Tag Archives: 512 S

Field Filler – Ferrari 512 S #1006

17 Ferrari 512 S’s and parts for 8 others were built in late 1969 in response to the 25 917’s Porsche had built in early 1969 in order to be allowed to race in the World Sports Car Championship which allowed up to 5 litre / 305 cui engines. These rules were introduced so that a few old Ford GT 40’s could continue racing, it was never imagined that Porsche and then Ferrari would build 25 cars each to take part in the series which was intended to be for new 3 litre / 183 cui cars like the Ferrari 312P and Porsche 908.

Unlike Porsche who planned on using private works supported teams to run and develop the 917’s on it’s behalf, Ferrari planned on using a single works team to build and develop the 512 S, supplying the rest of the 512 S models to private entrants to whom Ferrari gave little by way of support effectively treating it’s privateer teams as little more than field fillers.

Ferrari 512 S, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ferrari had to sell his road car operation to FIAT in order finance the production to the 512 S model, and as it turned out Porsche’s private partners had snapped up most of the best drivers.

Nonetheless Ferrari took the fight to Porsche with a single championship victory at the 1970 Sebring 12 hours courtesy of Mario Andretti, Nino Vaccarella and Ignazio Guinti driving a 512 S who beat Peter Revson and actor Steve McQueen in their Porsche 908 after Mario famously drove the last 90 mins of the race and chased down an exhausted Peter Revson in what Mario once described as the race of his life.

For most of the rest of the 1970 season the Ferrari 512 S was out classed every where, except at the non championship race run at Kyalami in South Africa, by the Porsche 917’s, particularly those of the JW Automotive team. Ferrari had difficulty selling all of it’s 512 S models, where as Porsche had to build a second run of 25 917’s to meet demand.

Ferrari 512 S, Goodwood Festival of Speed

This 512 S spyder, chassis #1006, was developed in order to save 25 kgs by the factory and sold to Luigi Chinetti’s N.A.R.T. team. Ronnie Buchnum and Tony Adamowicz drove it into second place at the 1971 24 hours of Daytona.

#1006 had to have both front and rear bodywork replaced during the course of the race, the body work is as it appeared on #1006 when it started the 1971 Daytona 24 hours with aerodynamic lips on the nose, which were not on the second nose fitted when it finished the race.

Thanks for joining me on this “Field Filler” edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a one off Formula One Lotus that never raced. Don’t forget to come back now.

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2011 GALPOT Review #5 – Ferrari

The last of my 2011 reviews covers a few more personal firsts and highlights from my Ferrari Friday blogs that I started thanks to a suggestion from Mike also known as Junior Cracker.

Ferrari 375 Pininfarina America

With special thanks to the much missed Ed Arnaudin and his son Steve who scanned all of his Dad’s racing slides for me. Eds photo’s have provided a fascinating glimpse of a by gone era of the sport and many interesting stories not least the one behind the Ferrari 375 Pininfarina America seen at Bridgehampton in 1957.

Ferrari 550 Maranello, Prodrive Museum

During my visit to the Prodrive factory we were invited to sit in some of the exhibits in the museum and so it was that I came to sit in a Ferrari for the first time, this was not just any old Ferrari either but a 550 Maranello chassis #ZFFZR49B000108462 which was driven to a GTS class winning 10th place over all finish at Le Mans by Tomáš Enge / Jamie Davies / Peter Kox the experience was a mixture of agony and extacy the seat was made for a 12 year old but the feeling of purposefulness was overwhelming. My thanks to everybody at Prodrive who made my visit such a memorable one.

Ferrari GTO, Bristol IAMF

The Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival, which is held every April, brought an overwhelming number of Ferrari’s to town to mark
Ferrari’s sixtieth anniversary, the Ferrari that stood out above all the others, being the first time I had seen an example of this type, was one of the 272 twin turbo Ferrari (288) GTO’s.

Ferrari 312 B3, Goodwood FoS

Goodwood Festival of Speed has a habit of bringing out top quality Ferrari’s every year, this year two really grabbed me. Above the Ferrari 312 B3 possibly the very first Ferrari I ever saw on the race track driven by Niki Lauda at Brands Hatch in 1974.

Ferrari 312 P, Goodwood FoS

The second Ferrari that really grabbed me at the Festival of Speed was this 1973 312 P which I have never seen in action but remember reading about back in my school days.

Ferrari 246, Goodwood Revival

In September at the Goodwood Revival I came across the last front engined car ever to win a Grand Prix. The Ferrari 246 #0007 was driven to victory in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix by Phil Hill. That same #12 car is seen here with Tony Smith at the wheel.

Ferrari 512, HR Owen

Finally I have seen several Ferrari 512 M’s this year but while on a recent visit to London I stumbled across this older 1970 Ferrari 512 S with a shorter tail in the ‘Atelier’ of HR Owen at The Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge. This car is chassis #0126 which after coming third in the 1970 Daytona 24 hours with Andretti/Merzario and Ickx sharing the driving famously beat Peter Revson and Steve McQueen in the Sebring 12 hours when Andretti joined Nino Vaccarella and Ignazio Giunti in chasing down the Solar Porsche 908. #1026 was driven to 4th place finishes at Monza and Spa. After retiring from ‘Le Mans’ in 1970 it was used in the Steve McQueen film of the same name. During filming Derek Bell was sitting in the car prior to a take when it appears to have burst into flames, Derek escaped with minor burns but the car was destroyed. In 1978 Nick Mason (remember him ?), acquired the wreckage and had it ‘recreated’ with the open top spyder bodywork with which the car can be seen here.

I’d like to thank greyboxer, for picking up some spelling mistakes, jtremlett, and DAYTONASME at Ferrari Chat for confirming the identity of #1026.

There are many events and vehicles I have overlooked this past week, but I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed photographs, stories and helped the identities of so many storied vehicles which have made GALPOT the success that it has become.

Special thanks particularly to everyone at Ferrari Chat who helped me identify and uncover the stories behind the vehicles featured on GALPOT Ferrari Friday blogs.

Thanks for joining my on this Ferrari Friday review edition, I hope you will join me again tomorrow, Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Don’t forget …

Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz

Automobiliart, Paul Chenard

December 26th – January 2nd

Win a set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards

Sports-GT cars set, Paul Chenard

Set 1 Sports & GT Cars

Phil Hill, Sharknose Ferrari Set, Paul Chenard

Set 2 Phil Hill World Drivers Championship 50th Anniversary Edition

1934 GP Season Card set, Paul Chenard

Set 3 1934 Season

1950s Grand Prix Engines

Set 4 Grand Prix Engines of the 1950’s

or

Mike Hawtorns racecars Card set, Paul Chenard

Set 5 Mike Hawthorn’s Race Cars

The Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will comprise 8 categories.

Overall winner chooses one set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards from the five sets shown above.

The cards measure 15.24cm x 11.43cm, come in packs of 12 with 3 copies of 4 designs in each set, plus A6 envelopes.

Which set will you choose ?

The free to enter Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will run from December 26th – January 2nd Entries close January 8th 2012, Winner announced January 16th 2012.

Full details on December 26th at GALPOT.

Looking for Automotive Seasonal Gift Idea’s? Visit Automobiliart Now !

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