Guide: Ferrari 365 GT4 BB
Background
By late 1973, Ferrari were ready to launch a highly anticipated mid-engined production car with a twelve cylinder engine.
The fashion for large capacity motors positioned centrally in the chassis came from racing where the layout had proven effective for well over a decade.
Ford had been the first to start creating road cars with big mid-mounted engines. Their 4.7-litre Mk1 GT40 was soon followed by Lamborghini’s sensational Miura (an Italian rival that began to steal sales from Ferrari).
Another upstart manufacturer that adopted the mid-engined layout early on was De Tomaso. But while the De Tomaso Mangusta looked great, this Ford V8-powered model was chronically under-developed.
Although Ferrari stuck with a trusted front-engined layout for their flagship models longer than most, the firm had already produced several mid-engine road cars. Most notable was the V6-powered Dino GT while show-stopping specials like the unique 250 LM Stradale and three-seat 365 P Guida Centrale had both used V12 engines.
More recently, the P6 Berlinetta displayed on Pininfarina's stand at the Turin Motor Show in November 1968 predicted future styling cues. However, whereas the P6 was conceptualised with a three-litre V12, the 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer (BB) arrived with a new Flat 12 engine derived from Ferrari's Formula 1 and Sports racing cars of the era.
Subsequent evolutions of the BB theme would remain in production until 1996.
By this time, the BB had gone through three distinct series (365 GT4, 512 and 512i). In 1984, it was replaced by the Testarossa which itself spawned a couple of later derivatives (the 512 TR and F512 M).
Additionally, three batches of factory-built 512 BB LM racing cars were manufactured by the Assistenza Clienti department in Modena.
Upon its launch at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973, the BB joined a transitional Ferrari line-up. The Dino 246 was still in production but would soon be replaced by the 308 GTB. There were also two recently introduced models: the 308 GT4 (a mid V8-engined 2+2) and the 365 GT4 (a front V12-engined four-seater). There were even a few 365 GTB/4 Daytonas still trickling out of the factory until BB production was fully up to speed.
Chassis
An all new tubular steel chassis was created for the BB. It featured a semi monocoque treatment around the cabin with subframes either end for the engine / gearbox and suspension.
Designated Tipo F102 AB 100, the chassis had a wheelbase of 2500mm.
Suspension was fully independent all round with unequal length wishbones, coil springs and telescopic shocks. Twin spring / shock assemblies were fitted each side at the rear to counter the additional weight over the back axle.
Anti-roll bars were located at either end.
Ferrari installed a twin circuit brake system with servo-assisted ventilated discs all round.
The centre-lock five-spoke star-pattern Cromodora light alloy wheels measured 15 x 7.5-inches and were originally shod with Michelin XWX tyres.
Two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 120-litres were mounted up against the rear bulkhead either side of the engine.
Engine / Gearbox
The new mid-longitudinally mounted all-alloy Flat 12 engine was derived from a three-litre competition motor designed by Giuliano de Angelis and Angelo Bellei. This powerplant had been successfully used in Ferrari’s 312 B Formula 1 cars and the 312 PB Sports Prototypes.
However, while generally described as a Flat 12 over-square Boxer motor, the dimensions were actually more akin to a V-banked engine with an angle of 180°.
The engine was mounted in unit with a five-speed gearbox positioned below the crankshaft. This made the powertrain as compact as possible, but inevitably led to a fairly high centre of gravity.
The Tipo F102 AB 000 engine used in the 365 GT4 BB displaced 4390cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 81mm and 71mm respectively.
It featured belt-driven dual overhead camshafts for each bank of cylinders whereas previous Ferrari motors had used chains. It also ran wet-sump lubrication with two separate oil systems per bank.
A single distributor was used along with electronic ignition and one spark plug for each cylinder.
Compression was set at 8.8:1 and four downdraught Weber 40 IF3C carburettors were installed.
Peak output was 360bhp at 7500rpm and 302lb-ft at 3900rpm.
Transmission was via a five-speed manual gearbox with mechanical single plate clutch and ZF limited-slip differential.
Bodywork
Because of its new layout, the BB inevitably looked radically different to the line of twelve cylinder Ferraris it replaced.
As usual, Pininfarina were selected to design the bodywork and interior. The Turin coachbuilder opted for an updated, productionised version of the aforementioned P6 show car.
Retractable headlights were mounted above covered supplementary light clusters that came with either clear or amber lenses depending on the country of destination. A comparable treatment was also used by Bertone for the Lamborghini Countach and gave these seventies dream cars an era-defining look.
The front bodywork comprised a forward-hinging upper clam and separate single-piece apron.
The front apron shrouded a full-width grille behind which a pair of auxiliary driving lights were mounted. Like the bank of radiator cooling louvres located between the headlights, the front grille was left in natural aluminium whereas most other brightwork had been switched to black or body colour.
A rakish teardrop cabin featured flying buttresses that swept all the way from the convex rear window down to the Kamm tail. The tail had minimal overhang and its fascia comprised full-width black vents and 365 GTC/4-style triple light clusters on either side.
The rear clam was hinged at the trailing edge and tilted backwards for access to the engine.
Bodies were fabricated at Ferrari's Scaglietti plant in Modena. Aluminium was used for the opening panels (doors, front lid and engine cover) plus the belly pan. The front and rear aprons were glass-reinforced-plastic. Pretty much everything else was steel.
All 365 GT4 BBs were painted in ‘Boxer’ livery where the body section below the swage line was finished satin black. Each car also came with a matching satin black rear aerofoil mounted directly behind the cabin.
Interior
Whereas the Lamborghini Countach was hot, cramped, uncomfortable and impractical, Pininfarina created a comparatively refined cockpit for the BB.
Appointed for high-speed grand touring, the BB was suitable for extended real world use.
As standard it came with air-conditioning, electric windows and a stereo (the latter normally being fitted by the supplying dealer).
Leather was used to trim the well-padded seats, the dash with its boxy instrument binnacle, the door panels, transmission tunnel and sills. The steering wheel had a leather rim and three brushed alloy spokes.
Directly behind the steering wheel was the main instrument binnacle. It housed large read outs for engine and road speed with smaller instruments for oil pressure and water temperature in between.
Two additional read outs were located either side of the main binnacle. On the outer side, Ferrari fitted an oil temperature gauge and clock. In the centre of the dash above the audio system was an ammeter and fuel level indicator.
Options
Aside from colours and stereos, the only option was fabric seat inserts.
Prototypes
Pininfarina displayed the prototype BB on their stand at the Turin Motor Show in November 1971.
However, the car still required much development work. This prototype BB (the red car depicted here) featured two tail lights and two exhausts per side whereas the production version had three of each. Additionally, the prototype’s tweed-style fabric seat upholstery was subsequently switched to conventional leather trim.
Weight / Performance
The 365 GT4 BB weighed 1160kg (dry) had a top speed of 175mph and 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds.
Production
The production-ready 365 GT4 BB was launched at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973.
Unfortunately for North American customers, neither this nor any subsequent BB variant was officially sold in the USA as Ferrari did not consider the cost of upgrading the car to meet Federal safety and emissions legislation worthwhile.
By the time production ended in mid 1976 (to make way for the 512 BB), 387 of these first generation BBs had been built. 58 of these were right-hand drive.
Sales figures were not only affected by the lack of US-compliance but the energy crisis that hit at the end of 1973 when Arab OPEC members announced an embargo on oil sales to the USA, UK, Canada, Japan and the Netherlands.
The embargo was in response to the USA's support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War where Egypt and Syria, with the support of other Arab nations, had begun a military campaign to regain territory lost during the 1967 Six Day War (when Egypt, Syria and Jordan had been the aggressors).
Oil prices rose exponentially and remained at elevated levels for the next two years which dramatically reduced demand for high performance motor cars.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
