This 512 BB, chassis number 24881, was produced to satisfy an order placed by Charles Pozzi S.A., the official Ferrari importer for France. Appropriately, it was finished as a French market example in Blu Sera Metallic (Salchi 133-A-112), with a tan leather interior and black inserts, air conditioning, and several unique features mandated by French law at the time, including white turn signal lenses (rather than the usual amber) and octagonal wheel nuts (rather than three-ear knock-offs).

Once completed by the factory, the car was distributed by Pozzi to Ferrari concessionaires New York Automobile of Cannes, where it was offered for sale in the summer of 1978. On August 10th, Emilio Azcarraga Milmo and Paula Cussi Presa Matute, of Mexico City, walked into the dealership and agreed to purchase a Ferrari 400 for him and the 512 BB for her. Separate invoices were generated in each of their names, and a wire in the amount of 198,750 French francs was initiated from San Diego, California, for the 512 BB. With that wire, the “Boxer” was paid in full, and the couple retreated to Hotel Negresco for dinner with their good friends, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Alarcon. Mr. Alarcon, a serious car enthusiast, warned his friends that the 512 BB was not really such a good car for a lady to drive in Mexico City; it was too powerful and would also attract unwanted attention. As a result, Mr. Milmo tried to rescind the sale at the dealership the following morning; when they refused, Mr. Alarcon agreed to purchase the car from his friend, and it was successfully imported to Mexico and registered for the road as 475 SAY in November 1978.

Mr. Alarcon retained the car until May 2014, when it was acquired by its present owner, a passionate Ferrari enthusiast who imported the 512 BB to the United States. During that 36-year period, the car was annually serviced by a factory-trained Ferrari technician, being flown from Los Angeles to Mexico City, where a service was performed for the fastidious Mr. Alarcon.

The owner notes that, as acquired, the 512 BB was entirely original, including its paint and interior, and showing 13,405 kilometers (8,329 miles) from new. It was evaluated by California-based Ferrari specialist Chris Dugan, who spent several hours going over every inch of the car and documenting its condition, after which it underwent a major service. Following a visual inspection and dozens of readings with a paint meter, it was agreed that what they had been told by Mr. Alarcon was correct. The 512 BB had never had any cosmetic repairs, and the paint on the car today is believed to be the original from 1978, with the exception of touch-ups to the lower portion of the front spoiler and some minor dye work to the seats. All other interior, exterior, and mechanical finishes were and are original, including the beautiful original wheels, which are shod in new XWX tires, and even the original Salchi paint tag!

Over the next several months, Mr. Dugan performed extensive service work to recommission the low-mileage car, including the removal of the engine, a belt service, a complete resealing, a full rebuild of the carburetors and cooling system, a rebuild of the brake system (including master cylinders), the installation of a new clutch, and the disassembly of all suspension components, with the front ball joints and all bushings replaced. The engine was very carefully cleaned to preserve its finishes, with all gaskets and seals replaced, valve clearances checked and adjusted, the water pump overhauled, and new gaskets and mounts for the original exhaust system. The owner happily notes that the air conditioning has been fully charged and works properly, as do all of the gauges and lights. The receipts for the aforementioned work are included in the sale and total over $35,000.

The car has since been displayed at Concorso Italiano in August 2014 and Concorso Ferrari in Pasadena, and it was driven on the Petrolicious Rally in November 2014, as part of the over 1,500 trouble-free kilometers covered since completion of the service work. The car is offered with its original warranty book and pouch, briefcase tool kit, and a complete jack kit, including both the knock-off hammer and the octagonal wheel nut wrench. It has recently been awarded the desirable Ferrari Classiche certification, as a pure full “Euro”-spec car that has never been federalized or modified.

Surely, this is one of the finest original 512 BBs yet to be offered for public sale. It is an opportunity not to be missed for the avid collector of original Ferraris.