The Ferrari 512 BB
 
Rivalry — the catalyst of either greatness or failure. For Italian car manufacturers in the 1960s and ’70s, it was the rivalry between them that resulted in some of the most iconic and timeless supercars ever created. Kicking the competition off was Lamborghini’s Miura in 1966, followed by Maserati’s Bora and Ferrari’s 365 GTB/4 BB, which both debuted in 1971. And thus, the mid-engined supercar was born.
 
Never to rest on their laurels, Lamborghini stepped up its supercar game not only with its design but also its performance when it built its second supercar, the Countach, in 1974 — to which Ferrari responded with the 512 Berlinetta Boxer in 1976.
 
Introduced at the Paris Auto Show, the 512 featured a 4.9-litre, 180-degree, flat 12-cylinder engine with a higher compression ratio and four triple-barrel Weber carburettors. The engine was enlarged from the 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta Boxer’s 4.4 litres to 4.9, which resulted not only in an increase in power but also enabled the 512 BB to meet increasingly strict emissions laws. The compression ratio was also raised, dry-sump lubrication was adopted, and gear ratios were revised. As a result, the Berlinetta Boxer produced 340 horsepower, 333 foot-pounds of torque at 4,600 rpm, a 0–60 time of six seconds and a top speed of 188 mph. This 188 mph was four less than the Lamborghini Countach’s ‘fastest ever’ maximum speed, but Road & Track magazine was adamant that this slight difference wasn’t important. “That's because, taken on balance, the Ferrari 512 Boxer wins a more important award, as the best all-round sports and GT car we've tested. If we had to pin the reasons down to one it would have to be that the Ferrari doesn't forget the driver. The Boxer has it all, the speed, the handling, the lovely shape, the well-done cockpit and, most important of all, a reputation for reliability.”
 
Chassis and body modifications included wider rear tyres and an expanded rear track, a new front chin spoiler and NACA intakes were added on the flanks to cool its exhaust system, and its taillights were reduced from triple to twin units. As standard, the interior was fitted with plush leather, full instrumentation, electric window lifts, three-point inertia seat belts, and air conditioning.
 
 
 
This Ferrari 512 BB
 
From 1976 to 1981, less than 1,000 examples were built, including this car, chassis 20287. Finished in Celeste Metallizzato over a Pelle Beige interior, this Ferrari left the factory in January 1977 and was ordered new by the ‘New Trade Company’ in February.
 
After over 10 years in private ownership, being stored and unseen by the public, the 512 BB was registered in France in 1990, with a temporary license ‘WWM92’, and then shortly after, travelled across the border to Belgium, where it was registered with Galleria Automobile in Antwerp on 23 April 1996.
 
Preservation of this Ferrari was clearly a priority for all those who owned it, as it once again went into storage, hardly to see the harsh sun or uneven roads, and subsequently, underwent a complete nut-and-bolt restoration by Official Ferrari agent Rossocorsa S.r.l. Milano. Taking place from 2011 to 2014, the restoration was fastidiously photo-documented, before being awarded its Ferrari Classiche Certification, confirming this car to retain its original chassis, engine, gearbox and body, in 2015.
 
The restoration was completed to such a high level, with care taken to maintain originality and correctness, that it drew the attention of a highly regarded, German collector car enthusiast. During its current ownership, this 512 BB was regularly maintained by classic sports and race car authority Formula GT in Munich.
 
With just 4,700 kilometres on the odometer, chassis 20287 is sure to be one of, if not the, lowest-mileage 512 Berlinetta Boxers in the world — an amazing accomplishment for a car that taunts everyone who catches a glimpse of it to slip behind the wheel. Still wearing its gorgeous original colour combination of Celeste Metallizzato and Pelle Beige, this Ferrari is completely on the button after its recent restoration and is a truly exceptional early supercar.
 
Price Upon Application