Ferrari’s stunning 365 GT/4 BB debuted at Turin in 1971. It was the company’s first road going model with a mid-mounted, flat 12-cylinder engine, which was subsequently nicknamed the “Boxer,” for its opposing pistons. The exotic design was derived from the company’s three-liter Formula One car, and it took two years to bring into production. It was finally launched in late 1973, as a 1974 model, and only 387 were built in the following three years. Road & Track hit 175 mph in one during a road test in 1975, allowing it to dub the original Boxer “the fastest road car we’ve ever tested.”

As the replacement for the iconic 365 GTB/4 Daytona was the 365 GT/4 BB, and it was produced alongside the Daytona before Ferrari fully transitioning to the Berlinetta Boxer, they momentarily abandoned the front-engine layout in favor of mid-engine cars for its top-performance models. This 365 Boxer was produced between 1973 and 1976, before production changed over to the 512 BB.

Swiss Ferrari historian Marcel Massini has documented that car number 18057 was completed on July 15, 1974, and delivered new to official importer SAVAF, of Geneva, Switzerland, wearing Blu Dino (106-A-72) over Nera (VM 8500) leather upholstery. It was first registered for the road in Switzerland on August 15, 1974, and later that year, it was sold to Dr. Philippe Collet, of Brent and La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, who registered it as VD 40431.

In April 1991, the car was sold by Collet to Andreas Mettauer, of Riehen, Switzerland. At this time, it showed 31,150 kilometers on its odometer and was refinished in red with a red bottom. After a carburetor fire caused damage to the engine bay and interior, it was sold to Claudio Cathomen, of Switzerland, and between 1999 and 2003, it was completely restored by Fritz Räfaeli. It was recommissioned again in 2008 and has since spent time with a series of Swiss owners and, most recently, Japanese Ferrari specialist Kazuhiko Kura, of Castel Auto in Yokohama. Kura, a 40-year veteran Ferrari restorer who has replaced the interior, rectified all other remaining cosmetic issues from the previous restoration, and carefully restored everything to original specification.

The restoration is documented by numerous photographs, including a record of the comprehensive engine rebuild, which qualifies as a total overhaul by any standard, although the car still retains its original drivetrain. The work to the engine included line boring the cylinders and installing new pistons, rings, valves, guides, crankshaft and connector bearings, timing belt and tensioner bearings, a clutch and pressure plate, and gaskets and seals; the list goes on, and all components feature the proper finishes that one would expect to find. Not surprisingly, it is reported to run exceptionally strong. Today, this car, showing a modest 56,000 kilometers, is beautifully finished in red with a black lower body, which is the classic color combination for the model. As such, it is stunning and an impressive representation of the first and most highly sought after Boxer. Extras on the car include an original jack and cover, a leather pouch with a registration insert, and a manual copy. A file of Swiss maintenance records will also be supplied with the car.

To many, the 365 GT4 BB is the ultimate Berlinetta Boxer, as it is lighter and more purposeful in its purest form than its more common successors. To describe the appeal of the 365 Boxer, one might even use the term brutally voluptuous. This striking example will delight the dynamic driver with its scintillating performance and undeniable visual appeal.