Ferrari 512 BBi Rosso Corsa

How can an instant classic like the Ferrari 512 BBi become even more desirable? Simple: trade one in from its second owner who held onto it for nearly 25 years (!) and discover it has been impeccably maintained all that time by the specialists at Forza and Kroymans. The previous owner bought this rolling legend from Dima Automobili in Bolzano, Italy. The rest is history. Its modest mileage proves just how much the 512 Berlinetta Boxer has always been treated as a collector’s item. And rightly so! Which collector dares to follow their heart the moment that thrilling mid-mounted V12 roars to life?

History
It’s August 2000 when the second owner makes a historic purchase in the capital of South Tyrol. He knows he has something special in his hands and treats it accordingly: the man commits nearly a quarter of a century to his Rosso Corsa Ferrari 512 BBi. Only a gem from the Prins collection could tempt him into trading in this classic 512i — a car that went down in the history books as the final evolution of the original 365 GT4 BB. That earlier model faced the nearly impossible task of succeeding the legendary 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” in style. At least on paper. In reality, the revolutionary Berlinetta Boxer more than lives up to the challenge. In fact, it’s groundbreaking, thanks to its mid-engine layout — a configuration previously reserved for the Italian marque’s race cars only. But when archrival Lamborghini proved it could work for road cars too, Ferrari couldn’t afford to lag behind. This example is from the later series, with the “i” in the model name referring to Bosch’s new fuel injection system.

Exterior
Ferrari reduced the number of exhaust pipes and rear lights from six to four larger units, sharpened the bumper design, and added NACA air ducts in front of the rear wheels. The transition from 365 BB to 512 BB is instantly recognizable to connoisseurs. The move from 512 to 512i, however, was more modest visually, with a fully body-colored exterior being the most notable change. Interestingly, this example still features a black lower section, staying truer to the original Berlinetta Boxer design. We admit it: the Nero finish contrasts stunningly with the fiery Rosso Corsa red that covers the rest of the bodywork. A body designed by Leonardo Fioravanti, working for another Italian design legend: Pininfarina. Besides the Ferrari BB, Fioravanti left his mark on masterpieces like the aforementioned Daytona and the later 288 GTO. In short, the man knew what he was doing. The Berlinetta Boxer stands out with its extremely low center of gravity, sharp lines, flamboyant curves, and a rear-end design made possible for the first time by its mid-engine layout. Other typical BB features include the two black “humps” on the rear engine cover and the headlight units divided into multiple components, with the lower segment behind amber glass. This car oozes character!

Interior
Welcome to the seventies. The 512 BBi cockpit is a spotless time machine, produced in the early 80s but based on the 365 GT4 BB, a design rooted in the early 70s. The leather is beige with black, the instruments have orange markings, and the center tunnel is lined with toggle switches. Gear changes happen via a classic gated shifter that glides through beautifully milled aluminum guides. Even the original Pioneer radio with cassette player and analog (!) equalizer is still present. It’s clear: anyone looking to experience the classic Ferrari feeling can’t ignore this beautiful Berlinetta Boxer.

Technology & Performance
Is your Ferrari knowledge mostly limited to the Testarossa era? Not to worry — the technology behind the Ferrari BB is just as captivating: the flat-12 engine, bored out from 4.4 liters (365) to 4.9 liters (512), is not actually a true boxer engine but a 12-cylinder positioned at a 180-degree angle. Flat as a pancake, indeed. In the 512 BBi, Ferrari’s naturally aspirated V12 produces 360 hp from this magical engine block. The “i” refers to the Bosch K-Jetronic CIS fuel injection, while “512” alludes to more than just the nearly 5-liter displacement and 12 cylinders — it also nods to the 1964 Ferrari 512 F1: the brand’s first Formula 1 car with V12 power. With rear-wheel drive and a mid-engine layout, the connection to the pinnacle of motorsport is complete. Now all that’s needed is a new ‘driver’…

Kind regards,
Team Prins