Ferrari 512 SS refers to the 25 sports cars built between 1969-1970 with five-liter (12-cylinder) engines. It is related to the Ferrari P sporting prototypes. V12-powered vehicles were entered in the 1970 International Championship for Makes by Scuderia Ferrari, private teams, and the factory.
Later that year, modified versions of their main competitor, the Porsche 917, were named Ferrari512M for modification. The Ferrari 312 PB dominated the 1971 International Championship for Makes. Pirates were allowed to enter the 512. Following a change in the regulations, the 512 (now the 917) was pulled from the world championship. Private owners entered 512s in Interseries races and CanAm races.
Ferrari 512 Special Editions
Twenty-five examples of 512 needed to be built to comply with homologation regulations. The Modification modified several 512 cars in 1970. Five original vehicles were transformed into Spyder bodies.
- The Ferrari 512 has been a motorsport icon for its striking looks, stunning top speed (over 200 mph), and epic battle against Porsche 917.
- This epic battle was immortalized by Steve McQueen’s film Le Mans.
- One of the most famous cars is the 512. There are many 512s left today.
- Some of these cars are privately owned. Interestingly, Ferrari sold several 512 cars early in their racing career to private individuals who raced them alongside Ferrari works vehicles.
A new Ferrari first public performance
The press conference of November 1969 saw the first public performance of the 512 S. The chassis looks similar to P4’s but is semi-monocoque. The engine is a direct derivative of the one found in the Can-Am Series. It now has twin overhead camshafts. There are four valves per engine and Lucas-made fuel injection. The first 512s were able to produce around 550 HP, but they only improved their performance by a year with 620 HP at 9000 RPM.
The 512 S (which was raced in 1970) and its successor, Ferrari 512 M (which was run in 1971), are both iconic Ferrari sports-racing automobiles. Ferarri is still the leader in motorsport and has the best drivers. They have many talented drivers like Clay Ragazzoni and Mario Andretti. Their rivalry with the 917s can be seen as spectacular. The Ferrari is quicker, but the Porsche has more reliability. Who is the winner?
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1980 Ferrari 512 BB Coupe
The Ferrari 512 Boxer takes home an essential award for being the best all-around sports/GT car we’ve ever tested. The Boxer has all the qualities: speed and handling, a beautifully designed cockpit, and a reputation for reliability. Road & Track magazine
Although we might be more sensual with a performance coupe than with a sedan, they aren’t considered cutting-edge or avant-garde. However, this was not always the case. The pioneering mid-engine offerings like Alejandro de Tomaso’s Vallelunga or Colin Chapman’s Lotus Europa and Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Miura, ATS V8, and Colin Chapman’s Lotus Europa were game changers. They introduced street-car race car handling and made show-car styling possible for anyone with the right amount.
It Was Also A Mistake For Pioneers To Be So
They were much smaller than the Miura and had very little power, except that Miura. Their handling was superior to the modern front-engine cars, but they couldn’t drive fully developed automobiles. The pioneers were built with a shoestring budget and didn’t have the finished product of a production car. Performance and sizzle were prioritized over visibility, comfort, reliability, and dependability.
But, what they did not have in finishing was compensated for by the excitement.
Ferrari Reluctant Player
Enzo Ferrari was known for not being able to adapt to new technologies, so it was not surprising that he was late for the mid-engine sports-car race. His distributors, vendors, and others had pressured Enzo Ferrari to pay for the mid-engine charge. However, he wasn’t quick to act.
Ferrari understood that Ferrari would rather have a severe car than a toy. It would have to be well-engineered and of high quality.
It Had To Have A Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari looked at the pioneers’ work, reimagined it, and made it into a better product. Ferrari came up with the Dino, which combines race-car styling and Formula 2 horsepower. Ferrari 512 brilliant insight made the Dino an immediate success. It is a well-loved model that has survived without any inherent problems. The Dino follow-up would reaffirm Ferrari’s position in the performance-car market. Ferrari would have to reconsider what a Ferrari GT is — and should be.
Also read: Who Designed the Ferrari 412?
Frequently Ask Questions
What Does A Ferrari 512 Cost You?
The average Ferrari 512TR price is 239,362.
How Much Is A Ferrari 512 BB Valued?
$249,500. Gullwing Mopeds, Inc.
What Is The Difference Between Testarossa And Testarossa?
The Testarossa ferrari 512 TR was the direct successor. It had an updated 4.9-liter F-12 motor that produced 428 horsepower. The front and rear bumpers of the 512TR were slightly modified, and larger wheels were added to them.
How much is a 250 Testa Rossa Worth?
$40 Million? Tom Hartley, a classic car dealer, sold the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for an estimated $40 million. This makes it the most valuable vehicle ever sold in the public realm.
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