The stylish Ferrari 512BB Gran Turismo was a rare sight on British roads, replacing the Daytona at the top of Ferrari’s line-up. Launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1976, the range-topping 512BB was at the pinnacle of 1970’s supercar motoring. Equipped with a 5-litre version of the 12-cylinder boxer, the new engine proved a great success, giving the same power at lower revs, better torque and a smoother delivery than the earlier version in the 365 GT4 BB. The Pininfarina coachwork differed only slightly from the previous model in certain details which not only made it look even more elegant but also helped improve engine cooling by using NACA ducts forward of the rear wheel arches. The car’s engine shared its internal dimensions with the V12 from the Daytona but was spread out to 180° like Ferrari’s 1970 Formula One cars and was mounted above a five-speed manual transmission. One major difference in this engine was its use of timing belts rather than chains. The engine was enlarged to 4942 cc, with an increased compression ratio of 9.2:1. A dual-plate clutch handled the added torque and eased the pedal effort. Engine power was 360 bhp (268 kW) @6200 rpm giving the car a top speed of 179 mph, and an acceleration time of 0 -62 mph (0 - 100 km/h) in 5.4 secs. The 512BB was supplied new by Ritches Ferrari, Glasgow in January 1980 at a cost of over £33,000. Their Ferrari service and maintenance invoices, along with those of Ferrari specialists form a huge history file. The 512BB retains its MOT history and historic road tax discs. Benefitting from a recent full Ferrari main dealer service, new spark plugs, brake fluid service, anti-freeze service, gear box oil change and belt change costing over £5,000, this 512BB will make a great addition to any Ferrari collection. Complete with its original woven book pack, Ferrari archive records and Ferrari tool case, a 12-month comprehensive written warranty will also be included. The 512BB is available to view now at our London showroom.