VIN: the works Ferrari 512 S chassis 1012
History of chassis 1012
To qualify for the Group 5 class in 1970, Ferrari had to build 25 examples of their new 512 S. Of these, nine were raced by the works team.
Chassis 1012 was one of the Scuderia Ferrari entries that year.
It debuted at the Sebring 12 Hours where Ferrari introduced the lighter Spyder variant. In addition to weighing 35kg less than the Berlinetta derivatives seen at Daytona, the newly upgraded machines arrived with improved aerodynamics, strengthened chassis and a revised fuel-injection system that yielded an extra 40bhp.
Scuderia Ferrari took a three-car team to Sebring. 1012 was allocated to Jacky Ickx and Peter Schetty who qualified fourth.
At the one hour stage, Ickx was still fourth and the top ten cars were all on same lap.
At mid-distance, 1012 had moved into third behind its sister cars as the Porsche 917s all experienced trouble. However, when a head gasket blew soon after darkness fell, Ickx and Schetty were forced to retire.
Chassis 1012 next appeared at the Brands Hatch 1000km where it was allocated to Chris Amon and Arturo Merzario.
Amon qualified on pole, but after the dry practice sessions, race day dawned grey and wet. Following several hours of rain, the race began in horrible conditions and a spin on the opening lap dropped Amon down the order.
1012 subsequently hovered between third and sixth positions.
The track began to dry in the closing stages and, after a late surge, Amon / Merzario looked set to finish third. However, 1012 began to suffer fuel surge as its fuel pumps were not picking up last few gallons. Amon was forced to make a late stop for gas which dropped the car to fifth at the chequered flag.
Chassis 1012’s final outing came at the Nurburgring 1000km six weeks later. Jacky Ickx was down to drive the car, but a damaged wrist as a result of a fall a few days earlier saw him do a single practice lap and quit. John Surtees would instead be joined by Peter Schetty for the race.
Surtees initially set a time quick enough for joint fourth fastest after which Schetty took the wheel.
Unfortunately, after a sudden shower, Schetty lost control when 1012 aquaplaned on the short straight after the Adenau bridge. The car span at about 120mph, pinballed from one side of the track to the other and then plunged off the road where it ripped through several tress. 1012 came to rest halfway up a stout conifer and was a total wreck.
Miraculously, Schetty emerged unhurt.
The damaged remains were taken back to Maranello. Ferrari salvaged the engine and gearbox but the chassis was beyond repair. It was cut into pieces, discarded and ceased to exist.
Notable History
512 S Spyder
Scuderia Ferrari, Maranello, Italy
21/03/1970 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (J. Ickx / P. Schetty) DNF (#20)
12/04/1970 WSC Brands Hatch 1000km (C. Amon / A. Merzario) 5th oa, 4th S5.0 class (#2)
31/05/1970 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (J. Surtees / P. Schetty / J. Ickx) DNS (#56)
Returned to factory and dismantled
Engine and gearbox recovered
Chassis cut into pieces and destroyed
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
