| His Ferrari mechanics checked the car over and made a few frantic alterations, the Brazilian being sent back out only for disaster to strike soon after. Heading down the ultra fast main straight, 0868's rear bodywork came loose and sent the helpless driver backwards into the barriers. Rodriguez did well to escape unscathed from the incident, but 0868 was less fortunate. A good portion of the rear end was damaged and having got it back to the factory, the major components were dismantled. Before long, 0868's frame was being used as the basis of some provisional layout work for the 512 S sports prototype that Ferrari were developing for 1970. The damaged rear-end was rebuilt in a 512 S style and fitted with an empty 612 Can Am block, this 312-512 combination rolling chassis (re-numbered 002) being given to Pininfarina a couple of months later when its useful life had expired. From their Turin headquarters, Pininfarina crafted a wild Spyder that became known as the 512 S Speciale and with its startling yellow painwork, this car went on to star at the Turin Salon in October. Thankfully, 002 remains in this configuration today, its French owner having resisted the temptation of using it as a basis upon which to recreate 312 P 0868. |
