WHEN Ferrari unveiled the 365 GT4 BB at the 1971 Turin Auto Show, it marked a turning point in the brand’s history.
The Italian marque abandoned its traditional front-mounted V12 layout in favour of a mid-mounted flat-12 engine, a bold step that reshaped Ferrari’s identity and influenced sports car design for decades.
The car’s sharp wedge profile became instantly recognisable, setting a new benchmark in style and performance.
By 1976, Ferrari refined the concept further with the introduction of the 512 BB, a car that balanced breathtaking looks with engineering sophistication.
Its enlarged 4.9-litre engine delivered 355 horsepower through four triple-barrel Weber carburettors, producing a raw and visceral driving experience.
Named in homage to Ferrari’s 512 race car, the 512 BB combined race-bred performance with the poise of a grand tourer, making it one of the most desirable supercars of its era.
One standout example is chassis number 24669, completed on June 9, 1978. Finished in the factory-correct colour scheme of Rosso Chiaro over Beige Connolly leather, it was delivered new to Switzerland through Ferrari’s official importer SAVAF of Geneva.
Only about 100 examples were sold new into Switzerland, making this car a rare find even among its limited production run of 929 vehicles.
The car remained in Swiss ownership for decades, passing through only a few hands.
By 1999, when it appeared at an auction in Geneva, it had covered around 56,000 kilometres. In 2015, it joined The Tailored For Speed Collection, purchased through Niki Hasler AG, Ferrari’s authorised dealer in Basel.
The car was serviced in 2021, including a full belt replacement, and now shows just under 59,000 kilometres on the odometer. It retains its original engine and gearbox, along with manuals, a jack, tool kit, and spare wheel.
Today, the 512 BB stands as a reminder of Ferrari’s golden years, when design, engineering and raw passion fused into machines that thrilled drivers and spectators.
rmsothebys.com
