Vehicle Description
Chassis No. ZFFJA09B000039415
Engine No. 00045
Ferrari and Pininfarina quietly experimented with several designs
before the first mid-engined road car bearing the Cavallino
Rampante badge was unveiled at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. The
all-new 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer received a tremendous reception
and arrived just months after the Bertone-designed Lamborghini
Countach, two cars that would go on to define the shape of
supercars for the next twenty years. Nestled under the
Scaglietti-constructed body was a state-of-the-art mechanical
package featuring a tubular steel chassis and mid-mounted
flat-twelve engine derived from the Boxer-powered 312 PB Sports
Prototype. Although similar to the powerplant in the 365 GTB/4
Daytona, the new engine was enlarged by both bore and stroke to
4390 cc and rotated 180 degrees with the five-speed transmission
now situated beneath the engine. The groundbreaking performance was
matched by a razor-edged Pininfarina design, complete with
distinctive black lower body panels and visible front lights.
After three short years, mid-1976 saw the introduction of the 365
Boxer's more refined successor, the 512 BB. Engine displacement
grew once again to 4,942 cc, and as a result Ferrari opted to
abandon its traditional practice of naming models after their
cylinder capacity in favor of a Dino-type nomenclature where 512
referred to the car's 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine. Dry sump
lubrication now prevented oil starvation under hard cornering,
while a new dual plate clutch reduced pedal effort for a more
livable overall driving experience. In 1981, the model received its
final major update in the form of Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection,
becoming the 512 BBi. Despite never being sold in the U.S., the 512
BBi was much easier to federalize than its carbureted predecessor,
and therefore escaped undesirable modifications targeted at meeting
emissions regulations.
Finished in Rosso Corsa with contrasting Black Boxer trim over Nero
Stoffa 'Zegna' leather and wool upholstery - believed to be just
one of 27 examples trimmed in this exclusive interior treatment -
chassis number 39415 was imported to the United States on 25
January 1984 having covered 81 kilometers from new. Shortly
thereafter, Joe Nastasi of Nastasi Racing Car Corp. sold the car to
its first owner, Ray Rivardo of Bergen, New Jersey, in June 1984.
Accompanying federalization paperwork shows the car was still
virtually new with an odometer reading of 106 kilometers at the
time of the ownership transfer. Furthermore, it appears 39415 was
spared much of the actual federalization work. It remains extremely
close to its original form, lacking reinforced door pillars,
odometer replacement or emissions changes. It appears only US side
marker lights were added during the federalization process and in
today's era of originality, the car is certainly better for it.
Rivardo retained 39415 in his collection for the next 13 years,
adding just 3,609 kilometers prior to returning the car to Nastasi
for a major service in February 1997. The Ferrari remained in
storage at Nastasi following the service for over two years until
it sold to its second owner, Elmer Conti of Dublin, Pennsylvania,
in April 1999. An extensive collection of maintenance records on
file reveal a life of fastidious care furnished by Conti over his
nearly 15 years of ownership, including a major engine-out service
conducted by Exotic Cars USA from April to November of 2010. In
2014, the Boxer was acquired by its third and current owner based
in Connecticut, who has carefully preserved and maintained the car
since - most recently treating it to a two-part major service
performed by marque expert John Tirrell of Independent Ferrari
Service (IFS) in 2021 and 2022.
Detailed service invoices from IFS in the amount of $28,451.95
demonstrate that this may be the best prepared 512 BBi on the
market. Tirrell's brief was to do anything and everything that was
needed; a summary of his work includes new motor mounts, repairs to
the Ansa sports exhaust, rebuilding of the water pump, and new axle
boots. The entire fuel system was attended to with all 12 fuel
injectors cleaned and balanced during the obligatory engine out
cambelt replacement. Lastly, following the completion of all the
mentioned work, a test drive revealed that a minor clutch slippage
was present. As such, the car returned to Tirrell and a new clutch
assembly was installed in August 2022.
Today, the car remains remarkably original, including its paintwork
and supremely desirable Zegna wool inserts, with a mere 12,545
kilometers showing on its Veglia Borletti odometer at the time of
cataloging. Mechanically, this fuel-injected example is expertly
sorted, ready to be enjoyed on the open road for its unrivaled
performance and magnificent V12 soundtrack emanating from the Ansa
sport exhaust. The original exhaust, accompanying owner's manuals,
portfolio of service invoices and federalization paperwork, tool
kit, spare wheel, and rare Ferrari service light are further
complements to the splendid originality of this 512 BBi.
