Article about the Ferrari 365 GT4 BB Boxer
By: Greg Markson of Sydney, Australia

For those that follow closely will have noticed this site's admin is a fan of all things boxer. In January 2004's article he covered the death of the beloved V12 boxer engine found in the F512M. What better way to follow up then to go back in time to the birth of this wonderful creation? The boxer, as most know, gets its name because of its shape and layout. Most call the engine a Flat 12 because that is exactly what it is but others know it as a 180� V12.

History
It all started at the Turin Auto Show in 1971. The prototype Berlinetta BB made it's debut there. The production did not start until 1973. It was the start of a totally new direction for the streetcars. The prototype was based on the mid-engined racecars like the 250 LM and 365 P. Prior to the introduction of the boxer no Ferrari street car had a mid-engined 12 cylinder. The Dino 206 GT was a year earlier with a 6 cylinder, but at that time they weren't recognized as Ferrari models, and did not have the same potential.
�
Ferrari needed to build a car with a mid-engine. Lamborghini started with the Miura, and from the moment that car was introduced it was faster than everyting else. Lamborghini already showed the prototype of the Countach before Ferrari showed their BB prototype. This suggested that Ferrari never really intended to build mid-engined cars, but were forced to produce them to keep up with the market.
�
The 365 GT/4 BB came after the 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" and the differences were significant. The BB is 6 cm shorter, and 6 cm wider. On top of that it was 12 cm lower. This basically told the whole story of the car. It was low, wide, and fast, very fast. Because it was a boxer, the engine's design was flat, which enabled Ferrari to put the engine very low in the chassis for perfect handling. The engine itself was a Flat 12 (or 180 degree V12) which produced 340bph @ 7200rpms. The bore & stroke of the engine was 81 x 71 mm and the engine could put out 308 lbs-ft of torque at 3900 rpms. The boxer could run 0-60 in 6.1 seconds or the 1/4 mile in 14.4 seconds at a speed of 101mph.
�
Most surprising about this car was that it was not available in the United States for sometime due to the strict emission laws that were in place. However that did not stop Chinetti Motors in Connecticut from importing the car via Canada. At one point there were aproximately 50 illegal boxers in the United States. Eventually the law was redrawn that allowed a loophole for the illegal cars in the U.S. Dr. Norman D. Shutler working for the EPA allowed for a 30 minute test which was needed to meet emission laws. A later model year became legal in the United States with a 3% power loss due to emissions standards, and the bumper was slightly altered. Other minor changes were the addition of a key buzzer, racing style rear view mirror and changes to the lights.

Views & Driving Impressions
The first thing you notice when you approach a 365GT/4 BB is that it looks smaller than in pictures you may have seen in magazines which tend to exaggerate the nose/bonnet area. From behind, the six exhaust pipes signal serious business and help distinguish it from the later 512 series. The unadulterated lines and flowing body make this car more pleasing to the eye than a 512. The roofline is waist high which accentuates the racing heritage of this car.

A small flick of the door release and the lightweight doors swing open willingly (so much that one has to be careful not to be too forceful as they reach there open limit very quickly). As you lower yourself into the seat, you realise that you are very close to the floor and your legs run horizontally rather down to the pedals. The instruments are well positioned and easy to read. The ignition key is quite small and turned clockwise. When turned you begin to hear the low frequency rumble of the fuel pumps. The starting procedure is always the same: let the fuel pumps run for 30 seconds, "pump" the accelerator 5 times to give those hungry 4 triple choke webers a taste of what is to come, depress the pedal halfway and the clutch pedal fully and turn the key to the next position. The engine then comes to life immediately and all 12 cylinders start singing in unison within a few seconds.

The clutch pedal feels quite heavy and requires some effort. The engine has immense torque even at low revs and on a level surface the clutch can be let out without depressing the accelerator. The gear lever is strongly spring loaded towards the centre plane and the gear changes are subsequently easy and accurate. Flatten the accelerator in 2nd gear and there is an instant slingshot effect: the rear of the car squats and there is a loud bark from the exhaust and suddenly it is time for third gear as the speedo shows 130km/hr. The engine flywheel is quite light and the engines revs to the redline easily and without effort;this also means the revs can drop quite quickly between gears and some adjustment to driving technique is required.

The brakes feel strong and the braking line is quite straight and sure. Brake fade is not appreciable. The car is probably undertired as wheel spin can be easily induced, particularly between gears, however this can be used with effect to add some enjoyment in the driving experience. Fitting larger tyres at the rear is not really an option due to wheel arch space. The steering is direct, however,over as well as understeer can be induced as the chassis is quite responsive to throttle steering. Backing off the throttle too quickly mid corner can bring the nose in too far, however the overall tendency of the car is to go round corners with remarkable stability.

The noise, as with other Ferraris, is a symphony reflecting superior mechanical engineering. The induction roar all the way to 7700rpm is purposeful and menacing. The accompanying barking exhausts sing a song that could wake those banished to the Underworld.

More luggage space would have been nice but hey! nobody is perfect. Similarly better air conditioning would help during a long hot Australian summer. Servicing and maintence costs are in keeping with the thoroughbred nature of this car.

The 365GT4/bb was the best sportscar of its time. It lead to a change in the way Maranello built its 12cylinder cars for some time and became iconic during the 1970's. It was a car which could be appreciated for its ability to reach 300km/hr as well being a 20th century art form.

A true classic!

Spec sheet for the 365 GT4 BB Boxer

Labels: Ferrari Dealerships