In the 1960s Ferrari had developed mid-engined cars with flat twelve cylinder engines for the three major championships which it contested. These were effectively V12s units but with a 180 degree angle between the banks of cylinders, creating a horizontally opposed *or* ''Boxer'' configuration. It was only to be expected, therefore, that Ferrari would incorporate this layout for its ultimate production road car.
At the Turin Motor Salon of 1971 the 365 GT4/Berlinetta Boxer, *or* just plain Boxer for short, was introduced. This dramatic looking coupe was unmistakably the work of master stylist Pininfarina, while its engine was a light alloy casting of 4.4 litres capacity, with double overhead camshafts per bank of cylinders, producing 380bhp at 7,700rpm. The horizontal cylinder layout kept the engine''s height, and therefore weight, low, an important consideration as, for reasons of packaging, it sat above the gearbox. Ferrari claimed a maximum speed of more than 180mph for its new car,