One of just 16 third-series 512 BB/LMs constructed by Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti division, chassis 35529 was originally purchased by Rome-based Mineral Water magnate Fabrizio Violati in January 1981. Violati’s association with Ferrari stretched back as far as 1965—with his acquisition of the ex-Jo Schlesser 250 GTO—and over the ensuing three decades he would form arguably the finest collection of roadgoing and competition Ferraris anywhere in the world.

Following delivery to Violati’s Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto concern, the race preparation of 35529 was undertaken in conjunction with former Maserati, Scuderia Centro-Sud, and Ferrari mechanic Giulio Borsari, and legendary aeronautical engineer Armando Palanca. A veteran of Fiat’s Schneider Trophy campaigns of the 1930s, the latter was tasked with improving chassis 35529’s aerodynamic efficiency. His resulting design, the sketches and notes for which accompany the car, exhibited both a longer nose and a lower rear “clip” than other BB/LMs, so much so that it was dubbed the “512 BBB”—Berlinetta Bialbero Bellancauto.

Resplendent in its all-red livery, chassis 35529 made its race debut in the 1981 Monza 1000 km, in which it was driven by former Alfa Romeo Works driver Spartaco Dini, Mauricio Flammini, and Violati himself. Ranged against the likes of Derek Bell, Riccardo Patrese, Eddie Cheever and Guy Edwards, the trio qualified 16th; eventually finishing 15th overall and 1st in the GTX class.

The car’s next outing was on the biggest of all sportscar stages: Le Mans. The 1981 edition of the famous 24-hour race included a nine-car GTX class contingent—including four other 512 BBLMs—yet Violati, Flammini, and Duilio Truffo qualified a fine 34th overall, emerging as second-fastest Ferrari. However, such promise proved ill-founded, with the car retiring with electrical issues after 15 hours. Just two weeks later, chassis 35529 was entered in the 6 Hours of Pergusa in Sicily where, aided by a somewhat lacklustre entry, Violati and Truffo finished a creditable 5th overall and 1st in GTX.

More than a year passed before the car’s next outing at the Mugello 1000 km in September 1982. As round six of the newly formed World Endurance Championship, the race entry included three Works-entered Lancia LC1s driven by the likes of Patrese, Nannini, and Alboreto, and a Joest-entered Porsche 936C for Henri Pescarolo and Bob Wollek. Despite such stiff opposition, Violati and Truffo put in a stirring drive to finish 10th overall, once again securing GTX class honours.

After a hiatus of three years, Bellancauto returned to Le Mans with chassis 35529 in 1984; its driver lineup consisting of Maurizio Micangeli, Roberto Marazzi and Dominique Lacaud. Sporting sponsorship from Ferrarelle—Violati’s own, appropriately named mineral water brand—the car exhibited a noticeably more contemporary look, although the race once again ended in retirement with transmission failure after just six hours.

On 16 September 1984, Marco Micangeli, Maurizio Micangeli and “Gero” piloted chassis 35529 in its final competitive event, the Imola 1000 Kilometres. As the final European round of that year’s World Endurance Championship, the race boasted some ten Porsche 956s and four Lancia LC2s among its entry, which served to highlight the car’s creeping obsolescence. Despite qualifying a respectable 23rd, chassis 35529 retired from the race with engine failure after 91 laps; an ignominious end to this most valiant and patriotic of racing projects.

Following the conclusion of its racing career, chassis 35529 remained in the custody of Fabrizio Violati until his death in 2010, thereafter passing to his estate prior to its eventual sale in 2014. Throughout this time, it was displayed in the family’s remarkable Maranello Rosso Collection near Rimini, along with some 40 other Ferraris, including a 365 P2/3, 330P, 250 MM, and the fabled 250 GTO.

Boasting an enviably short and well-documented ownership history, chassis 33529 was acquired by the consigning owner in 2021, in whose custody it has benefitted from extensive yet sympathetic recommissioning by Historic race preparation specialists Britec Motorsports of Unna, Germany between 2022 and 2024, at a cost in excess of €150,000. The work completed included a comprehensive chassis strip down and reassembly, bodywork and electrical repairs, an engine “top end” overhaul, and a gearbox rebuild. In addition, the opportunity was taken to renew the car’s clutch, fuel pumps and fuel lines, to overhaul its brake callipers, master cylinders, dampers, and wheel bearings, and to perform extensive crack-testing of the suspension and steering components in readiness for its long overdue return to the racetrack.

Uniquely configured, historically significant and with a compelling association with one of the most discerning of all Ferrari afficionados, chassis 33529 is impeccably presented, and is ideally suited to numerous high profile historic racing events, including the Le Mans Classic, Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and the Peter Auto-organised CER series.