Description

The Ferrari 512 BB LM Silhouette was a unique development within the Berlinetta Boxer lineage, created to push Ferrari’s mid-engined flat-12 platform into endurance racing. Unlike the road-going 512 BB and its lightly modified competition versions, the Silhouette variant represented a far more radical interpretation, heavily reworked for motorsport purposes and intended to compete against the growing might of Porsche in long-distance events such as Le Mans.

The standard 512 BB had been adapted for racing early on, but Ferrari and privateers realized that deeper modifications were needed to make the car competitive. The Silhouette name reflected the fact that, while based on the road car’s architecture, the bodywork was dramatically altered. Its design was developed with aerodynamics in mind, featuring wide, flared wheel arches, a prominent front splitter, and a massive rear wing. These changes gave it a purposeful, aggressive stance, aligning more closely with Group 5 “Silhouette” regulations that allowed major modifications as long as the car retained the recognizable outline of the production model.

Under the rear deck, the 5.0-litre flat-12 engine was tuned for endurance racing, producing around 480 to 500 horsepower, with revised cooling systems and exhaust layouts to withstand long hours at high speed. The chassis was reinforced, suspension reworked, and weight reduced compared to the road car. Combined, these modifications made the Silhouette a far more serious competitor than earlier BB-based race efforts.

The car made its mark in the late 1970s and early 1980s, particularly in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where privateer teams fielded Silhouette-spec 512 BB LMs against Porsche 935s and other Group 5 machinery. While it never achieved overall victory due to stiff competition and reliability issues, the car demonstrated Ferrari’s determination to remain relevant in international endurance racing, and it served as a bridge between the traditional GT racers of the past and the more advanced prototypes that followed.

Today, the 512 BB LM Silhouette is remembered as one of the most dramatic and visually striking racing Ferraris of its era. Its wide, aggressive stance and race-bred engineering captured the raw spirit of Group 5 racing. Surviving examples are rare and highly sought after, celebrated not only for their historical importance but also for their wild, uncompromising character.

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