This Ferrari 512S, chassis #1016, may not have enjoyed the most successful of racing careers, but still proved a popular draw at the 2013 Retromobile showcase in Paris this February.
In Grand Prix’s illustrious history, Scuderia Filipinetti is unlikely to yield more than a footnote. During the early 1960s, the Swiss outfit made a combined total of seven Formula 1 starts, their best finish coming first time out at the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix. Using year-old Lotus 21s, Lotus 24s and a Porsche 718, Filipinetti could only watch as fellow Lotus drivers Graham Hill and Jim Clark stormed to the 1962 and 1963 World Champions respectively.
What is perhaps of greater interest though is the calibre of drivers that raced for the privately run Scuderia Filipinetti during an era when mixing motorsort dsiciplines was par for the course. As well as Jo Siffert (who drove on the team’s Belgian debut), Phil Hill, Ronnie Petersen, Jo Bonnier and even Clark himself all competed in sportscars for Filipinetti.
A total of 25 512s hit the circuit, powered by a pretty handy 6.0-litre V12 (a follow-up to the original 5.0-litre V12 package from which the model derived its name). The only slight problem was suspension and gearbox frailities, overheating issues, the fact that the 512S was a tad on the lardy side, and the dominance of the Porsche 917 that speaks for itself.
This particular 512 S – chassis #1016 – was piloted to a non-finish by two-time Targa Florio winner Herbert Müller and two-time F1 podium finisher Mike Parkes, who would seal his own place in Le Mans history by crashing into the SpA Ferrari SEFAC-run run 512 S of Derek Bell (who, in all fairness, was pointing the wrong way after a spin in slippery conditions) and finishing his time at La Sarthe on-fire.
Only two of the eleven 512 S racers entered finished the 1970 Le Mans race (including endurance legend Jacky Ickx and teammate Peter Schetty) failed to finish. Even despite taking victory at the 1970 Sebring 12 hours with Mario Andretti (and chassis #1026), a spate of straight-line speed issues at Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps and Monza led to the longtail 512M being brought in as a replacement in 1971. The 512S was out in the cold.
Some 33 years after its fiery appearance at La Sarthe, chassis #1016 is still wowing the French crowds, most recently at the 2013 Retromobile, a French classic car show that annually showcases over 500 models and which just celebrated its 38th running this February. It might have been three decades late, but the 512 S finally had its moment in the spotlight.
– Shots courtesy of Alexandre Besancon and Laurent Chauveau. Our thanks to BTWL Photography
