"This 512 BB number 88 did not finish the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans due to a breakdown after two hundred and fifty-one laps. That year it was Renault Alpine that won the victory."

Flight 512 for Children

"Inanimate objects, do you then have a soul that attaches itself to our soul and to the power to love...?" This famous phrase by Lamartine is the preamble to the story that Marc Ouayoun now tells us at the head of Peter Auto.

After living abroad for several years with very few belongings, I discovered how insignificant most of the objects around us can ultimately be. Stored in boxes, out of sight, they disappear and slowly sink into oblivion. Most of these abandoned objects will never be missed. Yet, some of them are exceptions. They have a soul, that much is clear, associated with a symbolic moment, an expression of a feeling, or simply everyday companions like the car that transported us for years, or the hiking stick marked by countless miles of walking, or the toy worn smooth by so many sessions where imagination reigns supreme… 

The soul of objects is but a reflection, that of the course of our lives, our joys, our sorrows, our emotions and our dreams. 

My passion for cars has been with me since childhood. From the Majorette toys that bulged in my pockets at age 5 to the Bburago models that filled my bookshelves at 13, I've always loved toy cars. While most of my miniatures ended up in boxes or the trash, some have never left my side. This was the case with this 1/43 ^scale model. Why? Precisely because it had a soul and was unique: an extraordinary Ferrari 512 BB.  I had always admired that perfect Pininfarina design, which evoked both power and finesse. I dreamed of the 512 BB IMSA racing version entered by Charles Pozzi in the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans. I wanted one of my own, but I didn't have enough pocket money to buy the 1/43 ^scale model kit. No matter, I decided to build it myself. I bought a Bburago road-going Ferrari BB 512 for 15 francs, a set of resin Ferrari wheels, and a decal set of the famous Thomson livery. I then masked the bodywork with masking tape to paint the white parts and got to work. A few hours later, I had my "512 BB IMSA Le Mans #88," one of only two entered that year, driven by Jean-Claude Andruet and Spartaco Dini. I knew she'd given up, but I didn't care! She was magnificent and she was going to have pride of place on my shelf. Since then, she's never left my side and has even accompanied me to Canada. Seeing her, even fleetingly, reminds me that you have to believe in your dreams and live your passions. 

My recent decision to take over as Director of Peter Auto is a perfect example of this. In fact, just a few weeks after assuming my role, I visited a collector who owns the 512 BB #89, the twin of my miniature car driven by Claude Ballot-Léna and Jean-Louis Lafosse. What a thrill to see it in person! I stood for several minutes in front of the car… it was superb, in incredible original condition. Ultimately, my miniature seems to have suffered much more from the ravages of time, bearing the marks of all those years, as if it had covered, while stationary, more kilometers than its full-size counterpart at the 24 Hours of Le Mans… 

So, some objects do have a soul, and if they could speak, they would tell beautiful, long stories. I'm counting on my little Ferrari BB 512 to remain the witness to my wonderful automotive adventures.

Marc Ouayoun for MyLittleRedCar

Bonus:

" Marc Ouayoun began his professional career at Mercedes before moving to Porsche and then working at Audi. A Volkswagen and a BMW were definitely missing from this story!

Back issues of AutoHeroes are still available: AutoHeroes Newsstand