Berlinetta Boxer | Classic Italian Cars For Sale

When it comes to magical moments in your life, as an automobile enthusiast there are few moments that exceed seeing your first Ferrari. For me, that was when I was quite young - about 5 years old, and a friend of my father had a very lightly used purple 512BB. I don't remember much in terms of details about anything else than walking up to that incredibly wide Ferrari, full of vents, ducts and lots of exhaust pipes. And the wheels! The wheels were so wide. To me, having gotten out of a Toyota Corolla, it might as well have been a spaceship.

And it needed to be a spaceship, because Ferrari was decidedly behind the times in the 1970s. The Daytona was an incredible car, there was no doubt; but compared to the Miura, the Daytona seemed like it was a dinosaur. Ferrari's response was to take the heart and soul of the Daytona, combine it with some lessons learned in the Dino, and make a Miura fighter. It wasn't just a response to the Miura though, it was a Miura beater. The two had similar engine outputs, but the 365 GT4/BB was just downright faster. Faster to 60, faster outright at nearly 190mph. The 365 GT4/BB was later replaced by the 512BB and later the 512BBi with their larger 4.9 flat-12s and remained the big dogs into the 1980s; the Lamborghinis may have sold more posters, but if you actually wanted a driver, you wanted the Ferrari. A few decades later, seeing a 512 still gives me goosebumps and while the Testarossa may have embodied Ferrari in the 1980s, it's still the 512BB that occupies my mind:

Year: 1980
Model: 512BB
Engine: 4.9 liter Flat-12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 25,001 mi
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1980 Ferrari 512BB

1980 Ferrari 512 BB. Only 25,000 klms from new. This is a car that was brought to Canada after being sold new in Switzerland, then going to the UK for a couple years. Being a Canadian car, it did not have to go through the DOT certification that the cars had to do when being imported into the United States. This means that the doors were not cut open to allow the addition of cross members for side impact crashes, as well as various additions under the front clamshell. It makes this car more desirable that the average US car that is available on the market today. Its also a 512 that has never been involved in an accident, has the rare original bumpers, and has had a complete engine rebuild three years ago by Canada's leading 512 BB expert. The transmission was also freshened up at this time. Total invoices add up close to $80,000 for all this work. Have a look at the engine photos, and you will see the detail and the newness in them. Anyone that has been watching these cars know that this model Ferrari is more than likely the next one to rapidly increase like the others have done. Limited production numbers (929 carbureted cars) always dictate which ones become super investments for the future. There is a Ferrari 512 BB running this weekend at the Amelia Island Auction in Florida, and for those who doubt the future value of this car, watch for the results of that auction. This car is not a distress sale, but it will be sold. The last one I had last summer sold to the first person that came to see it. Don't let this one pass you by if your looking for an investment car. I would expect the price to double on these in the next 10 to 15 years. This vehicle is avail for inspection (which I encourage) at anytime. If you fly into Buffalo NY, I will pick you up and bring you back to the airport when your finished viewing. I have the spare tire, just removed it to charge the battery.

With $80,000 in maintenance, you have a bit of an idea of the value of these cars. They're not the cheap Ferraris to get, by any means. Forgotten for a while in favor of newer and older models, the 365 and 512s have been on the rise, especially top condition models like this. A desirable Euro-spec car but also all-original, it's rare to see them in this condition. Hagerty values top condition 512s at just shy of $160,000 - still far short of the Daytona and on par with the top condition GTC/4s. This car is already there with the reserve still on, but this car is from a different generation than the Daytona and if you're smart you could pick this car up and watch it appreciate over the next few years. Just, please make sure that your friend's 5 year old can stare at it up close for a while...

-Carter

With the arrival of the Lamborghini Miura in 1966, Ferrari suddenly had a problem on its hands. Its lineup consisted of front engined V12 sports cars and while the mid-engined Dino arrived one year later, it packed half the number of cylinders as the V12 Miura. At the end of the Miura's life, a new mid-engined Ferrari appeared, the 365 GT4 BB. The "BB" was short for Berlinetta Boxer, a reference to the new 12 cylinder engine. While not a true horizontally opposed engine, you could almost call it that, as the angle between the cylinder heads was 180 degrees. The 365 GT4 begat the 512 BB and fuel injected 512 BBi, which gave way in 1984 to the well-known Testarossa. The Berlinetta Boxer was never sold new in the United States, but a few found their way here via third party importers. If you squint, you'd have a hard time differing the 512 BB from a 308, but they are vastly different animals indeed. Our feature car was owned for 27 years by Michael Anthony of Van Halen fame.

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi

VIN number: ZFFJA09B000047319. One of the greatest 12 cylinder Ferraris of all time, the 512 BB combines the excellent power of the melodious flat 12 with timeless Pininfarina styling. Perfect in its Rosso Corsa coat with a stunningly redone interior by Prestige Auto Upholstery this up-to-date, serviced and meticulously kept example is 50 state legal and ready to go. Owned by Van Halen rocker Michael Anthony from 1985 until now, this car has seen nothing but the best care. The odometer sports a mere 30,300Km (18,800 miles) and looks younger yet. The Campagnolo center lug wheels are excellent, the glass is clear and the paint is nearly perfect. If you’re looking for a little more flash there’s a one-off set of 18” Boyd Codington wheels which come with the car. Even on the stock rollers you’re not going to shrink into the scenery!

Mechanically the car is better than new, and when it was federalized it was done to the far more stringent California emissions standards, so this car can follow you anywhere--all EPA/DOT releases are included. There are receipts for multiple engine-out services including a full belt and reseal job fewer than 2000Km ago. When it was apart, the intake runners and various other aluminum pieces were sent out and polished for a mild custom look for the usual all-business compartment. The stock exhaust is on the car now, complete with newer catalytic converters, but we have the Tubi exhaust which was on the car a short time and is perfect. The front suspension is rebuilt, the clutch is new and the car drives like it did on delivery day.Inside, power features are everywhere. Power windows, air conditioning, a newer Alpine stereo with component speakers and a front mounted amp are there to make the cruise easier, but the real star is the upholstery.

Fernando at Prestige Auto Upholstery took the interior completely apart (we have a CD full of pictures to show the extent) and replaced every scrap of the old leather and vinyl in favor of glove smooth, intoxicatingly fragrant saddle leather. The seats were redone with black inserts for the Daytona look while the rest of the surfaces are textbook correct. The service cost more than $11,000, and you’ll never have to worry about it gumming up or warping again! All manuals, tools and the jack are included, as well as extra European lights. This car was even featured on Hot Rod TV on Speed Channel! The driving experience can’t be ignored--it’s what makes a Ferrari a Ferrari. From the sound of the engine to the feel of the shifter running through the gates to the visceral acceleration of 12 cylinders pounding away behind you, there’s simply nothing like it. Once one of the finest supercars at any price the 512 BB is now and ever shall be a world-renowned classic.

I've seen only one of these BBs in the wild stateside and they are every bit as impressive in person as they are in pictures, especially when you get an earful of the exhaust note. I was happy to read about the engine servicing, because the engine in the BB has timing belts and not chains. If these fail, it would be a very expensive headache. If I was buying this car, I'd probably sell the Boyd Coddington wheels. While the late hot rodder made some high quality wheels and cars, aftermarket rolling stock would be out of place on such a legendary supercar. The chrome intake runners under the hood add to the dramatic looking engine and mirror the beauty of the Alfa Romeo V6. Today's manufacturers could take a lesson from such engineering sculpture. It doesn't take much to make the heart of a car look beautiful.

-Paul