Enzo Ferrari originally sold cars only when he needed to pay his racing expenses or the factory wages. This no doubt accounts for so few cars built during the formative years of the marque. That would change in November 1948 at the Turin Show when Ferrari unveiled the first show Ferrari ever exhibited. On the stand were both the 166MM and 166 Inter; a pair of racing and road variations, respectively. Between 1948 and 1951 Ferrari sold some 38 Inters plus around 46 examples on the 166MM in various body styles created by various coachbuilders. This not only put money into Ferrari's racing coffers, but also demonstrated his ability to juggle both racing and selling.

Subsequently, 195 and 212 Inters followed as road-going versions of Ferraris racing machines. The 212 Inter made its debut at the 1951 Paris Motor Show. Many coachbuilders fashioned bodies for the 212; the most significant of which was Pinin Farina which began a long and fruitful relationship between the two firms. The sales success of the 212 Inter, especially in the United States market, was assured by the prestigious victory of Piero Taruffi and Luigi Chinetti in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana driving a Vignale 212 Coupe.

This Ferrari has the distinction of being both the 1952 Geneva Auto Show and 1953 Turin Auto Show car. Approximately 80 were produced in 1953.