UK-supplied, right-hand drive, the very first UK BBiexample, Press Car and Maranello demonstratorBeautifully preserved and superbly presented in its originalcolour combination ofRosso Corsa over Pelle SabbiaIndicating just 17,108 miles (atoc) supported by a detailed history file including period magazine featuresSubject to a Ferrari factory Classiche in Modena and offered with the Red book authenticating this exampleOne of only 42 UK right-hand drivecars with low mileage, greatcolours, authenticated and offered in fine condition, a true collector's carThe streamlined, low and shapely lines of the 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer, and its successor, the carburetted and subsequently injected 512, were to dictate the styling approach at Maranello for years to come. Launched to compete with the Lamborghini Muira and upgraded to compete with its successor, the Countach, the 'BB' was the first production Ferrari to be fitted with the boxer-type 12-cylinder engine derived from the Formula 1 unit of the period. The architecture was not that of the classic front-engined and rather upright, V12 Ferraris of old and it could be argued that the BB was the first 'proper' mid-engined Ferrari, as the entry-level 246 'Dino' never wore the Ferrari badge and had six fewer cylinders.The Boxer's moniker was derived from the fact that the cylinder banks form an angle of 180, resulting in an engine with a flat, rectangular shape which enabled the car's centre of gravity to be lowered. The horizontally opposed pistons were said to resemble a pair of boxers alternating punches and the 'Boxer' nickname was to stick for this engine layout, even when used by other manufacturers. This low centre of gravity enabled the designers to pen the assertive stance that was to be typical of all future Ferraris.The third version of the BB was launched at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1981. The styling was left largely unaltered, but the car now featured an advanced, and far more reliable, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system offering turn-key performance, and was named the 512 BBi, the 'i' of course donating injection. Maranello's investment in mid-engine engineering ensured the BB's stylistic DNA was to be around until production of the Ferrari 328 ended in 1989, some 18 years since the launch of the original Boxer, the 365 BB.This fabulous 512 Boxerentered production just prior to the factoryChristmas break in 1981and was completed just over a month later on Friday 29th January 1982. The car was finished in Rosso Corsa with Pelle Sabbia (sand) coloured hide with 'Zegna'cloth inserts and Castoro (Beaver) coloured carpets. These hard-wearing cloth inserts,designed by notable Italian fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna, wereinserted into the seats and doors and were a very rare option, with only21 cars out of thetotal production of 1,007 512 BBi, featuring them.The carwas transported to the UK and delivered to Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. at Thorpe in Surrey whoregistered it as SPD 657X on the 24th February 1982. This was the first Ferrari 512 BBi registered in the UK and one of only 43 UK right-hand drive BBi to arrive over here so itnaturally generated a lot of interest. Maranello used itas their 'Demonstrator' and Press Car and over the next eighteen months, it proved popular with motoring magazines with multi-page features inMotor, Car, Motorsport and several others. With so few miles covered, it's not surprising that the 'History File' is a little slim, however, there are V5s for subsequent owners as well as the usual service invoices and older MOTs. There was a change of ownership onthe 20th December 1998 at 15,626 miles and at some point after that, the car was 'laid up'. We can glean from the file that it was recommissioned between December 2012 and March 2013 at a cost of 44,800 by a Ferrari Specialist with 16,717 miles indicated and the clutch was replaced at 16,951miles on 16th December 2015.Over the last sixyears, the Boxerhas been stored in a dehumidified garageand onlydriven sparingly on dry days. At the time of cataloguing, the indicated mileage was17,101 miles and, as well as itsservice history, this fabulous Ferrari is in possession of the ultimate accolade, a Modena-issuedClassiche 'Red Book'.