Although I’ve never been a Ferrari fanatic by any stretch, the 512 Berlinetta Boxer has always stood out as one I’d love to own. I credit the design, which blends together 80s excess with the classic Ferrari silhouette. It’s so much better looking than a 308 and just outrageous enough that there’s no doubt as to the era in which it was made. This example wears incredibly low mileage of just 17,000 and is listed here on craigslist with an asking price of $379,999 – a dollar figure I’d gladly spend over any modern-day supercar.
The 512 BBI comes with a mid-mounted 5L, 12-cylinder engine, and the absolutely bonkers interior you see here. The thin three-spoke steering wheel and classic Ferrari gated shifter are hallmarks of the interior, along with those ribbed stripes on the door panels and seats. The 512 BB was the second in Berlinetta Boxer series, replacing the 365 GT4 BB. Differences were subtle, including a wider rear track thanks to a staggered tire setup and a NACA duct on the driver’s side to provide cooling to the exhausts.
The BBI also added Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, and this example was purchased new in Europe by the original owner. The BB’s faced some compliance issues with the DOT, and many were federalized through third-party sources. I’m not sure if they were still being modified for U.S. roads by the time 1984 rolled around, but this example is claimed to be unmodified and 100 percent original, right down to the paint and toolkit. No word on maintenance history but I’d assume it to be robust.
The little details make you love a car like this even more, as there’s ample evidence the BBI has been cherished since Day 1 of ownership. That even looks to be a spare set of belts, or perhaps the one set of originals that have been swapped out at some point. With a car that could eclipse the quarter mile in under 15 seconds and a top speed of 175 m.p.h., the temptation to abuse is likely always high – but this one has been preserved like a museum specimen. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco for the find.
Jamie, you might want to try out the driver’s seat in a 512BB before plunking down all that cash. I drove one in the late 1980s and found that I could neither get comfortable or see all that much of what was going on outside. For such a large car, that struck me as odd….
Mechanically, Boxers are wonderful, sending all the right auditory and tactile messages to the driver. I don’t know what they’re like service-wise, but expect they can be spendy in that respect.
Personally, I’d go for the 308 GT4 and drop the cash needed to make it a shiny, good-running Ferrari. There’s not as much sex appeal there, but I found them more comfortable — and more nimble — than Boxers. Being a Daily Driver kind of guy, and not a put-it-on-a-pedestal-and-stare type, that suits me better.
My guess is that this one is a Euro-spec car, minus cats, bumpers, door beams, buzzers, and all the other detritus that comes with federalizing. I guess that no longer matters. Looks like a good deal for a serious collector, who isn’t likely to drive it all that much.
Ray, this one is Jeff’s write up, not mine. He writes better anyway!
You’re right (at least about the first part — not gonna comment on the second part!), Jamie. Dunno why I did that. Senility, I guess.
Whichever one of you decides to cough up the spondulix for this, my warning still stands. It takes above-average money to get into a BB, but above-average size will reduce the pleasure. Considerably.
Service wise, they are a horror, needing regular removal of the engine. I suppose it’s not a bad car, but that’s a lot of cash for a patina-less car.
Are you saying it would be worth it, if it had patina?, (also known as worn out paint, and rust.)
Nice find. You don’t usually see these high end cars on Craigslist anymore. Most of the sellers go to that website that used to feature project cars and Craigslist finds, but now seems to only do full time auctions.
All of these cars were EUR spec Enzo wouldn’t DOT them. As pointed out if this car hasn’t done that’s OK with me. I’m surprised it came through here and wasn’t FEDed Ron Tonkin they did do that to others. I would love to buy one of these and drive it.
I wonder what service has been done lately?
Thanks
Good article: Here’s Why Ferrari’s Old ‘Flat-12’ Isn’t Exactly A Flat-12 At All
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/heres-why-ferraris-flat-12-isnt-exactly-a-flat-12-at-all/
I don’t completely agree with that article. While they correctly point out that the engine is not a boxer engine and incorrectly named by Ferrari BB (Berlinetti Boxer) it is a flat engine. All boxer engines are flat but not all flat engines are boxers.
Several side notes. The real advantage of the flat engine is that it lowers your CG, and was used to great effect on Ferrars F1 cars in the early 70’s. Except on this car they mounted the engine above the gearbox negating the advantage.
Ferrari went away from Flat engines because of aerodynamics. You could not run as effective underbody diffusers with a flat engine as with a V engine and the aerodynamic advantage outweighed the lower CG.
This car came originally with TRX wheels and tires. The image probably says enough but if you are going to actually drive it change them.
If this car was imported in the last few years it would not have to be converted as it is over 25 years old. This is a good thing as I worked on several of the converted cars and the quality of work was less than spectacular. Many of the converted cars have been returned to factory specs. The 512 and its 365 sibling were never imported into the US by Ferrari, they returned with the Testarossa which is the successor of this car.
Oh a quick way to tell a 365 from a 512. The 512 has 2 tail pipes per side and the 365 has 3.
The seats in this one are probably factory original but for some reason they look off to me. I would have them checked. For cars at this level it matters.
Finally, No you don’t have to pull the engines on these to do the service, though I wish you did as it would be easier. The next generation Testarossa was designed for an engine out service, but it is nothing like pulling the engine on a normal car. Everything is on a subframe and with a few quick disconnects for the electrical and fuel. Coolant is the only problem. I can have the complete engine/transmission/and suspension on my work bench quicker than you can change the spark plugs on a v8 chevy monza.
Kevin – good find on the Peter Egan “post script” photo. I really miss his articles and particularly his buying “just one more car” to rebuild/restore. Everyone retires at some point …..
I can’t drive 55.
is this what Tom Selleck drove in Magnum PI
No. That was a 308. As Coventrycat referenced, Sammy Hagar drove a black one (his) in the “I Can’t Drive 55” video.
That car is 100% badass. Cars like this are why I like cars….
About 25 years ago a guy in my neighborhood had one of these. His license plate said it all, “jstryme”
Or words to that affect. Unfortunately, what I drove at that time was nothing that would stand up against his machine.
Today a different story, I’d love to run into him now. We’d see how his car would run against a Z06, at 1/3 the cost.
But all these performance cars are like a trophy wife. Take my cash please. I’ll get a second job and sell my blood until I no longer faint. And crush aluminum cans on the weekends.
My advice to new owner keep it the garage as often as possible.
craigslist, really?
Are there any other cars that include a lead mallet in their tool kit? WTF is that for??
Oh wait, it’s Italian.
Only every car with knock-off wheels. It’s a knock off hammer.
First problem I see is that it is listed in Hillsboro (Oregon?) but has Florida plates? Looks a bit like a scam to me. Especially that it is selling on CL?
But that doesn’t stop me from drooling over this machine. Beautiful from every angle. Every angle except that mangled mallet. What’s with that? I would bring off the damaged bits and smooth the rest before showing that. It makes it look like you took the car to Walmart for servicing!
Awesome looks, incredible sound, but lots of problems and when the volitile Ferrari market crashes youll wish you had not
A long time ago a dealer in Ontario, Canada had one of these AND a Pantera GTS Group 5 car. I was interested in the Pantera, but did not buy it ( and still regret it ).
I asked him if he preferred one over the other, ie the Pantera over the 512. He laughed and told me he preferred the one he drove last. So, he really liked both, and couldn’t make up his mind…
However, in his words, the Pantera was rock solid at 165 mph, at that speed the 512 was all over the road, needed 2 hands on the wheel, but had a higher top speed.
Decisions, decision. :)
And my son is scared to death his ol’man will hurt himself in one of my Mustangs! :-) I think that he would crap his pants if his daddy pulled up in this! By the looks of his hanger he has a very cool airplane! I have the money, but not the nerve!
This what you buy and stick an AC motor in it.. Italians just cant build engines without turning it into cluster****..
That hammer is well, hammered! How many wheel changes can you do in 17K miles anyhow?
This will likely make me persona non grata on this site, but this Ferrari does nothing for me. The price is ridiculous, the colors look off, and I just don’t think the styling is that cool. Give me a ’60s muscle car or a restomod, or one of the outlandish hp machines of the past few years and I’ll have all the fun of this Italian thing with plenty of cash left over. Sorry for the damper but just stating my 2 cents on this.
I bought this car in March,2021.
I bought this BBi in March of 2021. It truly is a 1 owner car with original paperwork from Ferrari.
I was fortunate to win a Platinum Award with this car at the 30th Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach this year. I gave her a complete Gucci but the basic bones are all good.