![]() ![]() The old engine was rebuilt according to the new one but injection being different, they only achieved 600HP peak power on that one while the new one was about 630HP.įinally, the car got back together and the new engine unit was fitted two weeks before the 1971 Daytona 24 Hours and of course, first thing was to go testing. Injection, fuel mixture, oil pressure and timing were beefed up in order to have it better suited to Donohue’s needs and research he had done. Then, they took it to another shop, Champion because it wouldn’t fit on their own dyno and there, they started developing that Italian motor. The new engine was opened and looked at in terms of parts, design and tolerances by Traco. And I’m sure you think, what can a push-rod specialist achieve on an Italian V12 ?! So the new and old 5.0L V12s were sent to Chevy specialist and long time Penske partner, Traco. Mark had thought that as shipping and delivery was so long, it would be better to achieve it here in America. Roger Penske having placed two orders for two 20 000$ Ferrari Daytona, it sort of helped in getting a deal for some extra free parts such as a gearbox.Īnyway, they were back to America and putting the car back together but parts were taking time to get over there, finally they did arrive but the original engine wasn’t sent back for a rebuild as planned. So they had to cut back and only buy the really needed parts. After two days there, they had made their list but well, all in all, they were not used to the Ferrari rates. Roger and Mark flew over to Europe and Modena, Italy in order to meet with the Ferrari factory and buy the needed parts. Then came the need for the team to source the “racing package”, the spare engine, gearbox and all components needed to face the proper racing weekends and drama that could happen there. Again, when they received those two bodywork parts, they thought about how heavy and how badly finished they were and so they decided to make their own moulds and own production in order to have them made stronger but lighter as well as adding their own bit, that particular rear aluminium wing. The front and rear bodywork were the only part of the design sourced from Ferrari directly, the whole central structure, doors, windshield, fuel tank structure, plumbing and wiring had been achieved in house. Having heard of the 512M evolution being on the way for the next season, Roger Penske sent a guy to South Africa in order to get the new thing pictured and back to the shop, they started modifying the car, themselves, in order to put all that together. Injection was weak, oiling and dry-sump system seemed bad as well… More work was to be done and a total overhaul of the car would have to be achieved for 1971. Having ran the car a lot by then, Mark also had a word on the engine, there was peak power but no proper torque, no good to him. Then and after the aerodynamics being tested, the car had a bit more work done on the suspension geometry in order to counter-balance the tremendous amount of front-end lift during acceleration. Then they took it to a local airport in order to test the aerodynamics and get accurate figures on lift, drag, etc…Īll in all, it needed a proper rebalance and setup to correct the chassis and its natural nature to understeer, springs and bars were trialled and changed to do so. ![]() As usual and as a good and talented engineer, Mark Donohue took the car to the skidpad in order to properly evaluate the chassis and nature of the car. So basically and from the decision point, they took delivery of the car at their shops and no, they were not impressed at all by the car or its construction. First, they were not really bothered but after some thoughts, they decided to go for it, the car was provided for free so maybe that helped the decision process, who knows. Once he had bought that particular Ferrari, Kirk approached Roger Penske and asked for his team and Mark Donohue to run and race the car. White was a second-hand Ferrari dealer as said and he thought about making himself a big name in racing as well as a little bit of money if possible. White, a used-Ferrari dealer in Philadelphia. Nothing pretty much exciting as it only did 3 races and was then sold to Kirk F. The car had a little career in that form and was raced by Jim Adams for the Hollywood Sports Cars team in the CanAm Challenge. It’s in my opinion one if not the best 512M and maybe because the Americans sort of masterminded the whole package.Ĭhassis #1040 originally started life as a normal Ferrari 512S back in 1970. Actually, this particular car is somehow special because of Penske and Mark Donohue having been involved in the whole thing. What is so special about that 1971 Ferrari 512M ? The livery maybe or the fact that it sports a funny rear wing like no other one ? Well, it’s a lot more. ![]()
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