Introduced to the public at the 1981 Frankfurt Salon, the new 512 BBi offered the advanced and reliable Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injection system for the first time in a 12-cylinder Ferrari, hence the “i” in its nomenclature. A handful of cosmetic upgrades accompanied the new model. Exposed driving lights were added at the front, and rectangular parking lights were fitted adjacent to the exhausts at the rear. For the Ferrari faithful, the addition of the fuel injection was a welcome change, and the 512 BBi is generally considered to be the most civilized of Ferrari’s Berlinetta Boxers.

The change from carburetors to fuel injection brought about an increase of 20 foot-pounds of torque, helping the engine to feel much more tractable overall. Performance remained extraordinary, and the 512 BBi could reach 60 mph from a dead start in just 5.4 seconds; furthermore, it was capable of a top speed of 173 mph. It was the “flagship” Ferrari while in production and easily lived up to the “supercar” requirements of the era. Production of the 512 BBi came to an end in 1984, with Ferrari having completed just 1,007 examples. It was replaced in the model lineup by the equally ground-breaking Testarossa.

This exceptional 512 BBi, finished in the desirable shade of Rosso Corsa, was first imported into the U.S. by noted collector William Lyon in July 1983. It was then acquired by Michael Jean of Denver, Colorado, in 1985. Shortly thereafter, he sold the car to another gentleman in Colorado, noting that the BBi had only 2,700 miles at the time. In 1987, with less than 3,000 miles, the car was acquired by Karl Dedolph of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dedolph maintained the car for the next five years when he offered it for sale in 1992. Eight years later, the Ferrari was offered once more where it was bought by Richard Scott of Sidney, Ohio. At the time, it was noted that the odometer had been replaced. Several years later, the 512 BBi was acquired by collector Robert Iannucci, who maintained it until 2011, when he sold it to Frank Gallogly of Lakeville, Connecticut. It was purchased in 2012 by William Heinecke who enjoyed the car until early 2017, when it was purchased by the consignor.

Today, the car presents exceptionally well and remains highly original throughout, showing less than 19,000 km (under 12,000 miles). In 2017, the 512 BBi was refreshed both cosmetically and mechanically, and it is accompanied by over $20,000 in receipts with a breakdown of the completed work. The BBi retains its original owner’s manuals in their original pouch, as well as the original jack in its bag.

Ferrari knew that craftsmanship, engineering, and design counted for more than anything else. At the time of 512 BBi production, the future was poised for robots to take over from the hands-on approach. Sergio Scaglietti, whose firm made the bodies, noted, “It was something special. It was the last car where we made everything by hand.” We could not agree more.