250P 0812 Le Mans 1963 Fire Photo Sequence

Following the 250P thread, here is everything that I have of vintage photos of 0812 that caught fire during the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Please note that these images are copyrighted, are used here solely for non-commercial display purposes and are NOT up for grabs!

1) Shows 0812 during the race.
Photo credit: Geoffrey Goddard

2) 0812 right after it caught fire, photographers and marshals running towards the scene of the accident.
Photo credit: Ventoux

3) The first marshals have arrived, as have the photographers. No real action is being taken yet.
Photo credit: Ventoux

4) First attempts at extinguishing the fire are being made while (I believe) the SF team Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 has arrived at the scene.
Photo Credit: Ventoux

5) Close up of the above mentioned 250 GTE. Making an extreme enlargement of the photo, it appears to be registered in France with the license number ending on 75 indicating that it was registered in "Central Paris". The rest of the license can not be read due to the smoke. If I remember it well, I have seen pictures of a dark blue (?) 250 GTE parked near the exit of the pit lane at Le Mans. That is probably the same car. Does anybody know which S/N it is and to whom it belonged? Was it indeed a team car? Where is it now? (Hopefully NOT a GTO recreation!) Who's the guy fiddling with the trunk lid?
Photo credit: Ventoux

6) The crowds flocking around the smothering wreckage. Looks like winter!
Photo credit: Ventoux

7) 0812 later on in the race, abandoned and the track cleaned from debris.
Photo credit: Yves Debraine

ENJOY!
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Very interesting. Thank you for sharing

 

FABULOUS photos, thanks a lot! Vintage photos are like gold to me.

 

Hi Jack,
Thanks for posting the photos. What a great sequence.
I think that you will find that the 250GTE was that years Le Mans Course car. Hence the French (not Italian) registration and also it's positioning during the race at the end of the pit lane. Also, no race organiser would allow a non-competing team car on the track whilst a race was still in progress.
Nathan

 

Thanks Nathan.

I admire the good taste of the ACO... ;-)

Would you happen to know if the car still exists?

For me that would be THE 250 GTE to own...

 

Here are two pix from my collection, copyright Marcel Massini.
Chinetti published a brochure/leaflet about the 250 P Coupé by Bob Peak, see below.
Marcel Massini
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nice pics very big moment in LM 63,
pilotes was Willy Mairesse / John Surtees but who did the accident?

What happened after the course the car was sold or put somewhere before
someone find the car for a second life? many owners? french?

the car is rebuilded in is original condition or is keept a new body Chinetti by Michelotti?

Merci Marcel pour les photos j adore.

 

The thread about "250 P" answers your questions.
Marcel Massini

 

a problem Marcel?

 

Here's another shot taken at Le Mans 1963.
This photo is copyrighted, and used here solely for non-commercial display purposes and is NOT up for grabs! Photographer is Peo Eriksson.
Marcel Massini
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Do I see hints of the 206 / 246 / 308 nose in that design?

 

...and is the Marshalls Car in the forst set of photos a 250 GTE ? Looks like it.

 

Lots of damage,but certainly did not burn to the ground as one thread suggested. Very restorable! Pictures tell a thousand words.

 

4) First attempts at extinguishing the fire are being made while (I believe) the SF team Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 has arrived at the scene.
Photo Credit: Ventoux

5) Close up of the above mentioned 250 GTE. Making an extreme enlargement of the photo, it appears to be registered in France with the license number ending on 75 indicating that it was registered in "Central Paris". The rest of the license can not be read due to the smoke. If I remember it well, I have seen pictures of a dark blue (?) 250 GTE parked near the exit of the pit lane at Le Mans. That is probably the same car. Does anybody know which S/N it is and to whom it belonged? Was it indeed a team car? Where is it now? (Hopefully NOT a GTO recreation!) Who's the guy fiddling with the trunk lid?
Photo credit: Ventoux