Ferrari 512 BB

The Ferrari 512 BB

The Ferrari 512 BB made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1976. It was a further development of the 365 GT4 BB, which was presented in 1971 and was the first 12-cylinder Ferrari with a rear-mid engine. This layout had first gone into series production in 1966 in the Lamborghini Miura and became increasingly popular in high-performance sports cars. The large, spectacular engine flap, which covered the entire rear body, was also inspired by the Miura. The designation 512 referred to a displacement of 5.0 litres and 12 cylinders. It thus deviated from the previous nomenclature for V12 engines, in which the individual displacement per cylinder in cubic centimetres always resulted in the type designation. The new engine of the 512 BB had the same output of 360 hp as the 365 GT4 BB. However, it required lower revs and offered better torque and smoother power transmission. The Pininfarina body differed from its predecessor in a number of details. These included four exhaust tailpipes and four rear lights. A small front spoiler, a new bonnet and NACA air intakes in front of the rear wheels were also installed. Wider tyres were also part of the changes, as was a slightly wider and longer rear end. Some modifications were not only of an optical nature but also improved the cooling of the engine. A total of 929 units of the 512 BB were produced until 1981. This was followed by a further modification in which the carburettors were replaced by a mechanical intake manifold injection system. From then on, the model was called the 512 BBi - the "i" stood for Iniezione (injection).