Restoring Ultra-rare Abandoned Ferrari Is a Labor of Love

By S.J. Bryan - January 4, 2021

As 1-of-42 produced, this Ferrari has the pedigree. But after 12 years spent rotting away, is it a lost cause or just a steeper hill to climb?

We’ve always had a special place in our hearts for classic and vintage cars. Seeing older rides on the road is the perfect antidote to the sea of innocuous SUVs that clog the roads. Many buy their older rides already restored. But then there are those brave, clever, and dedicated souls that buy a project car. Scott from Ratarossa is one of those people; and his project is an almost 40-year old Ferrari.

Scott had an opportunity earlier this year to buy a very unique barn find: a 1981 Ferrari BBi. When Scott initially heard that this stunning piece of Italian automotive excellence was just sitting and rotting away, he knew he had to act.

When the 512 BBi (short for Berlinetta Boxer) was released, it featured a flat 12, sleek angles, and classic Ferrari performance. And so much style. The V12 powered 512 BBi came just before the Testarossa, and its influence is very clear.

In 1981, the Prancing Horse automaker made 6,420 models. Of that, 1,007 were produced for U.K, where Scott lives. And only 42 right-hand-drive models were produced. Ever the Italian horse fan, he knew this car was special. He wanted it.

Scott spotted the car in Ireland, and tracked it down. When we say “barn find,” we are being generous. It appears the car was basically abandoned, wasting away outside while growing moss, hosting critters, and falling apart.

But man, it was a diamond in the rough. It still had the original set of Ferrari tools it came with; as well as a white exterior. White was a rare color for the ’80s BBi, and frankly a sharp one. Scott guesses this color might make this a 1-of-1 in Britain. And it only has a little over 6,400 miles on the ticker.

In it’s day, this car was a showstopper. In fact, Scott received a binder with the car’s history. A noted Ferrari specialist once said of the car that “this car was the greatest example BBi in the U.K. at the time…if not the world.”

Less so now.

But after a long journey, the horse is home. Scott now has the car at his garage. He has owned several Ferraris and wrenched many from the ground up. So, if anyone has the skill and passion, it is Scott.

Currently, he has cleaned the car up a little, scrubbed away from the flotsam and jetsam. As he goes along, he is assesses damage, and works on his build plan. Problem #1: the previous owner lost the keys!

Additionally there is rust and moss throughout, especially in the back panel. On the plus side, the interior is pretty clean.

Rebuilding a classic BB1 from the ground up is huge undertaking. But it is certainly on well worth the effort. When competed, Scott will have a car that not only bears a distinct and unique pedigree; it is the result of true automotive spirit and passion. It is an idea we always underwrite: keep those classics on the road.

To follow the progress, you can check out Scott’s YouTube channel or his website Ratarossa.