Michael SatterfieldI was walking through the pits at The Thermal Club when I stumbled upon this amazing Ferrari 512 BB. It is a piece of automotive history, not just another vintage race car. This car was part of Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (NART). This Ferrari 512 BB debuted at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1975 before earning a sixth-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring two months later. NART continued to use the car until 1978, when Ferrari stepped in to make the car more competitive.
Ferrari 512 BB: A LeMans Legend
Ferrari’s 512 Berlinetta Boxer (BB) started life as a road-going supercar, but by the late 1970s, the competition had moved on. Ferrari wanted to keep up. Actually, scratch that—they wanted to lead. Taking the BB’s 4.4-liter flat-12 engine, they bumped it to 5 liters, gave it dry-sump lubrication, and started trimming weight. The result? The BB/LM—a fire-breathing evolution that swapped leather interiors for aluminum panels and creature comforts for race-spec aerodynamics.
Chassis 35527, built in 1981, was one of just 25 BB/LMs ever made. Of those, only 19 ever raced, making this particular car an incredibly rare breed. And race it did—first with the North American Racing Team (NART), Luigi Chinetti’s iconic squad, where it was campaigned in the 1981 and 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Inside the Ferrari 512 BB
Let’s talk about Le Mans. It’s not just any race; it’s a 24-hour war of attrition where only the toughest survive. In 1981, this Ferrari 512 BB, running as car #49, was piloted by Alain Cudini, John Morton, and Philippe Gurdjian. Lightweight and powered by a 460-hp flat-12, it was one of the quickest BB/LMs on track. Unfortunately, a late-race collision ended its run after an impressive 247 laps.
Fast forward to 1982. Back at Le Mans, now wearing #72, the car came out swinging. It climbed as high as third overall, proving its mettle against factory-backed prototypes and a grueling 24-hour pace. But with just two hours to go, a transmission issue slowed its charge. Even so, it finished ninth overall and fourth in the IMSA/GTX class—a solid result that cemented its reputation as one of the best BB/LMs ever built.
After its Le Mans outings, the car took on a second life in the hands of collectors and racers around the globe. Bob Donner brought it stateside, followed by appearances at auction houses, race shops, and private collections. Along the way, it picked up upgrades, restorations, and a reputation as a showstopper at historic racing events.
One key chapter in its story came in the 2000s when racer Todd Morici gave the car some serious love. Upgrades to the suspension, brakes, and cooling systems made it even more potent on track. Later owners ensured the car was as stunning to look at as it was to drive, with appearances at the Le Mans Classic and Ferrari’s own vintage race series.
Under the rear clamshell lies the soul of this Ferrari 512 BB: a flat-12 engine that now churns out a screaming 560 horsepower, thanks to titanium rods, high-compression pistons, and new camshafts. The original F102 B engine is included, but installed is a race-prepped F110A motor that’s been dyno-proven to deliver the goods. Paired with a reinforced gearbox and weighing in at just 1,100 kilograms, this car was born to go fast and keep going.
There are race cars, and then there are cars like this—a machine with a backstory as compelling as its on-track performance. Chassis 35527 represents everything we love about racing: the relentless pursuit of speed, the willingness to push limits, and the drama of victory and defeat. Whether it’s flying down the Mulsanne Straight or parked in a collector’s garage, this BB/LM is pure Ferrari magic.
For vintage racing enthusiasts, it’s a rare chance to own a car that’s not just eligible for events like the Le Mans Classic—it’s been there, done that, and proven itself a front-runner. With its stunning history and race-ready setup, 35527 isn’t just a car. It’s a legacy on wheels, waiting to write its next chapter.
For more on this car, you can check out this Bonhams Auction listing for it HERE.
