One to Buy: ex-A.J. Foyt 1984 Ferrari 512i BB
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Eight years after the production-ready 365 GT4 BB was unveiled, Ferrari launched its third and final iteration of the Berlinetta Boxer theme when the 512i broke cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1981.
Most significant of the 512i’s new features was its revised Flat 12 engine which saw the existing bank of four triple choke Weber carbs replaced with Bosch K Jetronic fuel-injection. There was also new electronic Marelli Digiplex ignition. While peak power stayed at 340bhp, this was now developed at 6000rpm, 800rpm lower than before. The torque rating also improved with 333lb-ft on tap at 4200rpm compared to at 4600rpm for the carb-fed 512 BB.
During its three-year lifespan, 1007 examples of the 512i BB were produced, after which Ferrari switched to the wild new Testarossa.
Despite the move to a less polluting fuel-injected engine, the BB was still not officially offered in the United States. However, this did not stop small numbers of cars from heading across the Atlantic at the request of buyers determined to get their hands on Ferrari’s flagship series production model.
One such individual was A.J. Foyt who took delivery of chassis 51725 which is currently on offer at the Curated showroom in Miami.
Best known for his four Indy 500 victories, Foyt was also a six time USAC champion, a winner of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours. He configured chassis 51725 in the handsome colour scheme of Argento Metallizzato with Rosso upholstery and took delivery in 1984 shortly before the Testarossa came on stream.
More recently, chassis 51725 has been the subject of an exhaustive restoration at Canepa Motorsport. It is being offered with the original book pack and tool kit and is showing a little over 28,000 miles on the odometer.
