1951 Ferrari 212 Export news, pictures, and information

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Chassis Num: 0086E

The V12 engine used in the 212 was bored out to 68mm and achieved a 2562cc displacement. Only one Weber carburetor was used but was good enough to produce about 130 horsepower and a top speed of 120 mph. The Export version received three Weber carburetors and produced about 150 hp and saw a top speed of about 140 mph.
In 1952 modified cylinder heads were incorporated with produced another 5 hp.

A little over 12 Export versions were produced while production numbers for the Inter (road) version was around 80.

0086E

The rolling chassis 0086E complete with engine number 10E was completed in 1961 and sold to the Marzotto brothers in Italy. It is believed that the chassis had been constructed and completed prior to 1951 because of the very early engine number. Carrozzeria Fontana was tasked with creating a body for the vehicle.

Chassis 0086E was raced in Italy during the early part of the 1950s. Its inaugural race was at the Giro di Sicilia, meaning Tour of Sicily, where it came in first. It was driven by Count Vittorio Marzotto and Paolo Fontana. At Targa Florio it failed to finish. In 1952 it raced again at the Giro di Sicilia where it finished in seventh place. One of its biggest races of its career occurred in 1952 when it competed in the Mille Miglia, unfortunately, it did not finish. It continued to be raced at many races, hill climbs, and endurance runs through the early 1950's.

In 1951 Vignale was tasked with removing the 'Sicilian cart' body and constructing an export spider body for the car. It was later rebodied, again, by Fontana as a spider at the close of 1951.

By the close of the 1950's it was sent to the United States where it was raced by Jim Flynn, even seeing track time at Watkins Glen. In 1965 it was sold to Stan Hallinan residing in Concord, HM. He kept it covered and mostly unused for almost forty years. Since then, 212 Export s/n 0086E has not been seen by the public.

The current owner is Peter Markowski of RPM Restorations in Vermont. Markowski had learned about 0086E around the time it was sold to Hallinan. He offered to buy 0086E but Hallinan did not want to sell it. Markowski asked for the First Right of Refusal, if the vehicle should ever be offered for sale. Around 38 years later, Hallinan was ready to part with the vehicle.

During its lifetime 0086E has been bodied three times. It is currently un-restored and unpainted, but still a priceless work of art.

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Berlinetta
Coachwork: Pininfarina
Chassis Num: 0161 EL

Two 1951 Ferrari 212 Exports competed in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana Race. it was the first year the rules allowed 4-passenger vehicles. The Ferraris finished first and second. The two Ferraris required little maintenance over the near 2,000-mile race.

The 1951 Ferrari 212 Export is powered by a 2,562-cc (2.56-liter) water-cooled, single-overhead cam, V12 engine developing 150 horsepower coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The 2,530-pound vehicle was fitted with four-wheel drum brakes and top speed is listed at 118 mph.

The car seen here today is the 0161EL, which finished second in 1951. A great deal of mystery surrounds the two 1951 Ferraris, and the whereabouts of the winning Ferrari, 0171 EL, is still unknown.

The local roads for the Carrera Panamericana race consisted of crushed volcanic rock. Tire wear was a major problem for the Ferraris and holes were cut into the rear fender wells to monitor tire conditions. These holes are seen in the car here today. The 0160 EL was restored by Steve Tillack, Redondo Beach, CA, who did extensive research on both Ferraris and even with the aid of Ferrari's own records, was unable to conclude the fate of the 0171 EL, the car that finished first.

Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi drove this particular Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe (serial number 0161 EL) to a second overall finish in the 1951 Carrera Panamerica in Mexico. The following year it finished seventh overall in the same event driven by a pair of privateers. It is powered by a 2.6-liter V-12 engine delivering up to 150 horsepower. The 212 Inter series of cars were built between late 1950 and 1953 and they sported a great variety of body styles. These varied significantly, even within the examples produced by a single coachbuilder, notably those from the Vignale design studio. A total of 26 Vignale Coupes were built on the 212 Inter chassis.

166, 195, and 212

The 166 Inter was powered by a 2-liter V12 engine and produced 115 horsepower. These were road cars and were given odd chassis numbers. The even chassis numbers were reserved for the vehicles that were intended for racing. The bodies of the Inter vehicles were mostly Berlinetta and Coupes. At first, Touring handled most of the road going body construction but it was not long before Vignale, Ghia, Pinin Farina and others were creating custom coachwork. The 166 Inter was mechanically similar to the racing versions; it was 25 horsepower shy of its racing sibling. The suspension was wishbones in the front and a live rear axle. The chassis was a simple steel tubular frame. A replacement was created in 1950 after around 40 examples of the 166 Inter were produced. The displacement of the engine was enlarged to just over 2.3 liters which resulted in a unitary displacement of 195cc. Thus, the 195 Inter came into existence. A year later, the engine was enlarged even further resulting in the 212 Inter. After a year of production and with only 142 examples being created, the production of the 212 Inter ceased.

The 212 Inter was intended for road use while the 212 Export was primarily constructed for competition. Ferrari produced the rolling chassis and a Carrozzeria, meaning coachbuilder, was given the task of constructing the body. Each body was hand built and often to customers specifications. Because of this, the dimensions, bodystyles, and features of the car vary from one to another. Many of the 212 Inter vehicles sat atop a 2600mm wheelbase chassis; some were on a shorter, 2500mm wheelbase. The 212 Exports were also built atop of a 2250 wheelbase.

Cars produced between 1952 and 1953 were given the 'EU' designation on their chassis. The ones that proceeded these were given chassis numbers ending in S, E, and EL. The 'E' represented Export while the 'L' represented Lungo. One special chassis carried the 'T' designation on its chassis plate.

Under the hood of the long and graceful bonnet was a Colombo designed V12 engine mounted at 60-degrees. The engine came in a variety of flavors and left up to the customers to chose. Standard was the single Weber 36 DCF carburetor which was capable of producing 150 horsepower. Triple Weber 32 DCF carburetors could be purchased which increased horsepower to an impressive 170. All versions came with the standard Ferrari five-speed non-synchromesh gearbox and hydraulic drum brakes.

In total there were 82 versions of the 212 Inter constructed. Vignale was given the task of creating 37 of these. Fifteen of his creations were coupes, seven were convertibles, and thirteen were in Berlinetta configuration. Ghia was tasked with constructing 15 coupes and one convertible. Touring clothed one coupe and six Berlinetta's. The English coachbuilder, Abbot, created a four-seat cabriolet which was not that pleasing to the eye. Pinin Farina created two convertibles and eleven coupes. Styling varied among each of these coachbuilders with some being heavily dictated by the customer's wishes. Most of the cars were elegant, with few flamboyant cues, and well-proportioned body lines. They were minimalistic with little chrome and rounded, smooth bodies.

The 212 was replaced by the 250 Europa in 1953 and Pinin Farina had become Enzo Ferrari's carrozzeria of choice.

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