1981 Ferrari 512 BB Targa Conversion

This 1981 Ferrari 512 BB is one of 929 carbureted examples produced between 1976 and 1981, and it was converted to a Targa configuration under prior ownership. The car underwent a refurbishment in 2015 and was acquired by the seller in 2020. A major service in 2023 involved replacing the timing belts, tensioners, water pump, spark plugs, and clutch slave cylinder, while work in 2025 included re-coring the radiator and replacing the clutch. Finished in red and black over tan leather, the car is powered by a 4.9-liter F102B flat-12 linked to a five-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential. Features include a Tubi Style exhaust, center-lock 15″ Cromodora wheels, pop-up headlights, front and rear spoilers, Daytona-style seats, a gated shifter, air conditioning, and a Alpine Bluetooth stereo. This 512 BB shows 37k kilometers (~23k miles) and is now offered in Utah with service records, removed parts, tool kits, manufacturer’s literature, a workshop manual, a die-cast model, and a clean Wyoming title in the seller’s name.

The Berlinetta Boxer model was styled by Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti and was introduced at the 1971 Turin Auto Show. Aluminum is incorporated for the front and rear clamshells and door panels, while the lower panels are fiberglass. The cars were not officially offered in the US, though some were imported and federalized in-period via the gray market.

This example was converted to a Targa top configuration under prior ownership, reportedly by the R. Straman Company in Costa Mesa, California. The conversion included installation of vented panels behind the doors and reinforcement of the tubular chassis to accommodate the removal of the roof. It was repainted in red and black during the refurbishment by Miller Motor Cars of Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2015, and XPEL paint protection film was applied to the entire body in 2022. The front hood struts were replaced in 2021.

The powder-coated center-lock 15″ Cromodora wheels are secured with replacement knock-offs and mounted with Michelin tires. The brakes were refreshed during the refurbishment and the brake fluid was flushed in June 2025.

The Daytona-style seats, dashboard, and door panels were reupholstered in leather in 2017, and the carpets were replaced at that time. Amenities include a gated dogleg shifter, air conditioning, an Alpine stereo with Bluetooth, and power windows. The window motors were repaired and the air conditioning was recharged with R12 refrigerant in 2023.

The three-spoke Nardi steering wheel fronts Veglia instrumentation that includes a 320-km/h speedometer and a tachometer with a 7k-rpm redline as well as auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 37k kilometers (~23k miles), approximately 4k of which were added under current ownership.

The 4.9-liter F102B flat-12 features aluminum construction, dual overhead camshafts per bank, dry-sump lubrication, and quad triple-barrel Weber carburetors from the factory. A Tubi Style exhaust and velocity stacks were installed under current ownership. The thermostat and housing were replaced in 2021. A timing-belt service was performed by Ferrari of Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2023, at which time the water pump and spark plugs were replaced and the carburetors were re-jetted. The radiator was re-cored and the oil was changed in 2025.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential. The clutch slave cylinder and CV boots were replaced in 2023. The flywheel was resurfaced and the clutch was replaced in 2025.