Ferrari 512 BB |
Completed: |
1981 |
Originally delivered: |
Germany |
Original colour: |
red |
Original interior: |
black |
Comments: |
The 512 BB has been launched first time on the Paris Motor Show in 1976 to |
| replace the 4.4 l 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer. Ferrari changed with the BB 512 its | |
| type designation method. With the earlier cars the designation has shown the | |
| displacement in cubic centimeters of an individual cylinder. Ferrari now went to | |
| its contemporary racing car method where the first of the three digits indicated | |
| the total engine capacity and the next two digits presented the number of | |
| cylinders. As follows the new designation BB512 indicated - a five liter 12- | |
| cylinder engine. The extra engine displacement was optained by opening the | |
| bore and lengthening the stroke for a total displacement of 4942 cc. With | |
| alterations also to the compression ratio and the camshaft timing, the new 5- | |
| liter was more tractable than the 365 GT BB. The engine was topped by a | |
| quartet of triple-choke Weber carburettors and produced 360 bhp with an | |
| performance in the mid-five second range by acceleration from rest to 100km/h | |
| and having a top speed exceeding 280 km/h. |
| Another major change was the switch to a dry-sump engine lubrication | |
| arrangement, to counteract any oil-surge problems that might be caused by the | |
| 512's higher cornering ability which was caused by the wider 225/70VR15 | |
| Michelin XWX tyres on 9 Zoll Campagnolo wheels in the back. This led as well to | |
| a slightly wider bodywork and in fact the whole engine cover was subtly | |
| redesigned with three sets of louvers instead of two of the predecessor. Ferrari | |
| changed the appearance on the other end as well with the addition of a spoiler | |
| below the grille to eliminate any tendency to lift at high speed and also to | |
| improve the stability. So overall the new BB 512 retained the look of the original | |
| Berlinetta Boxer but there were numerous detail differences as well as major | |
| mechanical changes. | |
| The 512 BB is the last real thoroughbred made by Ferrari having its four triple | |
| choke carburettor set up which makes this model desirable. | |
| Ferrari has produced not more than 929 cars from which 101 have been | |
| delivered as right hand drive. According to a recent research there are not more | |
| than approximately 750 left hand drive cars still available on the planet. |
| The 512 BB on offer has been delivered in Germany through Auto Becker in | |
| 1981 and is one of the last carburetted cars made. It does have the original | |
| German title issued in 1981 and still on the first owners name. The 512 BB has | |
| been driven only frequently over the years showing an original mileage of only | |
| 19 760 km. The interior is in virtually original but in as new condition. It looks, | |
| runs and drives like new. We assume that it will be difficult to find a better one | |
| owner from new 512 BB in the market. |
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