To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 4 - 5 February 2025.

• One of just 25 Ferrari 512 race cars constructed between 1970 and 1971
• Supplied new to Ecurie Francorchamps in May 1970; the last sports prototype to be raced by the Belgian team
• Upgraded to ‘M’ specifications in 1971, making it just one of 15 in existence
• Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans entrant, placing 5th overall in the 1970 edition
• The only Ferrari 512 supplied new by Ferrari in Giallo
• Fascinating competition history, racing throughout 1970 and 1971 with drivers including Derek Bell and Alain de Cadenet
• Represents the peak of early 1970s Ferrari sports prototype engineering

Please note this car will be removed to storage in The Netherlands after the sale, where onward shipping will need to be arranged from.

Veuillez noter que cette voiture sera entreposée aux Pays-Bas après la vente, d'où il faudra organiser le transport.

When the Group 6 regulations changed in 1968—suddenly requiring engines to be no greater than 3.0 litres in displacement—Enzo Ferrari decided not to compete. By 1969, the requirements had changed again, and a loophole created, which rival marque Porsche took full advantage of with the advent of the 917. Following Fiat’s partial acquisition of Ferrari, its company founder took the influx of much-needed cash and ploughed it into developing a sports prototype that could compete against the Porsche 917 in the 1970 racing season.

Dubbed the 512 S, only 25 cars were built and powered by a brand new 5.0-litre V-12 engine producing 552 horsepower. Ferrari rushed to meet the homologation requirement of 25 cars, presenting 17 complete cars with eight knock-down kits to the homologation authorities in January 1970, just in time to compete at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Chassis 1030 was one of the 17 Ferrari 512 S that would compete in the 1970 endurance racing season. It was sold new in the spring of 1970 to the Belgian Ferrari concessionaire and racing team, Ecurie Francorchamps. The bodywork was painted Giallo, the only 512 to receive this colour (save for chassis 1002, which was painted Lemon Yellow).

Making its debut on 17 May 1970, drivers Derek Bell and Hugues de Fierlant qualified in 7th and finished 8th overall at the 1000 Km of Spa. Their next outing was over the 13 and 14 June for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Alistair Walker and de Fierlant placed an impressive 5th overall and 4th in the 5.0-litre class.

That autumn, chassis 1030 made its bow on the big screen, deployed by Steve McQueen for the filming of Le Mans. It then headed to South Africa for the 9 Hours of Kyalami, where it finished 6th overall and 3rd in class. For the 1971 season, on 10 January, Gustave Gosselin and de Fierlandt entered the 1000 Km of Buenos Aires. Sporting race number “18”, the Belgian duo finished 6th overall and 4th in class. The pair returned to the Americas over 30 and 31 January to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona. They qualified in 11th but during the race they were forced to retire on the 124th lap due to oil pressure issues.

Following Daytona, chassis 1030 returned to Belgium, where it became one of the 15 Ferrari 512s to be upgraded to ‘M’ specifications; the ‘M’ standing for modificata
The next outing on 4 July was far more successful, with de Fierlant claiming outright victory at Zandvoort in the Coupes Benelux. Later that month, de Cadenet and Lothar Motschenbacher raced in the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, placing 4th overall and 3rd in their class. The following day, de Cadenet finished 18th in the Can-Am race.

This marked the end of chassis 1030’s racing days, and the car was acquired by de Cadenet, who in turn sold to British collector Neil Corner that year, who later sold the car to Lord Anthony Bamford in 1972. Lord Bamford entered the 512 M into the MN GT championship that year, with all seven appearances resulting in 1st-place finishes. Since the 1970s, chassis 1030 has been owned by various renowned collectors across the globe, and was acquired by the consignor in 2018, remaining as part of his private collection.

Today, the car sports its 1971 livery and is still painted in the fabulous Francorchamps yellow. It is accompanied by a report from the marque historian Marcel Massini while the car was certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2005, and is accompanied by its "Red Book". It should be noted that chassis 1030 is widely considered one of the finest examples of the Ferrari 512 M, having never suffered a major collision in period. The vehicle is a wonderful example of preservation.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa25/.