1980 Ferrari 512 BB/LM

The only concern of the Porsche drivers was that they stay well clear of the 512s. The handling of the three overweight Ferraris was as diabolical as anything that had ever emerged from Maranello

Ferrari’s opposed 12-cylinder Formula One technology worked its way into the production lineup in 1971 with the introduction of the 365 Berlinetta Boxer. A super high performance mid-engined berlinetta for Ferrari’s most performance-oriented clients, production of the 365 GT4/BB began in 1974. Ferrari made no attempt, however, to develop a GT racing version of the Boxer.

Thus, in 1976 there were no Ferraris on the starting grid for the 24 hours of Le Mans for the first time since the Sarthe classic resumed after World War II. Several clients picked up where Ferrari left off, developing GT versions of the 365 GT4/BB. In 1977 one won its class at Le Mans, entered by Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team. The 365’s days were numbered, however, by the introduction of the five-liter 512 BB.

The Ferrari factory recognized the market for IMSA class racing cars and began to develop a race-prepared, but still largely stock version of the 512...