Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ferrari |
Production | 1973–1984 2,323 produced |
Assembly | Maranello, Italy |
Designer | Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car |
Body style | 2-door berlinetta |
Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Flat-12 |
Transmission | 5-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) |
Length | 4,400 mm (173.2 in) |
Width | 1,830 mm (72.0 in) |
Height | 1,120 mm (44.1 in) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 |
Successor | Ferrari Testarossa |
365 GT4 BB | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Production | 1973–1976 387 produced |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.4 L F-12 |
BB 512 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Production | 1976–1981 929 produced |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.9 L F-12 |
BB 512i | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Production | 1981–1984 1,007 produced |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.9 L FI F-12 |
The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (BB) is an automobile which was produced by Ferrari in Italy between 1973 and 1984. Replacing the front engined Daytona, it was the first in a series of Ferraris to use a mid-mounted flat-12 engine. The Boxer was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti and was the first mid-engined road-car to bear the Ferrari name and the Cavallino Rampante (prancing horse) logo. It was replaced by the Testarossa.
Production of the BB was a major step for Enzo Ferrari. He felt that a mid-engined road car would be too difficult for his buyers to handle, and it took many years for his engineers to convince him to adopt the layout. This attitude began to change as the marque lost its racing dominance in the late 1950s to mid-engined competitors. The mid-engined 6- and 8-cylinder Dino racing cars were the result, and Ferrari later allowed for the production Dino road cars to use the layout as well. The company also moved its V12 engines to the rear with its P and LM racing cars, but the Daytona was launched in 1968 with its engine in front. The BB was the first mid-engined 12-cylinder road car to be launched by Ferrari.
The first "Boxer" was the 365 GT4 BB shown at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. Designed to rival the Lamborghini Miura and the newly developed Lamborghini Countach, it was finally released for sale in 1973 at the Paris Motor Show. 387 were built, of which 88 were right-hand drive (of which 58 for the UK market), making it the rarest of all Berlinetta Boxers. The Pininfarina-designed body followed the P6 show car with popup headlights.