Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer

Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
Manufacturer:	Ferrari
Class:	rear-engined coupe
Production:	1973 — 1983
Predecessor:	Ferrari Daytona
Successor:	Ferrari Testarossa
365 GT4 BB
Production:	1973 — 1976
Body styles:	Berlinetta
Engines:	4.4 L V12
512BB
Production:	1976 — 1980
Body styles:	Berlinetta
Engines:	5.0 L F12
512BBi
Production:	1981 — 1984
Body styles:	Berlinetta
Engines:	5.0 L FI V12

Berlinetta Boxer is the name for a series of cars produced by Ferrari in Italy between 1973 and 1984. They used a mid-mounted flat-12 engine, replacing the FR Daytona, and succeeded in the Ferrari stable by the Testarossa.

Production of the BB was a major step for Enzo Ferrari. He felt that a mid-engined road car would be too difficult for his buyers to handle, and it took many years for his engineers to convince him to adopt the layout. This attitude began to change as the marque lost its racing dominance in the late 1950s to mid-engined competitors. The mid-engined 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder Dino racing cars was the result, and Ferrari later allowed for the production Dino road cars to use the layout as well. The company also moved its V12 engines to the rear with its P and LM racing cars, but the Daytona was launched with its engine in front. It was not until 1971 that a mid-engined 12-cylinder road car would appear.

365 GT4 BB

The first Boxer was the 365 GT4 BB shown at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. Designed to combat rival Lamborghini's Miura, it was finally released for sale in 1973 at the Paris Motor Show.

Though it shared its numerical designation with the Daytona, the Boxer was as different as could be. It was a mid-engined car like the Dino, and the flat-12 engine was mounted longitudinally rather than transversely.

The engine shared its internal dimensions with the V12 from the Daytona, but was spread out to 180° as on Ferrari's 1960 Formula One car. It produced 380 hp and was mounted above a five-speed manual transmission. One major difference in this engine was its use of timing belts rather than chains.

The Pininfarina body was an angular wedge with popup headlights, and remains quite modern looking. 387 examples were built.

512BB

A rear shot of a Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer in the exclusively Ferrari parking lot at the 2005 United States Grand Prix

The 365 was updated as the 512BB in 1976. The engine was larger at 4942 cc, but power was off to 360 hp. Dry sump lubrication was used for a lower center of gravity. External differentiators included a new front spoiler, wider rear tires, added side air vents ducting air to the brakes, and four tail lights (rather than six). 929 512BBs were produced.

512BBi

The Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injected 512BBi was the last of the series. Introduced in 1981, it was cleaner but produced the same power. 1,007 512BBi models were produced.