1978 Ferrari 512BB

This ‘Dino Blue’ with ‘Crema’ leather interior and ‘Daytona’ seats 512 BB is one of only 101 right-hand drive models produced.

Recorded as chassis number 23897, it was first used as a Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator and was, we understand, initially the personal transport of the firm's legendary proprietor, Colonel Ronnie Hoare. 

The car was offered in 1997 with a then-guaranteed recorded mileage of 11,000.

The car was bought by the vendor in 1999, at which time it had a recorded mileage of under 12,000 miles.

Today, the odometer reads 12,360 miles.

The car was stored and SORN’d for many years, eventually reaching what Italia Autosport described as ‘barn-find’ condition in 2019. 

Since then, nearly £100,000 has passed from the vendor to the engineers, experts and artisans at Italia Autosport in the pursuit of fully restoring this wonderful car to its former mechanical, dynamic and aesthetic glory.

We have driven the car and can report that it starts, goes and stops with grin-inducing enthusiasm and competence.

It’s an absolute joy to get behind the wheel and hear that magnificent engine growling and snorting right behind your head.

People of a certain age, your author being one of them, would have had a poster of a Ferrari 308 on their bedroom wall, quite possibly sandwiched between images of Che Guevara and that lady tennis player who’d mislaid her undergarments and was having a cheeky scratch. 

We were young and foolish. 

Had we known better, had we been more sophisticated, had we possessed finer sensibilities, we would have had a poster of a 512 BB.

What a car.

This example does justice to the design genius of Pininfarina and looks a million dollars from every angle: inside, outside and underneath.

No expense has been spared in resurrecting this glorious car and the painstaking attention to detail is abundantly evident wherever you look.

The bodywork on this example is in irreproachable condition, and all panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp, consistent and even.

The Cromodora wheels have been refurbished and are pristine, and the Michelin tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

The lights, lenses, badging, trim and other exterior fixtures and fittings all appear to be in fine fettle.

The black plastic engine cover cowlings have resisted the temptation to fade or crack, as has the roof spoiler. 

We’re pretty much in the territory of nit-picking here, but that’s our job so here goes: there is an area of slightly ripply paint between the headlamp cover and the indicator lens on the driver’s side; there are one or two light swirly scratches on the roof; and there is a patch of delamination in evidence at the base of the windscreen on the driver’s side.

Those very minor cosmetic foibles aside, it’s all good.

The good news continues without dilution or deviation on the inside.

The Crema leather seats with their highly distinctive ‘Daytona’ stripes are in the sort of condition you’d expect to find in a car with such a low number on the odometer.

There are barely any creases to show for the car’s 46 years of life, let alone any ingrained patina. We think the upholstery could be rendered even better to look at (and sit on) though the judicial application of some high-quality cleaning and feeding products.

From what we can see, the interior is really very original and authentic.

The door cards are in fine condition, as are the headlining, carpets and mats.

The very 1978 ashtrays recessed in the sill covers look pretty much factory fresh.

The controls, instruments and dials seem to be in very good order and, even though we didn’t flick every switch or press every button, those we did flick and press responded faithfully.  

Even the sun visors feel plump and firm, having resisted the tendency to turn ‘crispy’ often exhibited by items of this vintage. 

The frunk is following the same script in terms of condition. It contains a spare wheel and a few tools. 

The engine bay is reassuringly clean, shiny, dry and tidy, thanks to the extensive recommissioning carried out in the past 3 years.

Everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car look to have a good deal of structural integrity and seem to us to be uncompromised by time, weather or use.

The engine is stamped *00248* and the gearbox is stamped N 238. The chassis is stamped in the correct location, next to the VIN plates, which it matches, reading *23897* . It also reads this in the correct location on the top of the steering column.

Accompanying the car is a good history file, including a large number of historical invoices, MOTs, and of course the original book pack.

A fax from Ferrari UK confirm that the car was a Maranello demonstrator and would have probably been driven by Colonel R.J. Hoare. it was then acquired by a Mr R.E. Gardner Esq of Sussex, via Romans in 1979 when the car had a recorded mileage of 9500 miles.

The mileage in 1997 was 10,948 miles, in 1999 was c.12,000 miles when it was sold to the current owner by Reg Vardy.

This car comes with all sorts of eye-wateringly large bills covering the work done to get it back to the best version of itself and ready for the open road.

The recent work at Italia Autosport is as follows:

25/03/20 

Removal of Engine Lid and Rear Valance Assembly, Separation of Engine From Transmission Housing. Dismantling of engine and inspection of parts. Parts sent away to specialist for pressure testing. Light surface skim on both cylinder heads, refacing of valve seats, inspection of crank journals, honing and removal of all cylinders, re-facing steel flywheel - £6,547.96

09/07/20 

Engine Work Continued post-lockdown. Refacing of 12 linters, renew liner seals, adjust deck height and pressure test. Assemble short motor, renovate gearbox housing, renew crank case and oil pump housing bearings and oil seals. Clean oil pump drive gear pulleys. Engine mountings shot blasted and repainted. Carburettors overhauled. Dash retrimmed. Starter motor and alternator overhauled - £17,026.77

24/11/20

Engine work continued. Re-assembly of cylinder heads. New solid valves fitted, clearances set. Renew camshaft pulleys, new cam beltts and tensioner bearings. Refit waterpump with new gaskets and sealants. Assembly of overhauled carbs and engine detail. Engine work completed, ready for fitting. Car sent to bodyshop. Old sealant removed on clamshells. Paint front and rear valances and bottom half of the vehicle. Paint air box covers, grills, rear spoiler and engine lid panels. Refinished in correct satin black. Car fully cut and polish on bodywork. £18,696.37

03/02/21 

Dismantling of suspension and steering components. Cleaned, blasted and prepared. Prepared for paint. Replace all 4 corners wheel bearings, nuts and seals. Renew all suspension bushes, overhaul all shock absorbers and paint Koni orange to standard. Suspension hung for geometry. Assembly of suspension and steering components. Overhaul all 4 brake calipers and handbrake assembly. Overhaul all road wheels and paint. Rechrome spinners and repair wheel plates. 4 new Michelin tyres. Preparation of engine bay, repainting of chassis areas and polishing alloy work. Overhaul driveshafts, new brake hoses. Fitting of engine and gearbox. - £19,051.84

17/09/21 

Prepare and fit ancillaries to engine and gearbox assembly. Renew release bearing, oil seal, O Ring and clutch assembly. Fit bell housing. Renew engine oil and filter, transmission oil, coolant and bleed out. Pressure test. Renew spark plugs. Start engine and shakedown. Investigate cutting out fault and address fault in ignition unit. Dinoplex sent to America for updating. Renew igintion coil to run with Dinoplex. Tune engine. Renew air filters and refit air boxes. Go through work carried out. Several road tests and M.O.T. Fully valeted and leather fed. - £26,630.29

15/12/23 

Check over vehicle and follow up installation service. Renew engine oil, filters, transmission oil. Check air filters, check aux belts and ignition system. Check for coolant and anti-freeze. Inspection of suspension and steering system. Inspect braking system and check handbrake system. Carry out spanner check, check windscreen wipers and washer jets and replenish fluid. Lubrication of door hinges and linkages. Tune carburettors. Wheel magnesium deterioration noted. Taken to specialists and addressed. - £6,272.32

04/01/24 

Carry out tighten down service post-rebuild in 2021. Check tappet clearances, remove cam covers, reassemble and set igntion timings and carburation. Final head clean. - £1,651.20

22/04/24 

Check over vehicle for MOT, MOT carried out, full valet, storage fees, car preparation for leaving storage - £720.60

It also comes with a full set of books, including a service history that’s stamped up to 1999.

These fabulous cars just ooze class, style and period panache.

This minimally used example has the twin benefits of exceptional rarity and being in excellent, expertly restored condition – mechanically, dynamically and aesthetically.

It drives every bit as well as it looks – and it looks simply stunning. 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £160,000 - £180,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.