1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet

The 212 Inter and Europa series of cars were built between late 1950 and 1953, and are the most prolific of the early production cars manufactured, with the greatest variety of body styles. Along with his competition cars, Enzo Ferrari sold detuned race cars for road-going clientele and the 212 Inter is a classic example.

First sold to Giuseppe Santi in Rome, this car is one of four similar Cabriolets built by Vignale from a total of around seventy-nine 212 Inters built during the aforementioned years. Vignale designed and built cars for Ferrari, Maris, Lancia and many others. For the design he often relied on his friend and former colleague at Farina, Giovanni Michelotti. The 212 models feature the traditional 60-degree V12 engine based on the famous Colombo design.

The Ferrari 212 was produced between 1951 and 1952 in various configurations, an array of styles, and many different body styles. They scored significant racing victories and provided income for the marque, with 110 individual chassis built for clients.

The original Gioacchino Colombo engine fitted into a Ferrari displaced 1.5-liters, with 125cc per cylinder. For the 212, it was given an enlarged bore 68mm, bringing the individual cylinders to 212cc and the engine's displacement to 2562cc. The engine was fitted into a double oval tube frame with double wishbones at the front suspended by a transverse leaf spring and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Hydraulically actuated drums provided the stopping power. Ferrari mounted the transmission directly behind the engine and had five forward speeds.

The Export models were intended for racing on tighter circuits and had a wheelbase of 2250mm. Inter Versions typically had a longer wheelbase chassis were used for racing and Gran Turismo. The engines and chassis were tailored to meet the needs of the clients and to the specified coachwork.

This particular example is the 16th of 78 Inter examples built, and the first of four similarly styled cabriolets bodied by Vignale. It has a large open-mouth grille, chromed front fender stakes, and recessed chromed tail lamps. It rides on a 2500mm wheelbase and was completed at the factory in October of 1951. It was sent to a dealership in Rome before being sold to the first owner of record, Peter Staehelin, a student in Basel, Switzerland.

In 1953, Mr. Staehelin commissioned the factory to upgrade the Inter's motor to a higher state of tune by modifying the one-carburetor intake to a three-carb set-up, which duplicated the competition configuration of the 212 Export variant.

Mr. Tellenbach of Thalwil, Switzerland, purchased the car in December of 1960. It then passed to August Zumsteg in 1963. It was acquired by Rob de la Rive Box in January of 1969. In January of 1971, it was purchased by L.J. Roy Taylor of Shropshire, England and registered in the United Kingdom.

It was sold to Charles Gaston Renaud of Cortaillod, Switzerland in October of 1973. It remained with Mr. Renaud for several decades. In 2002 the owner began to disassemble the cabriolet for restoration. He, unfortunately, he passed away four years later with the refurbishment still underway. The car was domiciled within his estate until 2012 when it was acquired by its current caretaker. At the time, the odometer shows 71,628 kilometers, which are believed to be original.

In October of 2012, the Inter received a new paint finish in its original color of Rosso Bordeaux. A mechanical and interior restoration was also undertaken, with the work completed in the spring of 2014. Following the work, the factory issued the Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification in April 2014. 0159 E was accepted and presented in August at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it was awarded a Second Place victory.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2015