Lot 209: 1976 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer

Having reasserted itself at the top of the supercar hierarchy with the first �Boxer� - the 365GTB/4 BB - Ferrari went one better with its successor, the 512BB. For the new Boxer, Ferrari abandoned its long-standing practice of denoting a model by the capacity of an individual cylinder and adopted the Dino-type nomenclature where �512� indicates 5 litres/12 cylinders. The increase in engine size from the original Boxer�s 4.4 litres was made not so much with increased power in mind but to enable the 512BB to meet increasingly stringent emissions targets without loss of performance. Displacement was increased by enlarging both bore and stroke, while in addition the compression ratio was raised and dry-sump lubrication adopted. The result of all these changes was a useful increase in torque which, coupled with revised gear ratios, made the 512 more tractable.
Changes to Pininfarina�s inspired coachwork were, not surprisingly, few: an air-dam spoiler beneath the nose, brake-cooling NACA ducts ahead of the rear wheel arches, four rear lights instead of six and revised air intake boxes, while slightly fatter rear tyres meant that the width of the 512�s derriere grew by just over 1�. The running gear likewise came in for only minor revision, gaining stiffer springs/anti-roll bars and altered damping rates, while the already excellent all-round ventilated disc brakes remained unchanged. Inside, the 512 remained virtually the same as before but for the welcome adoption of multi-way adjustable seats in place of the fixed originals.
In 1981 the model was up-dated with Bosch fuel injection, becoming the 512BBi. Once again, maximum power remained unchanged, but there was more available at lower revs and torque increased still further.
Road & Track magazine had achieved a speed of 175mph in the 365GT/4 BB, and although lack of road space prevented the discovery of their test 512�s capability, Ferrari�s claimed maximum of 188mph was felt entirely realistic. The fact that this was down 4mph on the Lamborghini Countach�s �fastest ever� maximum was considered unimportant. �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.�
Previously owned by Baron Empain in Paris, this 512BB has been in the current owner�s possession since 1994 and currently displays a total of circa 35,000 kilometres on the odometer. In April 1996 (at 24,626 kilometres) the car was despatched to Pozzi (Ferrari France) for a major refurbishment, including an engine rebuild, at a cost of FF 142,531 as detailed in the accompanying invoice. �21033� has since benefited from further servicing by Pozzi (at 28,324 kilometres) and will be delivered for sale freshly re-commissioned - cam belts changed, new clutch fitted, etc � and ready to drive. Repainted in 1997, the car is presented in excellent condition, and is offered with its tool kit and French Carte Grise.