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| 1970 Ferrari 512M, Dix Mille Tours du Castellet, Paul Ricard 1970. |
For more photos of this era of sports cars at Paul Ricard, click here.
Ferrari, Maranello, Italy. With the initial 512S proving to have rather disappointing reliabilty and results against the Porsche 917, a modified version was produced in late 1970. This was the Ferrari 512M, the M standing for Modificata. The 512M featured a less rounded shape with improved aerodynamics and all had a closed coupé body style. The 512Ms were converted from the 512Ss. These modification first appeared at the 1970 Zeltweg 1000kms on a works car driven by Jacky Ickx and Ignazio Giunti, but it did not finish. In the next race at Kyalami in the 9 hour race, the same car and drivers won but it was not part of the World Championship. For 1971 the Ferrari works team concentrated on the 3 litre prototype 312PB and dd not enter the 512M except in an Interserie race at Imola that it won.. However, the privateers who owned many of the 512Ms continued the fight. Importantly one of these privateers was none other than Roger Penske. He rebuilt the car from bottom up and produced the best 512M that anyone had. However, even that car did not prove a winner and it only achieved a third at Daytona and sixth place at Sebring. The yellow car, pictured, is in the colours of Escuderia Montjuich. That car's greatest achievement was coming an amazing second in the Tour de France. Other privateers did achieve 3rd and 4th places at the Le Mans 24 hours and a few wins in minor non-championship races. Thus, a lovely car but not a 917 beater.
For more about the Ferrari 512S, click here.
