You see, there’s rare, and then there’s the 1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM Group 5 Competition Berlinetta. This car in specific is VIN number 26685 and it’s the 3rd of only 9 BB/LM’s ever built for the 1979 model year, which is out of a total of 25 examples built by Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti department from 1979 until 1982. This car is painted with a grey/red Pozzi Jean Fougerol-designed ‘clouds’ exterior livery over a stripped out black interior with one singular racing seat. In 1978, a total of 3 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione cars and prepared for the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, sometimes referred to as ‘Series 1’ examples, followed by 9 ‘Series 2’ BB/LM cars in 1979, and finally 16 additional ‘Series 3’ BB/LM cars from 1980 until 1982, with each series being different from the last. The Pininfarina-designed BB/LM was a continuation of the 512 BB, and the project was spearheaded by engineers Giuseppe Girotti and Gaetano Florini. This specific example, chassis 26685 was entered into the 1979 Daytona 24 Hours as it’s competition debut by French Ferrari concessionaire Charles Pozzi, and with French drivers Claude Ballot-Léna & Michel Leclère as the assigned drivers, the car came out with a 54th place result. Following this, 26685 made an appearance at the 24-Hours of Le Mans 1979, and the 3rd and final race outing took place during the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans, operated by drivers Lucien Guitteny and Gérard Bleynie. The BB/LM’s were improved over time and later wound up with a class victory in 1981 at Le Mans. The BB/LM’s were retired in 1984 due to failure to meet new regulations. This BB/LM was sent to Pininfarina to be dressed with aerodynamically advanced bodywork which derived from the 16 ‘Series 3’ BB/LM cars. Current day, this example sits comfortably in the hands of @girardoandco!
How many made? Just 25. This is car number 3 of 9 total ‘Series 2’ BB/LMs•Engine: a 480bhp, 5.0L Mid-rear mounted horizontally opposed 12-cylinder
Debut: The BB/LM model has its racing debut on 4/2/1979 at the 24 Hours of Daytona
Top speed: approximately 198mph (320km/h)
0-60mph: Unknown
Photo credit: @alexandre_v1
Research: @rarecarsonly