In the presence of the great and the good from the world of the Prancing Horse, our 1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM Group 5 was awarded two prizes at last weekend’s prestigious Cavallino Classic Modena Concorso d’Eleganza…
Staged in the luscious green gardens of Chef Massimo Bottura’s stately 18th-Century Casa Maria Luigia near Modena, last weekend’s Cavallino Classic Modena Concorso d’Eleganza saw 30 of the world’s finest Ferraris vie for the affections of an esteemed roll call of expert judges, each of whom is intrinsically linked to the Prancing Horse.
The small but carefully selected assembly of Ferraris was as diverse as their respective owners, who travelled to the birthplace of the marque from all four corners of the world. Divided into Gran Turismo and Competizione categories, the entry list comprised everything from a 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza to a 1997 Ferrari F50.
Here at Girardo & Co. we were honoured to play a part in this stunning celebration of Ferrari’s fabled history with our 512 BB/LM Group 5 from 1979. With its distinctive ‘clouds’ livery hand-painted by the French artist Jean Fougerol, chassis number 26685 contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1979 and 1980.
With its full red-book Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming the car’s provenance and matching-numbers status, it was down to our very own specialist Davide De Giorgi to help extoll the BB/LM’s virtues to the judges.
“Exhibiting at any Cavallino event is always an honour, but to take such a recognisable competition Ferrari from one of the most fondly-remembered periods of motorsport was an extra-special experience,” Davide recalls. “As soon as the BB/LM was presented for judging it was clear the jury really knew a lot about the car and grasped its ‘Pop’ significance.
“One of the judging panel was a good friend of Nigel Chiltern-Hunt, who owned chassis 26685 at the turn of the new millennium, and was fully aware of the sheer effort to which Nigel went to restore the car as authentically and with as much respect to its originality as possible.”
“The 512 BB/LM went down so well – a real hit. To nab the Twelve Cylinder Award in such esteemed company and with a 180-degree vee was a particularly sweet touch – the proverbial cherry on the cake.”
A traditional and much-anticipated part of the concours judging process is to start the car. Suffice to say, when the 512 BB/LM’s 12-cylinder engine fired to life with a rapturous growl, it took but a moment for a crowd to form. “If the BB/LM wasn’t a hit before we fired it up, it certainly was when the ground beneath Casa Maria Luigia began to rumble,” says Davide. “I had to feel for the poor waiting staff, who looked terrified – as though the champagne flutes they were carrying were about to smash in despair.”
Saturday evening’s prize-giving ceremony was studded with a stunning dinner prepared by the world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura – a man with three Michelin Stars under his belt.
And in the relaxed company of the great and the good from the world of Ferrari including Il Commendatore’s son Piero Ferrari, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and the head of Ferrari Classiche Andrea Modena, our Ferrari 512 BB/LM was the recipient of not one but two trophies: the Platinum Award, for cars that score 97 points or higher (out of a possible 100), and the Twelve Cylinder Award. The trophies themselves? Designed by Pininfarina and crafted by Bacchelli & Villa. Class.
“It felt like I’d barely sat down and begun to share the news about the first award with the rest of Team Girardo & Co. before the car was called out again!” Davide recalls. “The BB/LM went down so well – a real hit. To nab the Twelve Cylinder Award in such esteemed company and with a 180-degree vee was a particularly sweet touch.”
The awards serve to reiterate the appeal of this Ferrari. Need we remind you, the 25 BB/LMs which left Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti department were the marque’s final in-house-built sports-racing cars to have raced in the world’s greatest endurance competition.
The third example built, chassis number 26685 distinguishes itself further in a number of significant ways. Not least its competition résumé, which comprises the two most prestigious endurance motor races, and its Pop Art livery, which is arguably the most famous and recognisable of all the 512s which raced. The beguiling originality, full red-book Ferrari Classiche certification and extraordinary eligibility in today’s historic motoring world are the proverbial cherries on the cake.
Photos: Gabriele Natalini for Girardo & Co.
We’ll take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the organisers at Canossa, who did a typically great and attentive job hosting such a memorable weekend, and to the teams at Gigi Elettrauto Classiche and Pastorelli Classic Cars for their invaluable mechanical assistance with the BB/LM.