Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer - what are the differences?

The planets have aligned and we have all three versions of the Ferrari BB at Barkaways. Here we discuss the differences between the models of these classic Ferraris and go out in the 512.
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0:00 - Intro.
0:59 - The different models
2:41 - Engines
7:01 - Exterior
10:34 - Interior
17:59 - Wheels
21:09 - BB 512 test drive
26:11 - Final thoughts

[@GM-fh5jp]

As a teenager, the fights between Boxer fans and Countach fans were even more serious and hardcore than either cars performance numbers. Many a fine Friday and Saturday nights were spent arguing the merits and failings of both. I was firmly in the BB camp ;) **Also...BB stands for Brigitte Bardot...NOT Berlinetta Boxer **

[@cbca6567]

Pininfarina/Fioravanti were not Ferrari marketing and did not name the Ferrari cars. Enzo himself chose the name according to a 2016 interview with Mauro Forghieri which is on youtube in Italian, chief engineer at Ferrari at the time, and the Enzo meant the BB to stand for "Bialbero" or twin cam. However the Journalists named it Berlinetta Boxer mistakenly and the name stuck, even though as Mauro pointed out the engine is not a Boxer engine

[@1983dmd]

Very,very well made video !!! The way you hold the steering wheel tells me a lot...This is experience at it's best....The way Derek Bell says how you should hold the wheel....Gently like that! Same with the shilfter....Thank you for such a wonderful presentation about a fabulous car...I drove one many years ago...Hearing the sound brings back a lot of memories.

[@Kolinu2]

Massive fan of the Boxer look, especially in metallic blue as on the 365. Great video, thanks.

[@ianjones7486]

That sound at startup bought back some wonderful memories. One of my first Ferraris that I got to drive was a 512. Great looks and a better motor. Thanks for a great review.

[@Chris-wj1qn]

The Ferrari 365 GT4/BB had 375-380bhp with a top speed of 180mph, not 344bhp, the 512 bb had 350bhp, and the 512 BBi had 340bhp do to Ferrari having to adhere to strict EPA emission restrictions during the 1980's because of the fuel shortage in the mid to late 1970's. Go watch Ferrari 365 GT4 BB driven | evo ICONS for the real specs on the car.

[@cbca6567]

The 365 GT4/BB prototype did have 375-380bhp but production cars had about 360bhp, still more than the 344bhp quoted as you wrote. The 365BB revved to 7750rpm red line whereas the 512bb revved to 6500rpm red line. Ferrari lowered the revs and increased the capacity not only for emissions but for reliability reasons also, making the 512BB less powerful but more torquey.

[@crxtfr]

Love the way you explain the differences between the Boxers, Fantastic!!

[@susannero6401]

Great video; I think these look so much better than its successor, the Testarossa. A minor point: I don't believe these were ever sold in the USA. I remember at the time their lack of availability added to their mystique (as if they needed it).

[@jonjones1553]

Clint Eastwood had a 365 Boxer.

[@jeanclaude4]

They were sold in the USA but in limited #s

[@CT9wasmyhandle]

Well, you're obviously wrong. The Testarossa were prettier.

[@Contractnik]

YES! My father had a 1976 512 BB, classic red with black trim. Took me 300KPH in it. Sickest ride ever. And his buddy had a red 365 in RHD (though in USA) with bronze-colored wheels that had run at Le Mans and he would come over for Sunday drives. The two Boxers in a mini-convoy. So much fun.

[@VanClog]

Love these side by side overviews - thanks Ian!

[@elliottcaras3281]

That was a great summation of the Boxer lineage.

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

My all time fav Ferrari (365GT4/BB), I have had the pleasure of experiencing a 365 Boxer.....That made a lasting impression on me!! That engine noise!!!

[@FrostedSeagull]

How y'all ate you? I don't mean to be rude. Reason I ask is that I've been told if you're 6 foot and over, it's difficult to sit in & enjoy it. If you're 6'2 and over ( 187 cm) forget it. Rumours going around alleging that the 365 BB's can accommodate a person up to 6'3. Doug DeMuro Reviewed a carburettor powered 512 BB a few years ago and he managed to look quite comfortable in that car. I'm 6'1 and have a friend who's 6'4 and wants to buy a 512 Boxer Berlinetta, preferably a carburettor model.

[@VectorOfKnowledge]

Timeless, lovely shape.

[@212MPH]

I remember when the Boxers came out as a boy, I fell in love with them, they look even better today and bar far still my favourite car. You should fo the 400s as well, they fantastic, probably the best looking rear end of any car.

[@jeanclaude4]

All of you disagreeing with what BB stands for, from the actual Ferrari site: The two Bs stand for Berlinetta Boxer. This name was derived from the fact that the cylinder banks form an angle of 180°. If you still disagree please email Piero Ferrari and make your case.

[@paulsu8749]

This is the best Boxer video I have seen and thank you for posting this. This is my an absolute favorite car in the world since the first time I saw it at the LA Auto Show in 1980. To this day it’s still the prettiest car ever built for me.

[@readrepairs]

Love that test drive. You look so pleased with it. Nice.

[@GC987]

What a wonderful explanation of the evolution of the Boxer !

[@timgosling6189]

Nice. Such beautiful shapes. At least Ferrari is returning a little to those lovely smooth surfaces. The other way of quickly spotting a 365 is that the rear clamshell shut line is right at the wheelarch, whereas the later cars have the wheelarch starting a few inches further back. TRX tyres and the associated wheels were introduced as a proposed safety measure as it's apparently a lot harder for the tyre to come off the rim in a blow-out. BMW and Ferrari both adopted them but few others. Like the older XWXs they vanished for a while but both are actually now available again.

[@cwwatchenthusiast6727]

Excellent video, great to see all the differences with the versions next to each other 👏👌🏁😎 The BB has always been the Ferrari to get from my childhood.

[@jeanclaude4]

Great post. Thank you for taking the time to compose the video

[@hatchmotors]

Wonderful video! You did a fantastic job in sharing the differences between the models. Thank you for taking the time to make it and share it with all. Fabulous cars.

[@jasonjcr_cars819]

That was a great overview Ian. Appreciate the level of meaningful detail you went into here. The sound is utterly glorious! Cheers Jason #jcr_cars

[@Blog4Justice]

Very engaging presentation.

[@jonathantennantphotography2869]

Great video Ian, use to see the white 512 BBi that Scott has in Esher back in the 80's . Lovely car.

[@timmellor2599]

What a pleasure to see my favourite car of all time and in each of the three forms it came in. I still want three!

[@tombache3426]

Well done video, thank you. Great explanations, and the engine sound was wonderful.

[@themessenger5868]

This was fantastic...thank you so much for covering a Ferrari classic that is often over looked. Forza Ferrari !

[@TR4man]

Very informative, thank you.

[@markhargreaves5936]

Good Informative Production Guys - Keep up the good work

[@readrepairs]

Very impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[@avionatorcraft2169]

I want to clarify something , BB means Berlinetta Bialbero, this is a flat engine or V180º is not a Boxer, the configuration of the pistons and the cranckshaft is different from a conventional Boxer.

[@Douglas3.2Carrera]

Fantastic video…huge Ferrari fan, specifically the 60’s road cars, knew very little about the Boxers until now. Sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make this…big “thank you” from Detroit, MI.

[@skydance2012]

Fantastic vid!! Great info

[@institutmorningkiss]

LOVE these geeky videos ! Thanks !

[@scottieboy9722]

What a fantastic video! Thanks you!

[@lyntonfiammetta]

Great vid Ian .Thanks .Always wondered what the subtle differences were .

[@abuhamza1970]

Wow! I’m impressed with your encyclopaedic knowledge of one of my favourite cars in my favourite era of motoring. New to the channel but you can add another subscriber to the list. 😊

[@redhorseparts9115]

Nice review

[@andream.464]

Excellent job!

[@Contractnik]

Great video!

[@user-hq2dh6oc2e]

wonderful, excelent video

[@technique275]

Thank you for your knowledge. Atb.

[@stuartrhodes7352]

Yep you should go on mastermind, great videos, thanks👍👍

[@heathhouse6917]

Fantastic video - thank you! Which ferrari red is the 115 BOX car that you drove? It's lovely and much richer than Rosso Corsa

[@lawrencelieberman2278]

BB512 is my Favorite car as well as the 80s GTO.

[@dmn23]

This is gold.

[@lamberko]

I'm pretty sure the wheelbase of the 365GTB4 is round about 10cm shorter than the later 512BB/BBi. And the later ones had a chromed prancing horse on the center console. And different covers for the loudspeakers in the door cards.

[@justsayin7436]

Actually the wheel base is the same. The added length is all in the rear lid after the wheel arch. Note that on the 365, the rear lid shut line on sides below the sill line - is is vertical. On the 512's that line is angled forward to kind of mimic the door shut line. Just Sayin'

[@MustangBence]

Thank you for feeding my ferrari addiction.

[@jonjones1553]

Hells bells that blue one is gorgeous! What fuel do you recommend?

[@pi.actual]

It's somewhat of a misconception that fuel injection was because of American emissions laws. First of all, the Boxer was never imported to the US and secondly Formula 1 had ditched carburetors somewhere around about 1967. It was simply the evolution of progress. I know there is a retro-fetish over carbs these days and there's nothing wrong with that, just don't believe the hype that they are somehow slam-dunk better than fuel injection because they aren't. Nicely done Boxer overview, thanks.

[@dkky4567]

With respect to the large orange front indicators: don't some of the Berlinetta Boxer's have clear indicators instead? If so, is there any rhyme or reason to which cars had orange versus which had clear?

[@lamberko]

Some countries in Europe had different rules for the colour of the turn signals. For example many Boxers (and Ferrari 308 and 400, and the Porsche 914) for the Italien market had "clear" lenses/covers for the front turn signals.

[@mitchd949]

Curious...at about 25:38 shift from 3rd to 5th? Why skip 4th?

[@lebojay]

He rode 3rd gear up to the speed limit - his desired cruising speed - so that’s the time for 5th. He was in the right gear for what he wanted to do at each moment - first making some noise, then cruising, without an intermediate stage. No rule says you have to go through them sequentially. I might ride 2nd up to the redline for giggles, which is past the speed limit, then immediately back off, shift to 5th and cruise. Works fine.

[@Gurovski]

I'd love a 512 but the current prices are confusing , anywhere from £350.000 down to £195.000 for what are seemingly advertised as good cars 🙄I remember as a kid Hexagon had an used 1984 BBi for sale back in the mid 80s, never have I forgotten that car as it was one of the very very last RHD, in a deep none metallic burgundy 👀

[@fabslyrics]

512BBi was the pinacle of cool

[@Ducati444]

The addition of fuel injection was not related to the American market because Boxers were never imported by Ferrari into the USA. Only grey market sales of Boxers were done in the states.

[@carlobellini6146]

You forgot to mention on of the main differences. The 365 has a shorter wheelbase than the 512s.

[@romanoschwabel3716]

what you tell at 2:06? 1991 to 1994 - at that time the BB area has been gone already. you wanted to say 1981 to 1984 I think

[@roverwaters3875]

The owners manual reads "berlinetta boxer" as the name of the car. The owners manual says "flat 12", not V12 The owners manual does not say "boxer engine" .... The layout of an engine is given by the angle and arrangement of the cylinders in the block, not the crankshaft.

[@ProjectFairmont]

They sound like a Detroit Diesel V12 2-stroke. Uncanny.

[@FrostedSeagull]

Great review of my favourite 70's twelve cylinder Ferrari in the guise of the 365 and one of my three grail car - the 512 BB carburettor verion with a midnight blue 💙 body and cteam coloured seats and interior. 1985 Australian Car Show: - My grail car, the midnight blue with cream interior 1977 512 BB carburettor version, was there. There was a 1984 red Lamborghini Countach that was not a quattravalvole edition. I spoke to the owner. The owner, unbelievably, had had enough of his Countach. He was my height. He hated the Countach for all the reasons that most people over 45 have repeatedly heard. Lamborghini Countach A very uncomfortable ride which is slow. Even when warmed up the Countach was slow. The 0 - 63 mph in 10 seconds is true. The 512 BB's, Testarossa and even the 308 pre-1980 GTB Ferrari's were ALL quicker than the Countach. NOTE - Butt hurt Countach fan boys will not accept the reality that Lamborghini's were notoriously slow before the Quattrovalvole versions. The Countach owner had just purchased the Rhd midnight blue 512 BB at the Car Show. He had driven the 512 BB on the weekend and loved it. He was my height and could easily get into the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer. He loved the engine and told me that once the engine was warmed up, yhe the Ferrari 512 BB was the fastest road going sports car in the world. Remember, this was 1985 and the Diablo, Jaguar XJ 220 and F 50 did not exist yet. My all time favourite the 288 GTO did exist but owners weren't openly discussing how fast these twin turbo V8's were. NOTE -: A few Ferrari 288 GTO owners discretely admitted that they had reached speeds of 303 mph on their respective car.

[@TheSwanlake2009]

What a legendary car that beat the Lambo!

[@michaelireland7239]

storage space for a pack of cigarettes

[@weallfollowmanutd]

There's no such thing as a Berlinetta Boxer. BB never stood for that, as it doesn't have a boxer engine

[@FrostedSeagull]

My favourite is the 'geniuses' who refer to the 512 BB engine as 'the flat V12 Boxer engine. ' I tried to tell one these said geniuses that a flat V12 makes no sense, hence the word 'flat'as to differentiate the from a V engine. It was like talking to the proverbial brick wall. Lol

[@roverwaters3875]

BB stands for berlinetta boxer It is written in the owners manual. Also 180 degrees V-engine does not exist. It's called a flat engine.

[@cbca6567]

@@roverwaters3875 Actually not correct. Mauro Forghieri was interviewed in 2016 and was the chief Ferrari engineer and he said that Enzo named the car and that the BB stood for "Bialbero" or twincam in English. The journlists "mistakenly" called it Berlinetta Boxer and then the name stuck, but the name is wrong and as Mauro said the engine is not a Boxer engine also.

[@cbca6567]

I am of course referring to the original 365 BB when it was launched.

[@roverwaters3875]

@@cbca6567 The owners manual says "flat 12", not V12 The owners manual does not say "boxer engine" Enzo had no involvement, it was a FIAT project.

[@tumslucks9781]

Ferraris are glorified go karts that sound like cement mixers. Prove me wrong?

[@ramonmedina1974]

Boxer???? Berlinetta Bialbero! 180°V

[@alfiominutoli5518]

Sorry, but the B means bialbero and not boxer...try to study ferrari history