Fifty Years of Berlinetta Boxer: Remembering the Forefather of Modern Mid-Engine Ferraris

When Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo, he wanted to continue building race machines, not road cars. However, the boss soon realized that the best way to finance his Scuderia was to unleash some prancing horses on public roads.

Therefore, in 1948, the company introduced its first street-oriented model: the 166 Inter. Based on the underpinnings of previous race cars combined with coachbuit bodies, the Inter series was Ferrari's first authentic grand tourer range.

The front engine, small displacement V12-powered GT formula at the core of the Inters continued to define Ferrari's flagship road cars for the next three decades.

While Il Commendatore was initially reluctant to adopt the mid-engine layout, his engineers convinced him to change his mind, and by the early 1960s, race-bred Ferraris with powerplants mounted in the rear-mid section of the chassis started taking to the track.

The mid-engine layout's advantages proved undeniable, becoming the norm for all future Ferrari race cars. However, Enzo stubbornly held on to the traditional front-engine GT formula when it came to his company's flagships.

A significant leap forward

With models like the Matra Djet or Lamborghini Miura kicking off a mid-engine revolution in the world of purely road-going sports cars, Enzo reluctantly allowed the development of Ferrari's first mass-produced mid-engine road car, but he didn't market the new car with Prancing Horse badges. Instead, the 206 GT was sold under the lower-cost Dino brand, starting with the 1967 model year.

Meanwhile, Ferrari's newest flagship - officially called 365 GTB/4 but known as Daytona - continued using a V12 mounted in front of the driver.

While the Daytona arrived in Ferrari dealerships in 1968, the company's engineers, led by Angelo Bellei, were already working on a successor. Again, the development team pushed for a mid-engine layout, and, encouraged by the success of the Dino GT, the boss finally approved the creation of Ferrari's first mid-engine flagship road car.

Iconic styling

While Ferrari engineers were working on the spaceframe chassis and flat-twelve engine, Pinninfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti was commissioned to design the new car's bodywork.

Inspired by the Ferrari P6 Berlinetta Speciale concept, Fioravanti's design featured a low-slung, wedge-shaped front fascia with a steeply angled windshield that flowed into a curved roof and a wide rear end.

Unlike the one-off concept, the beautifully sculptured body received side windows and pop-up headlights, making it look more futuristic.

The BB's styling proved to be iconic, as it influenced the look of its V8-powered 308 GTB sibling, as well as future Prancing Horse legends like the 288 GTO, F40, or the succeeding Testarossa.

Originally named after one of the world's most beautiful women

As the car was taking shape, everyone at Pininfarina was captivated by its beauty. Legend has it that the proud Fioravanti nicknamed his latest masterpiece B.B. after Brigitte Bardot - the famous French actress, singer, and model considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet back in the 1960s.

The nickname carried over to the Maranello factory, but since Ferrari couldn't officially name its new flagship after the actress, the initials were attributed to "Berlinetta Bialbero" after the coupe body style and twin-cam engine.

However, when the press learned Ferrari's upcoming flagship would be powered by a mid-mounted flat-twelve, it was featured in many articles as Berlinetta Boxer, a name that eventually became official.

Powered by a Formula 1-derived flat-twelve that wasn't a true boxer

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer made its public debut in prototype form at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, and with a few subtle changes, it went into production in 1972.

Although it had the same numerical designation as the Daytona, the 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer was a radically different machine powered by an all-new twelve-cylinder.

Developed by Giuliano de Angelis and Angelo Bellei, the new Tipo/ F102 4.4-liter was a street-legal derivative of the Mauro Forghieri-designed Tipo 001 Formula One engine used in the Ferrari 312B.

Rated at 380 hp (some brochures quoted a 360 hp figure), the lightweight unit featured dual overhead camshafts with two valves per cylinder and four three-barrel Weber carbs.

Though the car was called Berlinetta Boxer, its engine was not an actual boxer. That's because each pair of opposing pistons shared the same crank pin and moved in the same direction, while in a typical boxer, the pistons move in the opposite direction.

Two additional evolutions

Ferrari initially planned a limited production run of only 25 cars, but as demand gradually increased, the company ended up building 387 units of the 365 GT4 BB between 1973 and 1976.

By the end of the 1976 model year, the Italians announced that they would release a revised version instead of discontinuing the model.

Called BB 512, the first evolution of the Berlinetta Boxer came with a flat-twelve enlarged to 4.9 liters and equipped with a dry-sump lubrication system. Though it was rated at 360 hp (later revised to 340 hp), the larger engine reached peak power lower in the RPM range (6,200 RPM instead of 7,000 RPM), and, with a flatter torque curve, it delivered power more smoothly.

Visually, the 512 received a new chin spoiler for improved aerodynamics, NACA ducts behind each door to cool the rear disc brakes, and wider rear wheel arches to accommodate wider tires.

The revised version was produced in 929 units until 1981, when the third and final iteration of the BB range replaced it.

Codenamed BB 512i, this version featured the same 4.9-liter engine, albeit fitted with a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system. But, despite this improvement, the engine was still rated at 340 hp.

The 512i was the most successful version of the BB range, as Ferrari sold 1,007 units until 1984.

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer today

The first mass-produced Ferrari intended purely for road use was universally praised by owners and the automotive press for its drivability, power delivery, and gorgeous looks.

It proved the superiority of the mid-engine formula, which was adopted for the mid-range, V8-powered 308 GTB and the brand's future flagship models.

Today, the BB is not as sought-after as its successors (or even its predecessor), but it's still far from an affordable classic Ferrari. According to classic.com, its average value currently stands at $294,405, with low-mileage examples of the BBi usually demanding well over the $300,000 mark.

Value aside, the Berlinetta Boxer, which turns fifty this year, deserves to be remembered and celebrated by Ferrari enthusiasts. It was a significant leap forward for the Italian brand and laid the foundation for all modern mid-engine Prancing Horses.