The Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (Berlinetta Boxer) was built from 1973 to 1976 as the direct successor to the front-engine 365 GTB/4 Daytona. It marked a historic shift for Maranello as Ferrari’s first road-going, 12-cylinder mid-engine supercar, designed to answer the mid-engine challenge set by the Lamborghini Miura and Countach.
The “Boxer” Misnomer Despite the “BB” designation standing for Berlinetta Boxer, the engine was technically not a true boxer. It was a 180° flat-12 derived from Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing engines (like the 312B). Opposing pistons shared a crankpin rather than moving in true boxer opposition.
Design & Styling
- Styling: Penned by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti.
- Visual Identifiers: Distinguished by its sharp wedge shape, pop-up headlights, and signature triple tail lights and triple exhaust pipes on each side (later reduced to twin setups on the successor 512 BB).
- Two-Tone Scheme: Most models featured a satin black lower body finish (“Boxer trim”) contrasting with the primary body color.
Engine & Performance
- Engine: 4.4-liter (4,390 cc) mid-mounted Flat-12 fed by four triple-choke Weber carburetors.
- Power Output: 380 horsepower at 7,700 rpm and 302 lb-ft of torque.
- Drivetrain: 5-speed manual transaxle mounted directly beneath the engine to maintain a compact engine bay.
- Performance: 0–60 mph in ~5.4 seconds with a top speed near 175 mph (280 km/h).
Production & Rarity
The Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (Berlinetta Boxer) was built from 1973 to 1976 as the direct successor to the front-engine 365 GTB/4 Daytona. It marked a historic shift for Maranello as Ferrari’s first road-going, 12-cylinder mid-engine supercar, designed to answer the mid-engine challenge set by the Lamborghini Miura and Countach.
The “Boxer” Misnomer Despite the “BB” designation standing for Berlinetta Boxer, the engine was technically not a true boxer. It was a 180° flat-12 derived from Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing engines (like the 312B). Opposing pistons shared a crankpin rather than moving in true boxer opposition.
Design & Styling
- Styling: Penned by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti.
- Visual Identifiers: Distinguished by its sharp wedge shape, pop-up headlights, and signature triple tail lights and triple exhaust pipes on each side (later reduced to twin setups on the successor 512 BB).
- Two-Tone Scheme: Most models featured a satin black lower body finish (“Boxer trim”) contrasting with the primary body color.
Engine & Performance
- Engine: 4.4-liter (4,390 cc) mid-mounted Flat-12 fed by four triple-choke Weber carburetors.
- Power Output: 380 horsepower at 7,700 rpm and 302 lb-ft of torque.
- Drivetrain: 5-speed manual transaxle mounted directly beneath the engine to maintain a compact engine bay.
- Performance: 0–60 mph in ~5.4 seconds with a top speed near 175 mph (280 km/h).
Production & Rarity
- Total Units: Only 387 examples were produced before it was replaced by the larger-displacement 512 BB in 1976.
- Rarest Boxer: Due to its low production numbers, free-revving 4.4L engine, and distinctive 6-tailpipe rear layout, the 365 GT4 BB is considered the purest and most collectible of the Berlinetta Boxer series.
