Ferrari Boxer 512 BBi World's Best Restored Singer like Porsche restomod F40 F50

1984 Ferrari 512 BB Description

1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Boxer Restored Rosso Scuderia.

The VIN number is ZFFJA09B000049311.( All Ferrari 512 Boxers have a Euro Vin #)

Last year of production for the Boxer with just 141 built for all of 1994.

There are cars and then there are cars.

There are 964 Porsches that can be purchased for ~$40,000 or 964 Porsches restored by Singer that will set you back $450,000 to $1,800,000. Sure you could buy a decent Ferrari Boxer for a little over $200,000 but you’d spend another ~$200,000 and a year or two of your life plus grief and aggravation trying to recreate this one. This Ferrari Boxer is for the connoisseur, the kind of person who wants a Singer rather than a run of the mill 964. (Let’s not forget for every one 512BBi Ferrari built Porsche made nearly 64 964 Porsches!)

This is not just the world's most spectacular, incredibly restored and best driving Ferrari Boxer, it is also one of the word's most spectacular Ferraris of all time. This Ferrari Boxer is the car for the perfectionist who demands the best. A person who knows and appreciates quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail while appreciating rolling art and timeless sculpture—and a Ferrari that runs as it should.

While this may sound like hyperbole, in this instance, it is fact thanks to a truly no expense spared improved restoration that addressed all of the Boxer shortcomings while bringing a level of quality to the materials that exceeds the original.

Further down below are details of specific restorative work and improvements that were made to this Boxer. The history of this Singer-like restoration are set forth in a hard cover book that details the restoration and is included in the sale.

Featured in the Ferrari Magazine Forza. This spectacular Ferrari caught the attention of thousands of people, including the editors of Forza, when it was displayed for the first time in Monterey on August 17, 2007. Upon seeing the Ferrari, Forza did a story and photoshoot on the spot that would be a full 8 page article in the Ferrari publication.

The current owner first discovered the Ferrari at that same show: “I go to the car shows every year and you always see people mulling about looking at cars. But I will never forget walking up to this one car….but you could not see the car! All you could see was a crowed of people circling what I assumed was a car. So of course, I had to see what everyone was looking at. I made my way through the crowed and there I saw it. Glistening in the sun was the most spectacular Ferrari I had ever seen. I was not even a huge fan of the Boxer before this, but this car was just so incredible! Every detail, every part, every nut and bolt was like a work of art. I wanted to talk to the owner but he was surrounded by people and being interviewed and I did not want to interrupt the reporter and videographer. To this day I have seen almost every Ferrari. I’ve been the Ferrari factory and museum half a dozen times. I’ve been to every Monterey weekend since 1993. In person this car is as spectacular as any Ferrari, more so than an F40 or 288 GTO. Those cars are gorgeous but they don’t have the detail craftsmanship you find on the late 1950s early 1960s cars that have greater attention to details.

For example, you cannot appreciate the stunning beauty of the 1957 Ferrari 410 SuperAmerica (built for the Shah of Iran and auctioned by Gooding) unless you see the car in person so you can appreciate all the amazing details that draw you in. This is what Singer does with Porsche and this Ferrari Boxer is like that SuperAmerica in that you cannot truly appreciate the car and all its details in pictures but only in person. A regular Boxer simply does not compare to this one when you see them side by side and in person, just like a regular 964 does not compare to a Singer when you put them side by side. The standard Boxer’s lower quality, less attention to details, use of cheaper materials, etc., becomes immediately apparent. I appreciate quality and craftsmanship and this Boxer is so much better than any other Boxer. Anyone who disagrees I invite them to put their Boxer side by side with mine and we’ll see.”

The current owner ultimately managed to contact the owner of the Boxer at the time, who stated he was not interested in selling the Ferrari. Over the next several years the current owner continued calling from time to time to see if the owner might change his mind. One day the Owner said, “If I sell you my car will you stop calling me?”

Six months later, in July 2013, the current owner acquired the Ferrari he’d fallen in love with in Monterey in 2007.

This Boxer has been featured in numerous articles and is always a crowd favorite at the shows it attends. At the 60th Anniversary Ferrari event in Beverly Hills the owners of a Daytona Spider and a 250PF Cab, respectively, each asked that the Boxer be moved further from their cars as they were concerned the crowds of people gathering around the Boxer might scratch their Ferraris.

It was chosen as one of the few select cars to celebrate the Anniversary of Ferrari at the Quail in 2017. None other than Sir Jackie Stewart himself commented on how stunning this Ferrari looked.

At the Petersen Museum Enzo Ferrari Birthday Event, out of a field of more than 200 Ferraris, including cars costing millions of dollars to ten million dollars, it was voted the runner-up in the People’s Choice Award for the best Ferrari at the Enzo Ferrari Birthday Event, losing by one vote to a freshly restored 275 four cam. Where, according to the Petersen Museum staff, the celebrity owner’s car won because he aggressively lobbied friends and passersby in the last few minutes to vote for his 275, thus giving him a one vote advantage. On the other hand, the owner of the 512 lobbied no one to vote for this car, which otherwise would have won. Even more frustrating, two of the Owners friends who were expected to attend, and possibly vote for the Boxer, had mechanical difficulties and were unable to attend.

As outlined below, this 512’s beauty is more than skin deep. Major systems were all restored and improved as necessary to make this Ferrari far more comfortable and reliable than they ever were even when brand new.

IN PART 1 WHAT MAKES THE FERRARI BOXER SO SPECIAL AND IN PART 2 WHAT MAKES THIS BOXER THE BEST.

The Boxer was Ferraris answer to the Miura, and like the Miura (and Pagani Zhonda and Huayra), this is the only Ferrari road car ever to be built with a clamshell design, whereby both the front and rear body sections rotate outward to reveal the Ferrari’s mechanical beauty and engineering. This is not only a visual treat, but provides incredible ease access to the Ferraris mechanical components making working on this Ferrari comparatively easy.

The only other Ferrari road cars with similar designs are the F40 and F50, both of which well exceed a million dollar purchase price and neither of which has a true clamshell design. Unlike the F40 and F50, whose rear sections tilt forward, the Boxer rear section does not hover over the person’s head who is working on the engine and as such the Boxer needs no support to hold up its rear decklid, making it a safer design.

Perhaps the greatest Designer in the history of the modern automobile designed the Boxer.

This stunning work of Art's spectacular beauty is the creation of the brilliant Leonardo Fioravanti, the greatest of all Ferrari designers, whose iconic designs include the Ferrari Dino, F40, 288GTO, P5, Daytona, Testarossa, etc. Fioravanti also designed the Alfa Romeo Type 33.2, perhaps the most stunning sports car of all time.

This Ferrari is as much art as it is automobile. The epitome of rolling sculpture. It is at once classic and modern with lines that are both strongly masculine and yet with feminine curves. There will never be a car designed as pure sculpture like the Boxer.

Significantly, the restoration of this Boxer sought to compliment the Artist’s vision, which is why this car looks so spectacular, as outlined below.

Limited Production Ferrari designed and built under the watchful eye of Enzo Ferrari himself.

The Boxer is the first mid-engined V12supercar produced by Enzo Ferrari—which is why it has so much personality. Up until the Boxer, all of Enzo’s mid-engined V12 cars were race cars. The Boxer was Enzo’s response to the Miura and Countach, with the Ferrari being far better built and much more refined than either Lamborghini.

Today the publicly traded Ferrari corporation and its robots produce more than 10,000 cars a year, nearly a thousand cars a month! What Ferrari now produced in one year took Ferrari from 1947 to 1972, 25 years, to produce 10,000 cars. Ferrari produced just 141 1984 512BBI, all built by hand.

A Spectacular And Historically Significant Engine

This Ferrari 512 features an unsurpassable pedigree with its flat 12 cylinder engine like the engine fitted to Niki Lauda's F1 312T world championship winning Ferrari. Take a look at Lauda's car's engine, as featured in the Ron Howard movie “Rush” and you'll see the lineage. The Boxer engine was a direct tie-in to its Formula 1 racing efforts.

AutoCar Magazine picked its top 5 V12 engines of all time and the Boxer’s flat 12 was in the top 5: "Ferrari Flat 12: Probably the smoothest, most cultured of all road-going production V12s."

According to another article, entitled “A Flat-Out Amazing Engine”:

“History will have to evolve past our current infatuation with Ferrari’s V12 engines before the importance of their Flat 12-cylinder engine is fully appreciated. The Flat 12 is also known as a 180-degree V, and is nicknamed “Boxer” for the way its pistons box against each other. It is not a unique design, as Porsche has built a dynasty on the concept, but it represents a period in Ferrari’s competition history that rivals — if not surpasses — the 250 period, which is popularly regarded as Ferrari’s Golden Age.

The 3-liter Flat 12 was introduced during the 1970 Formula One season in Ferrari’s 312 B. To call the engine dominant would be an understatement. Variations would power Niki Lauda to 1975 and 1977 World Championships. Jody Scheckter extended the glory with a 1979 World Championship.

On the sports-car side, Ferrari put a de-tuned version of their Flat 12 in a 312 chassis and won every race they entered in 1972 — and clinched the 1972 World Sports Car Championship. Gilles Villeneuve, Carlos Pace, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx and Niki Lauda are just a few of the Ferrari drivers who drove a Flat-12 Ferrari.

We will never see an artistic vision like the Ferrari 512BBi again.

Fuel economy, the quest for aerodynamic efficiency and track-based downforce, safety regulations, etc., ensure there will never be a car designed with the purity of the Ferari 512 Boxer ever again. A car that represents the expression of an Artist’s vision and desire to create rolling sculpture for the pure sake of beauty without compromise.

Another reason the Ferrari Boxer is uniquely special and pure rolling art, even amongst Ferraris? Enzo Ferrari.

When the U.S. enacted legislation that required cars to change their physical appearance to meet the new standards, Enzo Ferrari said yes to modifying the 308 and 328 and later cars, but Enzo said NO when it came to altering his beautiful Boxer to make it conform to the U.S. requirements for things like headlight height, bumper position, etc.

Enzo Ferrari refused to compromise his beautiful V12 Boxer and instead gave the Feds the two finger Italian salute and built his 512 for the rest of the world with none for America. He would not let American regulations adulterate his prize car, the top of the line Enzo Ferrari automobile.

This has resulted in the Boxer looking exactly like the artist Leonardo Fiovovanti had intended—and why no other car built thereafter will have the stunning lines of the Boxer. The 512 is first and foremost about beauty and its design reflects this.

There has never been, and likely will never be, a designer like Leonardo Fioravanti. Half a century after Fioravanti designed and Enzo produced cars like the Boxer, 308, Dino, etc., Ferrari is still designing cars with this same DNA as Ferrari’s best looking cars 458/488/F8 all trace their design heritage and design cues to Leonardo's designs.

PART 2: THIS BOXER IS THE BEST ON THE PLANET.

This 512BBi is a masterpiece of incredible restoration detail and refinement, with every nut, bolt and washer restored or replaced. The restoration was restored by a two-brother restoration shop in Chicago. The attention to detail in the restoration would be appreciated by fans of Singer and Pagani's work, so fine was the attention to detail on this Ferrari. (Previous parts from the restoration are also included, including impeccable original wheels with tires, etc.)

A professional grade published hardcover book detailing the restoration process with step by step photographs was produced and a copy is included with the sale.

This Boxer’s spectacular reformation began when the prior owner of this Ferrari saw it at an auction. He knew he had to have it and when the auction concluded he was the high bidder. However, once he got the Ferrari back to Chicago he immediately discovered what most Boxer owners have discovered—that there are issues that need addressing in order to make the car truly driver friendly, reliable, comfortable and confidence inspiring.

The Ferrari was completely disassembled, each and every part, nut and bolt, properly restored and refinished in a truly no expense spared restoration. During this restoration process the owner decided they would rebuild the car with premium components as his restoration would be a no-expense spared restoration whereas Enzo factored cost into production of his cars as he had to be profitable, unlike the restorer.

Thus, this 512 was restored to be better than new with higher quality materials being used in the restoration. Where Ferrari had used cheap plastic, these parts were upgraded with new parts fabricated from billet aluminum or carbon fiber.

It is simply the very best Ferrari Boxer on planet earth, both in terms of its attention to detail and how it runs and drives. You could park it in your living room as it is so pristine and spectacular sculpture, or drive it comfortably across the Continent with its fully sorted electrical systems, smooth riding suspension, amazing brakes and amazingly effective air conditioning.

If you turned this car upside down you could eat off the bottom of the car…that’s how beautifully restored, clean and detailed it is. On occasions when I’ve seen water on the road I have turned the car around and taken alternate routes to avoid passing over water to ensure the undercarriage remains pristine.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FERRARI MAKING IT COMFORTABLE AND RELIABLE.

COOLING SYSTEM: Older Ferraris were infamous for overheating when driven, particularly when driven on hot summer days. No one wants the stress of an overheating Ferrari, particularly when stuck in traffic on a hot summer’s day. The cooling system was dramatically improved. In addition to the usual restoration work, a custom one-off radiator was fabricated in lightweight aluminum by Ron David with a highly efficient design. New and improved large SPAL fans were professionally incorporated into the design and provide far greater air flow than the original fans.

The original radiator, which itself is in good condition, along with the original fans, are all included with the sale of this Ferrari.

To prove just how good the cooling system is, I drove the Ferrari mid-day in downtown Chicago traffic on what would turn out to be not just the hottest day of the year, but the hottest day in Chicago for the last 7 years! The heat index was over 100 degrees. It was so hot outside I felt like passing out if standing outside for more than a few minutes. Yet here we were in the Boxer driving to lunch. The windows were up, the AC was blowing remarkably cold and the temperature gauge never moved past the mid-point on the dial. I doubt any other Ferrari Boxer could have kept its occupants and engine so cool!

HORNS

A new air compressor for the Italian air horns and new trumpets were fitted.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM & HEATING

As noted above, the air-conditioning was truly put to the test when I drove the car on the hottest day Chicago and the AC blew cold like a modern car. This was the day I flew into Chicago to purchase the car. After doing the deal the owner asked if I wanted to go to lunch and I said sure. He then handed me the keys to the Boxer and I told him, “there is no way I’m getting in the Ferrari. It will over heat and we’ll die from heat stroke.” He said, trust me. I could have bought a fully loaded Toyota Prius for what I spent on this car’s air conditioning and cooling. Every part is new and improved, compressor, condenser, HVAC, etc. I said, “if the car blows up I want my money back” and he agreed. He was true to his word. The car drove like a dream. The AC blew cold. We were both comfortable and the car ran cool.

The heating system was restored with new parts including new heater boxes.

Included with the sale is the original HVAC Heater AC Box Evaporator Unit, an additional AC Compressor and the two snail air blowers.

COCKPIT & INTERIOR

Boxer’s are infamous for uncomfortably hot interiors. Not just because of the huge windshield, but because the radiators are up front and the hot coolant pipes run beneath the passengers to the rear engine.

In this car sound deadening and modern heat insulation materials were used in the cockpit to shield the occupants from heat generated by the radiators, engine and coolant plumbing. In addition, the coolant pipes and pathways were insulated as well. The result is a cockpit that has the solidity of sound deadening associated with a modern GT while the interior is kept remarkably cool.

BRAKE SYSTEM

Performance drivers know you can only go as fast as you can stop. Collectors know the faster and more reliably you can stop the safe you and your investment are.

The prior owner was unimpressed by the Boxer’s brake system’s feel and stopping…or lack thereof. Brake technology has improved much since the 1970s when the Boxer was first designed. The Boxer featured heavy rotors and heavy yet small brake calipers.

To improve the safety and performance of the Ferrari, the owner had six piston aluminum brake calipers fitted to the front and four piston aluminum brake calipers fitted to the rear. The heavy factory discs were replaced by slotted brake discs bolted to lightweight aluminum hats.

A new mastery cylinder and new brake booster were fitted.

Not only is there a dramatic reduction in unsprung weight that improves ride, handing and braking, but this 512 Boxer’s stopping ability is truly incredible and better than many modern Ferraris.

Included in the sale is the original brake booster, brake calipers and brake rotors.

STEERING AND SUSPENSION

A brand new steering rack was fitted and all the suspension components were replaced or restored.

The suspension arms were cadmium plated and of course fitted with new hardware and bushings.

The shocks were upgraded with threaded units that now facilitate corner balancing and setting the ride height of the Ferrari. Koni was contracted to specially construct four adjustable shocks with adjustable coil springs.

Boxer’s tend to look like they are sitting to high or jacked. The threaded Konis now permit the setting of the Ferrari’s ride height to be at an aesthetically pleasing level, further improving the stunning beauty of this Ferrari.

The lowering of the vehicle also lowers the center of gravity, further improving handling.

The shocks are adjustable for stiffness as well so they can be set for comfort or for more aggressive driving to suite the owner’s preferences.

FRAME

The Boxer was stripped to its bare frame and refinished to be better than new. Carbon fiber and aluminum dramatically improved the Ferrari. Anyone reviewing the restoration photos will see the amazing improvements to this car and realize there is no comparison between this and other Boxers.

Moreover, there is no comparison between an unrestored Boxer, no matter how nice, and a Boxer that has had a full, no expense spared, better than new, nut and bolt restoration. For what it costs to do this kind of restoration you could buy an unrestored Boxer….but then what you have is an unrestored Boxer.

Take a look at these before and after photos. See what a Boxer looks like, taken apart and in original condition, before and after it is rebuilt to a better than new standard. Simply put, if you can afford it, there is no way you would want any Boxer other than this one.

INNER FENDER LINERS, FRONT AND REAR.

Inner Fender Liners on Ferrari Boxers are made of cheap fiberglass, but not here. The fiberglass liners were replaced with spectacularly gorgeous carbon fiber liners. These really stand out and look amazing because the Boxer’s clam shell design displays the fender liners. While a standard Boxer displays large unattractive cheap fiberglass liners, this Boxer displays gorgeous carbon fiber. It is truly stunning to behold and something Singer-like that would be expected on one of their 964 restomods.

FRONT TRUNK AREA

Incredibly detailed with aluminum and carbon fiber. Panels originally covered in cheap black material have now been recovered in beautiful Alcantara of a quality fitted as an expensive option to Ferrari interiors.

HEADLIGHTS

Headlights and headlight motors were rebuilt to better than new.

WINDSHIELD

Windshields that on cars that are decades old typically have clouding, delamination issues and of course the inevitable sand and stone chips. Not here as a brand new windshield was fitted.

I have seen several “fully restored” Boxers at various concours events and none of them having the trim fitment, including windshield trim, to the quality level of this Boxer.

FRONT BONNET LATCH ASSEMBLY

Factory latch mechanism was replaced with higher quality components with spring loading for better function. The new latch mechanism, compared to the old in the Restoration Book, looks simply incredible.

WHEELS AND TIRES

First off, yes, the original wheels in pristine condition with equally pristine Michelin tires mounted are included with the sale of the Ferrari.

But here is the really fun part! During the restoration, very expensive custom five spoke 19” Ferrari wheels were made and fitted with premium Michelin Pilot Superport tires, 245 mm front tires and 305 mm rear tires. For those “purists” who object I would note the original wheels and tires are included, but far more significantly, this is how Enzo Ferrari and its designer Leo Fioravanti wanted the Boxer to look!

I asked Mr. Fioravanti about this when he was in Monterey a few years ago. I showed him photos of my car and he responded by stating he wanted larger wheels and tires but larger tires were not available when the Boxer was produced. In other words, Fioravanti's vision for the Ferrari Boxer was always with larger wheels and tires. How this car looks is how he envisioned it when he designed it! So to the purists I say, “I spoke to the designer of the car and this is how he originally envisioned the Ferrari Boxer.”

I later confirmed what Leonardo Fioravanti had told me that day in the book “Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer” by Mel Nichols. He states Ferrari wanted to use the new low profile tires coming out from Pirelli, the P7, but the problem was they did not have large enough wheels and matching tires back then. “There was not a tyre and wheel combination that would leave the Boxer with sufficient ground clearance; its wheel arches were also too high, so that a P7-shod BB would not only be too close to the ground but would have wheels and tyres that looked pathetically small within the vast wheel openings. Ferrari engineers had no choice but to continue with the Michelein XWXS.”

Thus, this Ferrari Boxer now presents itself the way both Enzo Ferrari and Leonardo Fioravanti wanted the Boxer to be from the beginning.

Not only do the Boxer wheels and tires improve the Ferrari’s aggressive stance, but they dramatically, as in night and day, improve the Boxer’s steering, braking, ride and handling. The modern tires not only take bumps far better than tires designed in the 1980s, but combined with the chassis and brake upgrades, these tires give this Boxer handling and braking that is on par with a modern Ferrari.

INTERIOR SEATS, KEITH COLLINS FLOOR MATS, UPGRADED LEATHER, ALCANTARA DASH, ETC.

The interior was restored with better than new materials. New leather of a higher quality was fitted to the interior (door panels, seats, center console, rear window area, door entrance panels, etc.).

The dash was fitted with Alcantara in keeping with Ferrari dash materials found on the 288GTO, F40, F50, etc. Not only does this look better but it eliminates glare from the windshield, which is a major reason Ferrari uses this material, as well as weighing less than leather.

The interior switches and buttons are all in restores and like new condition.

The overhead interior light, previously made of cheap plastic, was replaced with a custom housing made in carbon fiber. It looks exactly like the original part but is made of carbon fiber rather than plastic.

Plush Keith Collins mats sit atop the new plush carpet.

MaCINTOSH STEREO SYSTEM

Ferraris originally did not come with stereos….why would they when you have a V12? I’ve been told by stereo aficionados this system cost thousands of dollars, but to be honest, I’ve never even turned it on.

CARBON FIBER COMPONENTS AND UPGRADES

Various plastic and fiberglass parts have been replaced with high quality beautiful carbon fiber parts, this includes the rear spoiler that’s fitted atop the flying buttress and the two pods on the engine lid. These upgrades are detailed in the hardcover book detailing the restoration of this Ferrari. These upgrades greatly enhances the look and presentation of this Ferrari and such upgrades today from Ferrari would cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Note how Ferrari sells cars today. You can get the standard car with the matt black finish trim, but if you want carbon fiber you will spend tens of thousands of dollars for these upgrades. In other words, Ferrari recognizes this is a valuable and desirable upgrade and one that costs tens of thousands of dollars.

I have an F12 Window Sticker with ~$50,000 in carbon fiber upgrades and that’s where Ferrari is producing multiples of each piece. Here on this car each carbon fiber piece was made custom, one by one. Very expensive indeed!

PAINT & BODY

The Ferrari has no dents, dings or, as far as I am aware, even a paint chip. As part of the nut and bolt total restoration, a premium quality paint job was applied.

The color is Rosso Scuderia, the official race car color for Ferraris, e.g., the color they paint their F1 and other race cars. The bottom of the Ferrari is painted in what is referred to as Boxer-trim as these cars were famously available with black lower panels to emphasize the car’s upper body sculpture. Here, the finish is a gloss black which has a higher quality appeal than the original matt black finish. This finish also lends itself to easier detailing and show presentation.

EXHAUST

The exhaust system is simply a work of art itself and features a beautiful stainless steel polished Tubi Sport Muffler.

ALPINE ALARM SYSTEM AND REMOTE LOCK / UNLOCK

During the restoration a premium Alpine alarm system was fitted that also provides the added convenience of remote locking and unlocking of the doors, which is far nicer than having to insert a key to unlock each door.

DETAILED ENGINE BAY

The engine bay is the most beautifully detailed engine bay of any Boxer and arguably of any Ferrari. It truly reflects the mechanical art of Enzo Ferrari. No Ferrari engine bay has more presence than this Ferrari engine. Some may match it but I know of none that have more crowd gathering pull than this one.