In 1978 Ferrari had begun to develop a racing variant of the 512 BB, a car which had a lot of competitive potential. Ferrari extensively modified four 512s in 1978, termed BB LM by Ferrari. Following a disappointing first attempt at the 1978 Le Mans, the bodywork of the BB LMs was replaced by a new design developed by Pininfarina which was 16 in (41 cm) longer and carried over none of the original styling cues. The pop-up headlights were now replaced by fixed units integrated into the fascia, while the tail was lengthened to the maximum allowed by regulations. The 512 BB LM became a powerful blend of refined Italian engineering and American muscle body styling. Nine of these revised BB LMs were built by Ferrari in 1979.
This 1:8 scale Ferrari 512 BB LM model is of the NART #68 car as raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979 and displays an incredible depth of engineering detail under the opening rear engine cover with an exact replica of the 4.9 litre V12 Ferrari engine. The spartan racing interior is visible through opening doors and displays all the fine details, including the interior wiring and the emergency fire extinguisher.
This fine scale model has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the co-operation and assistance of the manufacturer regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings. The use of original CAD and supremely accurate digital scanning of the original car has allowed us to perfectly recreate every detail at scale. Furthermore, the prototype model has undergone detailed scrutiny by the manufacturer’s engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.