Ferrari 512 BB

Why it matters

Presented at the 1976 Paris Motor Show, the 512 BB evolved Ferrari’s first mid-engined 12-cylinder road-car lineage into a more tractable and visually assertive supercar. Its name combined the engine’s near-five-liter displacement with twelve cylinders, while the 4,943 cc Tipo F102 B flat-12 retained dry-sump lubrication and breathed through four triple-choke Weber carburetors to produce 360 hp. Pininfarina refined the Boxer’s low wedge with a deeper front spoiler, wider rear bodywork and prominent NACA ducts; the six round taillights and four exhaust outlets distinguish this carbureted model from the later injected BBi. A strengthened clutch and revised transmission helped manage the greater torque, while the tubular chassis and mid-mounted drivetrain preserved the car’s formidable high-speed balance. Ferrari built 929 examples before the 512 BBi arrived in 1981, making the 512 BB the company’s final series-production road car fueled by carburetors.