driven by Pumpelly, Baird, and Mead. It failed to finish.

In 1983 the car made a third appearance at the 24 Hours of Daytona where it was driven by Baird, Pumpelly, and Mead. Again, it failed to finish.

The car was sold to Bruce Vineyard. Vineyard brought the car to the 1984 Ferrari Club of America Annual Meeting in Atlanta. In 1990 the car was shown at the FCA National Concours at Watkins Glen where it was awarded a Third in Class.

The car is now in the care of John Goodman of Seattle, Washington. It is seen here at the Cavallino Classic.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 29509

Ferrari 512 BBLM with chassis number 29509 was constructed on May 2nd of 1980. Its first owner was Bob Donner of Denver, Colorado who drove it in the 1980 Virginia City Hillclimb where it wore number 77 and would setting a new hill record.

It was sold to Bill Kontes of the USA sometime during the 1980s. In 1989 it was offered by Barchetta Motorcars Inc of NY for sale. It took a few months but it was sold within the year. From that time, it went through various owners.

In 1999 the car was purchased by Charles Wegner of Chicago, IL. In 2000 he entered the car in the US Shell Ferrari Challenge where the car finished in 3rd overall. In 2001 it was sold to its present owner, a Ferrari enthusiast and American collector.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 29511
Engine number: F102B000034

This 1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM 'Silhouette' by Pininfarina completed assembly in November of 1979. It left the factory wearing Rosso paint and trimmed with a Nero cloth interior. It was distributed to the Wide World of Cars in Spring Valley, New York, accompanied by a spare racing engine (internal number 034). This Ferrari is the 13th of 29 examples built.

John Gelles of Chappaqua, New York acquired the Ferrari in early 1980 and commenced a long record of racing use. It made its competition debut at the Ferrari Club of America regional meet at Bridgehampton in May 1982. Two years later the car was race-prepared with suspension and steering modifications conducted by Lee Dykstra of Fabcar in Atlanta.

In May 1984, the car competed at the IMSA GTP Coca-Cola 500 at Lime Rock wearing race number 21 and entered by Equipco. Driven by Bill Gelles, Steve Cohen, and Enzo De Pasquale, it placed 13th overall. Two months later, at the Camel Continental Double 3-Hour event at Watkins Glen, it finished 17th overall. In September of 1984, it placed 20th at the New York 500 KM at Watkins Glen.

For the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1985, the Gelles brothers enlisted IMSA driver Don Walker with driving assistance. It would finish the race in 16th overall and 9th in class, the best finish ever recorded at Daytona by a 512 BB/LM. A month later, it raced at the 12 Horus of Sebring where Gelles and Cohen made it 54 laps before it was forced to retire due to mechanical issues.

The Gelles brothers sold the Ferrari in the mid-1980s to Anthony Wang of Lloyd Harbor, New York, and he had the 512 repainted in French Blue. The car's maintenance was entrusted to Frank Kehr and Shoreland Racing Ltd. Mr. Wang competed with the Ferrari in several vintage events, including Joe Marchetti's Chicago International Historic Races at Road America in July 1988, and the FCA National Meeting at Road America a week later. Its final outtings were in June 1989 at the CA National Meeting and NART Reunion held at Stouffer's Pine Isle Resort at Lake Lanier and Road Atlanta. The Ferrari was then placed into storage where it would remain for the following decade.

Leigh and Leslie Keno of New York acquired the Ferrari by 2000. While in their custodianship, the car was exhibited at the Tutto Italiano meeting held in May 2005 at the Larz Anderson Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts. It made appearances at the Monterey Historic Races in 2008 and 2009.

The current owner acquired the 512 BB LM in late 2011 and shortly thereafter it was submitted to Ferrari Classiche for certification. It soon received a Red Book which ensures it retains all of the major factory-equipped matching-numbers mechanical components. After the certification, the car was sent to Dennison International in Seattle, Washington, for a comprehensive restoration to original standards by the company's racing division, including a full cosmetic refinish in the original color combination.

More recently, the 512 has been exhibited at the Cavallino Classic on four occasions, and at the 2014 Cavallino, the BB/LM won the Trofeo di Florida at the associated race. It was shown in October 2014 at the 60th anniversary celebration of Ferrari North America in Beverly Hills and the Ferrari 70th Anniversary Celebration at Pebble Beach in August 2017.

by Dan Vaughan

The Ferrari 512 BB LM was produced from 1979 through 1982 with only 25 examples produced. The Pininfarina design bodies featured a longitudinally, mid-mounted 12-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. The 512 BB LM was a continuation of the 512 BB, but built specifically for the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 512 BB had been shown a few years prior at the 1976 Paris Motorshow and served as a replacement for the 365 GT4 BB.

The chassis of the 512 BB was modified by Ferrari and a weight reduction of around 200 lbs was achieved. Unfortunately, the newly designed body weighed about 200 pounds extra than the 512 BB so there was no overall weight reduction. The engine was modified to include a Lucas Fuel Injection system which boosted power to around 460 horsepower. Further modifications improved output to 500 horsepower. The gearbox was not modified to handle the extra horsepower and ultimately would be the demise of its chances at many racing events.

The Ferrari 512 BB LM suffered from poor handling. In an effort to reduce the wheelbase and to fit all the components, the engine was mounted above the gearbox. This meant a lot of weight sat high in the vehicle and greatly affected the handling.

At its inaugural Le Mans appearance, the 512 BB LM finished in a disappointing 12th. The above-mentioned issues coupled with strong competition from other competitors such as Porsche with their 700 horsepower 935's, the 512 BB LM was outclassed. Modifications and improvements were made the 512 BB LM's over the following years and in 1981 a 512 BB LM scored a class victory at LeMans, the highlight of their career.

The BB LM's were retired in 1984 when they failed to meet new regulations.

by Dan Vaughan