Lot 117: c.1980 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer
Coachwork by Pininfarina

Ferrari was criticised in the late 1960s for not jumping on the bandwagon and making a mid-engined road car like rivals Lamborghini. It had been slow to put the engine behind the driver in Formula 1, but when it did so the result was the immortal T156 ‘shark nose’ that took Phil Hill to the 1961 World Championship. By the decade’s end, Ferrari had all the experience it needed of mid-engined cars and knew the snags as well as advantages. When Ferrari launched the Berlinetta Boxer in 1973, the layout was fully understood, although the position of the engine was of less concern than creating a worthy successor to the front-engined Daytona, and that was a very hard act to follow.

The Berlinetta Boxer was a compact car, 50mm shorter than the 308, so it could actually be used for driving, say, over Alpine passes at high speed. And it was beautiful, its Pininfarina body remaining in production for a remarkable 12 years. The 512BB had a new multi-tubular frame and its all-independent suspension reflected Ferrari’s racing experience. At its heart was a flat-12 dohc engine, which again owed its development to Ferrari’s competition programme.

Early models had a 4.4-litre engine, but this car has the later carburettor-fed 5.0-litre engine producing 360bhp and, more importantly for use on the road, a maximum 333lb/ft torque in the mid-rev range. Road & Track magazine had achieved a speed of 175mph (280km/h) in the preceding 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.’

Finished in its original red/black livery, this example features an interior newly re-trimmed by Luppi in beige leather. We are advised that the electrical system has likewise been renewed, and that the car comes with an invoice (issued 2007) from Sauro of Bologna for servicing work including a change of cam belts. A complete tool kit and original owner’s manual are included in the sale, and the car possesses a Titre de Circulation Monegasque and Contrôle Technique.




Peinte dans ses teintes d’origine rouge et noir, cet exemplaire possède un intérieur récemment refait en cuir beige par Luppi. Nous avons noté que le circuit électrique a été également refait et que la voiture est accompagnée d’une facture (datée de 2007) de Sauro de Bologne pour des travaux d’entretien dont un changement des courroies de distribution. La voiture est vendue avec son lot d’outils d’origine, son manuel de l’utilisateur, son titre de circulation monégasque et son contrôle technique.