CLASSIC NEWS
Car with short-lived staying power
Lerato Matebese discovered the rare Ferrari 512 S which competed in world endurance racing for just one year
Visiting the hallowed motorsport section of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy is definitely something to behold. There are many Formula One cars dating back to the 1955 D50 racecar. Personally, I am a huge fan of endurance racing so it came as no surprise when I clapped eyes on the very cool but lesser-known — compared to its arch-rival the Porsche 917 — Ferrari 512 S from 1970, which participated in the World Marques Championship race series. It was meant to spawn 25 road-going homologation models in both berlinetta (coupe) and Spyder (open-top) variants. Specification wise, the model was equipped with a light alloy, semi-monocoque frame, while power came from a mid-mounted 5.0l V12 good for 410kW, which it achieved at a dizzying 8,500r/min. The total weight of the two-seater came in at 850kg, giving it an incredible power-to-weight ratio. Its race exploits included participating in the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans where its long tail design helped it to reach a top speed of 3...
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