1984 Ferrari 512 BBi

In 2008, Tony Shooshani visited Arizona-based collector and former FCA Desert Chapter director Steve Mraovic to discuss possibly buying a 308 GTS, and he ended up also buying a 512 BBi. Mr. Shooshani had always admired the flat-12 Ferrari racecars of the early 1970s and the line of road cars they inspired, from the Berlinetta Boxers of the 1970s to the Testarossas that followed a decade later. But what made this particular Boxer so special, in addition to its low mileage, was the fact that it had originally been owned by racing legend A.J. Foyt, the four-time Indy 500 champion who also won Le Mans and the Daytona 500, among numerous other victories.

Originally retailed to Foyt by Shelton Ferrari, the car was imported to the US in October 1984, as stated in a letter from the Department of Transportation. In August 1992, Mr. Foyt sold a number of his vehicles at an auction held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including his prized Berlinetta Boxer.

The car then had a series of caretakers, and after Mr. Shooshani eventually purchased the 512 BBi in 2008, he commissioned Steve Tillack and FastCars, Ltd. to completely refurbish it. The comprehensive two-year process included a thorough mechanical freshening and a cosmetic restoration in the original color scheme of Grigio Metallizato paint over a burgundy leather interior with black piping.

Following the restoration, Tony Shooshani met A.J. Foyt at the Long Beach Grand Prix and asked him to sign the car’s dashboard and manuals, a request the Indy champion gladly obliged. The two men shared lunch together and, as Mr. Shooshani recalls, Foyt amusingly recounted how he couldn’t figure out how to exit the BBi the first time he drove it home because he couldn’t find the door release, which is under the armrest.

In April 2015, the BBi won a platinum award at the FCA’s Concorso Ferrari in Pasadena, California, affirming its outstanding state of authenticity. Currently displaying approximately 28,000 miles, which are believed to be original, this beautiful berlinetta features desirable factory equipment such as a Ferrari-branded Pioneer stereo system and separate multi-band equalizer unit. It is also equipped with rare and correct Michelin TRX tires, which feature unusual metric sizing. Accompanied by a complete tool kit and the Foyt-signed owner’s manual in the proper embroidered pouch, this unique and modestly driven Berlinetta Boxer would make an exciting addition to any collection.