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In the winter of 1963, the public was introduced to two new Ferrari Formula 1 engines: 1) the V-8 cylinder 158 F1 and 2) the flat-12 cylinder 1512 F1 (512 F1). Up to that time, a number of flat-12 cylinder engines had been built for competition purposes by other constructors, but none had completed a single lap on a racecourse. Lorenzo Bandini drove a car with the "boxer" 512 F1 engine in practice for the Grand Prix of Italy in September of 1964, but lack of trust in the device precluded participation in the race itself. The competition debut for the engine came at Watkins Glen in the Grand Prix of the United States in October of 1964, where Bandini completed 50% of the distance before engine failure. With the struggle to produce a potent power plant driven by competition with Brabham, Cooper and BRM in the early years, the Ferrari engineer, Mauro Forghieri, developed flat-12 cylinder engines of power and durability which ultimately brought nine championships to the Ferrari stable from 1969 to 1979.
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In response to the pressure on the market place created by the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, Ferrari introduced the first of a series of automobiles in 1973 with a mid-engine design to replace the 365GTB/4 Daytona, a front-engine V-12 cylinder machine that had been produced since 1968. The Berlinetta Boxer prototype was revealed to the public in Turin, Italy in 1971, with status as a catalog model two years later at the Paris Salon (prototype photographs). Although not the first mid-engine Ferrari to reach the public roadways, the Berlinetta Boxer, with its large displacement power plant and aggressive design, was conceived to re-establish Ferrari as the manufacturer of the best "supercar" of the era.
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Welcome to the Web site devoted to the compilation and preservation of information concerning the automobiles that brought the Ferrari Formula 1 flat-12 cylinder concept to the street, the Berlinetta Boxers (BB). The Berlinetta Boxers comprise the 365GT4 and 512 series of vehicles from Italy, with a number of competition versions produced to contest endurance events, such as the Le Mans and Daytona 24-hour races. Production of approximately 2323 vehicles spanned the years from 1973 to 1984.
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This site contains information concerning the production and performance of these fine automobiles, as well as a compilation of competition history. In addition to tables that provide a summary of information, there is a bibliography for the enthusiast with an interest in the details of opinion, and the place of these machines in the history of the Ferrari enterprise, automobile design and manufacture, and motorsports. Use of the page buttons will reveal a wealth of information for the owner and aficionado: photographs, service sources, prices, anecdotes and concours results.
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There is a questionnaire for people fortunate enough to own one of these machines, the responses to which will reside in a registry database that will serve as a resource for information concerning automobile location, condition and ownership lineage by serial number.
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As the site evolves, there will be many changes and upgrades. Comments from visitors are welcome and any person with knowledge of an error or a bit of information not found at the site should contact the developer by e-mail through the Comments and Suggestions section.
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Frank R. Masiarz
San Francisco, CA - USA
1977 BB512 S/N 23005 - White/Black
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© Copyright 1998 Frank R. Masiarz |
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