OVERVIEW
1980 Ferrari 512 BB
VIN: F102BB32545
Engine: F102B00000672
Chassis: 32545
First sold in Europe this Boxer was brought into the United States from Switzerland in early 1981. No Berlinetta Boxer was ever sold new in North America, as Enzo Ferrari did not believe it to be worth the cost of federalizing. Ferrari Compliance of Santa Ana, Ca. imported the car and had it modified to US specification for $19,770. With an original list price of around $40k for the 512BB, and an additional $20k for federalizing it looks like Enzo may have been right.
The maintenance book for 32545 shows its first service at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo in Portland, Oregon, at 1200km for owner Rob Leventhal of Sun Valley, Idaho. The car returns to Tonkin's in August of 1997 to be sold with only 9571 kilometers on the odometer. The next owner, Les Groberman of Vancouver purchases the car later that month, and has it imported to his home in Canada. He keeps the car for the next 6 years, giving it its 12,500 service in March of 1999 with just 11,998 km on the clock. This extensive $8,000 service includes timing belt replacement, valve adjustment, and engine oil seals.
In September of 2003 Groberman sells 32545 to David Riddle, also of Vancouver, BC. Riddle will go on to own the car until it was brought back into the United States by Canepa in December of 2013. Right after coming through our doors the Boxer was partially disassembled so that the chassis, frame, engine, transmission, belly pans, suspension, and wheel wells could be inspected, hand cleaned, and detailed. Over 200 hours of detail work were performed until the car finally met our standards. Now this 11,000 mile Berlinetta Boxer presents as new; a flawless example of what Road and Track called the best all-around sports and GT they had ever tested.
About the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer:
The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer was introduced in 1973 to replace the 365 GTB/4. Designed by Leonardo Fioravanti, it was a radical departure from the front-engined Daytona in design and purpose. Enzo Ferrari 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. In the late 60s Ferrari finally allowed the production of the mid-engined Dino road cars, but only if they used the less powerful 6-cylinder engine, and not carry the Ferrari badge. Real Ferraris had 12 cylinders.
The 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer was the first mid-engine Ferrari badged street car. In 1976 the 365 GT4/BB was updated as the 512 BB, resurrecting the name of the earlier Ferrari 512 racer. The engine was larger at 4942cc, had an increased compression ratio of 9.2:1. Only 929 512BB models were ever produced. In popular culture the 512BB is forever connected to the video of Sammy Hagar's automotive anthem "I Can't Drive 55."
Specifications:
Mid-mounted 4.9 liter flat 12 cylinder engine
360 horsepower
333 lb-ft of torque
Top speed: 188mph
0-62: 5.4 seconds
Odometer at 18028 Kilometers = 11202 miles
