Ferrari 512 BB (1981)

In October 1976, no doubt spurred on by the imminent arrival of Lamborghini's wild LP400 Countach S, Ferrari upstaged the financially troubled Sant' Agata manufacturer by releasing their 512 Berlinetta Boxer at the Paris Auto Salon, a revised version of the 365 BB, one that was more driveable in all conditions and with an enlarged 5.0-litre engine to provide greater torque.

With the exception of a wider rear track, few set-up changes were made, the outgoing 365's 4.4-litre Flat-12 engine undergoing the most fundamental revisions. Despite no fundamental changes being made to the bodywork, a couple of detail alterations do help identify 512's from GT4's. Most obviously was a new wraparound chin spoiler, NACA ducts carved out from in front of the rear wheel arches and twin rear lights rather than distinctive triple clusters. New wing mirrors and a mildly reworked rear valance housing four exhaust pipes instead of six also differentiated the new version.

Inside some minor switchgear and instrument relocation could be noticed. The 512 Berlinetta Boxer continued in production until late 1981, by which time some 823 left hand drive examples had been completed and only 106 right hand drive examples.

This LHD example was delivered new to Belgium and was finished in Rosso Chiaro over a Beige (VM3218) leather interior and Nero carpets. In 1985, well-respected Dutch Ferrari collector Nico Koel (a founding member of the Dutch Ferrari Owners Club) purchased the car via his close friend Wilfried de Buck, owner of Auto Monza in Belgium. Koel notes that in his opinion, “the car was in perfect condition, no accidents and always had been in service at Auto Monza”, it had covered approximately 18,600 Miles at that time.

Koel would keep the car until 1990 and by then he had covered circa 9,500 further miles in the car. During his ownership he had the car maintained with no expense spared via Italauto in Achterveld by Kees van Stokkum and later by Garage Hoksbergen, both well respected Ferrari specialists in the Netherlands. Koel sold the car in 1990 in order to buy a competition Daytona to fellow collector and member of the Dutch Ferrari Owners Club Alex Van Der Lof, who would go on to own the car for the following 27 years! During his careful ownership period it covered just 11,000 further miles.

It was purchased from Van der Lof by DK Engineering in 2017 and we exported the car to the U.K. Upon its arrival, it was treated to a thorough mechanical recommissioning in our workshops by DK as well as full paint correction and interior revival. The comprehensive major service included cambelts, an overhaul of the fuelling and carburettor systems, an overhaul of the clutch and braking systems, an overhaul of the steering system, the air conditioning being updated and re-gassed and four new tyres being fitted.

Sold to its current owner in the U.K. in 2017, the car is confirmed as retaining its original engine, gearbox, and bodywork. In 2018, the car returned to our workshops for a carburettor and brake service. Subsequently, the car has been serviced at Kent High Performance cars in Maidstone, where it received an annual service in March of 2020 and a major service in February 2021 at 69,730 kms.

Today this superb BB has covered just under 74,700 kms from new and is presented as an excellent, driver-quality Berlinetta Boxer. Ready to be used and enjoyed, it is available for inspection at our facilities just outside London.