1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta

In 1951 Charles Moran Jr of New York ordered this Ferrari from Chinetti Motors planning to race it at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He took delivery at the Ferrari factory and ten days later entered the 1951 with his brand-new Ferrari. This is one of only seven built and one of only two that ever raced Le Mans. This particular 212 would be the only one to finish, crossing the finish line 16th overall and 7th in class. Following Le Mans, Charles Moran brought his car back to the USA. It would continue racing for the next five years at Watkins Glen, Bridghampton, Road to America and Nassan Speed Weeks and scoring multiple podium finishes. Remarkably, after 70 years this special racing Ferrari has never sustained any damage and has since been restored back to its 1951 Le Mans configuration.

The post-war Ferrari 125 S was powered by a Gioacchino Colombo-designed short block V-12 that was later bored out to become the 166 Spyder Corsa. By the end of the 166 Spyder Corsa run, the 'C' suffix used in the chassis number had been changed to I, in preparation for the Inter designation, one of three new variants of the 166 that would receive standard closed-fender sports car coachwork.

The performance version of the 166 was initially called the 166 Sport, morphing into the competition-prepared 166 MM which brought numerous victories to privateer racers and factory entries. The 166 MM introduced the even-numbering system used for Ferrari chassis numbers, representing racing sports car; the odd numbers were reserved for road cars.

Displacement increased in the Ferrari V12 birthed the 195 Sport and the 212 Series. The Sport nomenclature was later changed to Export, reflecting the company's desire to sell in foreign markets, particularly in the United States. The Inter designation continued to represent the street version.

This particular 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta (meaning 'little boat') wears coachwork by carrozzeria Touring. The original owner was Charles Moran of New York who took delivery in the spring of 1951. Within weeks, it campaigned at Le Mans wearing race number 31. Driving duties were handled by Moran and Franco Cornacchia. It was one of two 212 Export Barchettas to contest the race, and would finish the 24 hours in 16th overall and 7th in its class.

After Le Mans, the Ferrari was brought to the United States and raced successfully over the next few years. The first outing was that fall at Wakins Glen, where Moran placed 14th in the International Sports Car Grand Prix, and 3rd in the SCCA National that same weekend.

In 1952 at the 12 hours of Vero Beach, Moran and co-driver John Bennett placed 4th overall and 2nd in Class. At the Bridgehampton Sports Car Road Races in May, Moran placed 7th.

In 1953, the Moran raced the 212 Export only once, at the MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Paired with John Bennett at the Collier Memorial Six Hour Race, the Ferrari finished 10th overall and 1st in Class D.

Engine issues in 1954 prompted Moran to replace it with a contemporary unit from a 195S Ferrari (sourced from chassis 067S).

When Moran sold the Ferrari, it was acquired by John Shakespeare who continued to expand its racing resume. It raced at Iowa City, Lawrenceville, Wisconsin, Nassau and other events with a variety of success. Shakespeare later sold the Ferrari to Tom Butt in Florida, then to William Ferro in Pennsylvania. By 1966, it was the property of Lee Gordon of Gainesville, Florida, being advertised in 1971 by Philadelphia dealer Kirk F. White. N orman Silver of High Point, North Carolina, purchased the car from White and kept it through to the 1980s when it passed Courtney Whitlock of Missouri, who kept it for nearly four decades.

The recent custodian has treated the Barchetta to a cosmetic refurbishment of its original, unharmed body, and chassis. The body was refinished in Rossa Corsa, and the cabin was retrimmed in black leather.

The 2,340cc SOHC V12 engine (a 195S Unit) is fitted with a trio of Weber 36 DCF carburetors and delivers 170 horsepower at 6,500 RPM. There is a five-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023