The Ferrari 712 Can-Am was Maranello’s boldest and most powerful response to North America’s unrestricted, high-horsepower Can-Am racing series—a championship dominated by the likes of McLaren and Porsche in the early 1970s.
First introduced in 1970, the 712 Can-Am was a purpose-built prototype, developed from Ferrari’s existing sports prototype architecture but heavily modified to compete against the immense power and speed of its Can-Am rivals. The name "712" derives from its 7-litre, 12-cylinder engine—a monstrous naturally aspirated V12 producing upwards of 680–720 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful engines Ferrari ever built.
The chassis began life as a modified Ferrari 512 S, reworked and strengthened to handle the brutal torque and extreme speeds of Can-Am racing. Unlike Ferrari’s usual European racing focus, the 712 Can-Am was specifically aimed at the North American market, where Ferrari had a strong customer base and loyal privateer teams such as North American Racing Team (NART).
Despite its formidable power and distinctive presence, the 712 Can-Am had only limited success. It competed in a handful of events between 1970 and 1974, often struggling against the turbocharged and ever-evolving machinery fielded by Porsche and McLaren. Still, the car remains an icon for its sheer audacity—a front-line Ferrari built to conquer one of the most extreme racing series ever conceived.
Today, the Ferrari 712 Can-Am stands as a rare and fascinating outlier in Ferrari’s racing history: a big-bore, V12 monster that pushed the brand’s engineering to the limit in pursuit of raw power and North American glory.
Ferrari 712 Can Am Technical Specifications
| ENGINE | ||
| type | rear, longitudinal 60° V12 | |
| bore/stroke | 92 x 86 mm | |
| unitary displacement | 571.69 cc | |
| total displacement | 6860.33 cc | |
| compression ratio | 11,4:1 | |
| maximum power | 500 kW (680 hp) at 7000 rpm | |
| power per litre | 99 hp/l | |
| maximum torque | - | |
| valve actuation | twin overhead camshafts per bank, four valves per cylinder | |
| fuel feed | Lucas indirect injection | |
| ignition | twin spark plugs per cylinder, two coils | |
| lubrication | dry sump | |
| clutch | multi-plate | |
| CHASSIS | ||
| frame | tubular steel with riveted aluminium panels | |
| front suspension | independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | |
| rear suspension | independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | |
| brakes | discs | |
| transmission | 4-speed + reverse | |
| steering | rack-and-pinion | |
| fuel tank | capacity 270 litres | |
| front tyres | 4.90-13.90-15 | |
| rear tyres | 6.00-15.50-15 | |
| BODYWORK | ||
| type | two-seater spider | |
| length | - | |
| width | - | |
| height | - | |
| wheelbase | 2400 mm | |
| front track | 1518 mm | |
| rear track | 1510 mm | |
| weight | 826 kg (with liquids) | |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| top speed | - | |
| acceleration 0-100 km/h | - | |
| 0-400 m | - | |
| 0-1000 m | - | |
Ferrari 712 Can Am Valuation
As one of Ferrari’s rarest and most powerful race cars, the 712 Can-Am occupies a unique place in collector circles. Built to compete in the brutal North American Can-Am series, the car’s extreme rarity—essentially a one-off prototype—and massive 7.0-litre V12 engine make it one of the most valuable and intriguing Ferraris ever created.
Public auction records are limited, but past sales and market trends suggest that a fully documented, race-prepared example of the 712 Can-Am would command $2 million to $3 million USD in today’s market. Earlier sales in the 2000s ranged between $1.4 million and $1.8 million, but increased demand for significant prototype Ferraris has driven values upward in recent years.