Uncle Joe was the coolest guy I knew. The Philly hair stylist drove a Pantera, and he sure knew his cars. Back in the day, the Lamborghini Countach was all the rage – but not Joe’s favorite. The Ferrari 512 BBi was The One. Despite Countach fever – prime examples are now pulling $1m – I say the 512 is the better buy. Here’s a fun fact about the car’s nomenclature. Well a good story . . .
During development of the 365 GT4 BB, they began to refer to the car as “Brigitte Bardot“, as they perceived the prototype to be exceptionally beautiful like the French actress. This nickname was shortened to “BB” and quickly adopted by other Ferrari factory workers. “Berlinetta Boxer” was later invented by Ferrari officials prior to the model’s introduction at the 1971 Turin Auto Show, as it was considered unprecedented to name a Ferrari after a woman.
wikipedia.org
Sounds about right. But if you really like sound, check out the video below. You need to hear one of these babies at full chat (barking dog optional). We’re torquing about a longitudinally-mounted flat-twelve – the first big engine Enzo Ferrari deigned to put into a mid-engined road car. Listening to the engine screaming to 6600 rpm (BB 512i) or 6800 rpm (BB 512) behind your head is positively cargasmic.
il Commendatore thought the 512 was too much car for the American market given that the Unityed State was deep into the malaise era (1973 to 1983); Enzo refused to modify the to 512 to meet new federal safety and emissions regulations. So Americans paid to have them imported and modified. Right answer!
Just so you know . . .
In 1981 the Ferrari 512 BB was renamed as 512 BBi to denote its carburettors being replaced by injectors. Tougher emissions standards in the USA – an extremely important sales market for the Italian manufacturer – lead to the change. In addition to the technical revision, the car was also given a facelift. Its tyres were widened for better roadholding, and the bonnet received body-coloured air outlet grilles.
classictrader.com
As you can tell from the video above, the 512 is an analogue classic in the best sense of the word. Also the “trickiest.” As Davide Cironi at petrolicious.com put it during the test drive (translated from Italian), “Its front and rear are always fighting to slide against your wishes, but it also gives the feedback you need to control everything. This is a dangerous dance . . . but incredibly sensual.”
Maranello cranked out 929 examples of the Ferrari 512 BB and 1007 of the 512 BBi, before replacing the model with the death car known as the Testarossa. BB’s were plenty pricey: $38k ($178k in today’s money), plus conversion. In 2012, you could buy a Ferrari 512 BBi for $90k to $130k. Get this: that same year the Lamborghini Countach hammered for around $70k.
For 27 years, the Ferrari was worth more than the Lambo. In the last 10 years, the Countach market took off and disappeared into the stratosphere. The Lamborghini’s price spiked by some 1000 percent. Meanwhile, the 512 BBi’s price increased by a mere 263 percent. Simple reason: Baby Boomers love them some 512 (and the Miami Vice poster child Testarossa), while GenX’s go ape-sh*t for the Countach.
Recession be damned. In the next four years, the 512 BBi’s price will ascend another 100 percent, while the Countach’s price will go up by “just” 20 percent. Do the math. Buy a properly-sorted Ferrari 512 BB or BBi and you’ll double your money.
That said, maintaining a 512 is an extremely expensive business: leaking head gaskets, sodium-filled valve failure, vapor lock (on the BB); this, that and the other thing. Anything serious requires engine-out attention. Buy a “fixer-upper” 512 and your credit card will melt – assuming you can find the right mechanic. On the positive side, there are well-loved 512 BB and 512 BBi’s out there (I know of at least one) and they’re MUCH more comfortable than a Countach or Uncle Joe’s Pantera.
If you want to buy or sell a “proper” 512 BB or 512 BBi, let me know. It’s a major hunt for a car in the right condition with the right service record at the right price, but the reward is equally large – on every level.
Need want.
Disagree with you on this one. I think the car is moderately undervalued. They have returned to their 2015 peak values. This car is just nowhere near as important for Ferrari as the Countach was to Lamborghini and the entire exotic car industry. My money is on the Countach going to $2 million before this goes to $1 million. The Countach appeals to more buyers. The 512 essentially appeals to buyers of the era, and a few collectors. It’s priced where it’s at for a reason.
Countach by far is my all time favorite car, however if I was investing for a 3 year play its the 512bb. And for the record I don’t think the 512 hits a million. I think it doubles from today by 2025.
$500k range.
I think these have real upside as they have largely been overlooked. Insane you can get this type of experience for these dollars!!
That’s exactly my point. A lot of Ferrari for the buck.