512S and M Engines - Type 261

Don't have an answer for you, but this might get more response down in the vintage section. Some knowledgeable members in there.....

 

This is interesting . I was surprised to hear there were different types of engines for the 512, M and S.
Originally, 25 Ferrari 512S were produced and displayed to obtain homologation in the Sport category by new FIA rules.
Some 512S were used in 1970 by the Scuderia, other were sold to clients, private teams, importers, etc ... and some were unsold.

As far as I know, the 1971 512M were just 512S from the original production, rebodied with a new aero kit.
I wasn't aware they also received different engines. No 512M was entered by the factory in 1971.
As the Sport category became redundant from 1972, some 512 unsold cars were cannibalised and their chassis turned into Group 7 to race in CanAm with larger engines.

 

Mark Donahue gets into it a bit in the"unfair Advantage"

 

Been thinking about this and it seems anyone who would have been involved in-period is no longer
with us.

The alternative might be a good book on the subject and it turns out a friend has this 512 M/S
workshop manual. Looks as though the book might contain the information you're looking for.

Check Ferrari Literature or maybe an ad in Ferrari Market Letter would render desired results.

BHW

 

Try the vintage forum. At least one person there owns and races a 512S and I would say a few others might have restored them.

 

They had Traco overhaul their particular car, to great results.

Also to throw into the mix was the 512 "F" raced by Scuderia Filipinetti.

 

Traco only did the engines the car remained in the eastern US and was totally re engineered by Penske and Donohue.

 

Ah yes you're right, sorry, I meant the engine, as that's what the thread was about.

 

Filipinetti's 512 "F" was engineered by Michael Parkes using a 512M body with Porsche 917 windscreen to reduce the frontal area.

 

My dream would be to have a 512M for the street, like Count Rossi had a 917 made.... I have always loved those cars. Bob Rapp let me sit in his car, and drive it from the viewing area to his truck at Road Atlanta in 1997... everyone else was going ga ga over his 333 - but the 512 was THE car!

 

In Atlanta? You'd be crazy to drive it on the street, Tom.

 

Yes, I think it could be quite a challenge to drive a 512M in every day traffic.

 

Never said it made sense, but it would be cool. a few huge Radiator fans and I think it would be ok... you would need a huge fan in the cockpit as it gets really hot in there even with the roof off.

 

Dean Martin's son - Dino Martin had a 330P4 converted for street use - it was bright yellow... fly Yellow. He drove it in LA - Beverly Hills = not a lot cause it was always in the shop, but you have to admit he had the coolest Ferrari around!

 

I used to see a lot of a Ford GT40 in Kensington (London) in the early hours of the morning, when there was not much traffic.
I could never catch its owner to engage in conversation, so I don't know if it was an original one or a "continuation", but it made the right noise and sprinted from junction to junction like a rat up a drain pipe. Sure way to wake up the neighbourhood !

 

The first time I was ever in London, was the summer of 85, and one Sunday morning around 8:30 ish, my dad and I were walking along Kensington High st... and a red 206SP Dino came blasting past... an hour later were heading back to the hotel, and the Dino was parked in front on the street! never got to see who's it was.

 

3 variations....? Maybe 1970, 1971 and endurance versions. Maybe to run at Lemans/Daytona, or maybe Penske/TRACO developed with SF's assistance the sealed version.

 

I was once walking down 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, and a red 308 came around the corner. I don't think driving a Ferrari in Manhattan traffic makes a whole lot of sense.

 

when I used to work in Manhattan in the late 80's you would see a lot of Ferrari's around, but it always seemed to me crazy with all the huge potholes... let alone parking garages. I remember once in late November seeing a 328 on the 59th st. entrance of the Plaza Hotel - door open, running and nobody in there, the door man watching the car.... then a girl in a fur coat and a guy in a long winter coat come out and then get in... all you could see was fur and two heads.... not what I would call a fun day.

 

Well, s/n 1002 participated in the 1971 Tour de France d'Automobile and I photographed s/n 1016 at the Tour Auto in 1998.
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Yes I know, and hopefully they were not too often driving at snail pace in town traffic.
It still rests a challenge to drive a sportscar on the road, and I gather not too enjoyable.