For Sale at Auction: 1983 Ferrari 512 BBI in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. ZFFJA09B000044669
Engine No. 00395

After joining the mid-engined fray with the 365 GT/4 BB in 1973, Ferrari debuted the 365 Boxer's more refined successor, the 512 BB, three years later in 1976. Equipped with an enlarged version of the 180-degree twelve termed the F102 B, it introduced a new nomenclature where 512 referred to the car's 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine. The 512 BB retained the successful formula of the original Berlinetta Boxer while introducing minor styling enhancements to improve aerodynamics and engine cooling. 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 final iteration of the 512 BB emerged as the 512 BBi-the lowercase "i" denoting fuel injection. Only 1,007 units of the 512 BBi were produced between 1981 and 1984, and this final fuel-injected series is considered to be the most livable Berlinetta Boxer with reclining seats, headrests, dual electric mirrors, air conditioning, power windows, and a stereo/graphic equalizer all being standard equipment. Although the Berlinetta Boxer was never officially sold in North America, this did not deter motivated enthusiasts from importing and federalizing Ferrari's latest flagship.

This fine 512 BBi was completed in January 1983, finished in classic Rosso Corsa over Beige leather, and delivered new to Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. in the U.K., per The Ferrari Register. A letter on file from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that by March 1983 the Ferrari had been imported to the United States, and it was soon thereafter relocated to Switzerland. A previous Swiss registration document shows that the car was first registered there in April 1984, and by 1988, it was owned by a Mr. Antoine de Lavallaz of Sion. The original service and warranty booklet further records routine care in the late 1990s and early 2000s by Garage Zenith in Sion and Automobile Nemeth AG in Bern, during the ownership of a Mr. Theodore Nydegger.

The current owner acquired the Ferrari from Quebec, Canada, in 2005 with approximately 26,700 kilometers recorded at the time and subsequently imported it to California. Since then, chassis 44669 has benefited from diligent attention by Southern California specialists, including GTO Engineering and Fast Cars Ltd. In February 2022, the latter installed two new tie-rod ends followed by a front-end alignment, rebuilt the brake booster and bled the brakes, and evacuated and recharged the A/C system, and most recently, in October 2025, the shop freshened the cabin with a reupholstery of the dashboard and glovebox.

Now showing just over 30,000 kilometers at the time of cataloging, chassis 44669 is a fine example of an important model that linked Ferrari's front-engined GT era to their new generation of mid-engine, flat-twelve road cars. The last of the hand-built Prancing Horses, it is ready to be enjoyed on the open road for its unrivaled performance and magnificent V12 soundtrack, complete with its original books in their proper folio, tool roll, and spare wheel.