1951 Ferrari 212 Inter

The Ferrari 212 was produced in multiple variations between 1951 and 1952 and was the company's earliest production car with approximately 110 individual chassis being built for clients. They were bodied in a Plethora of styles from coupes, lightweight spiders, and berlinettas to luxurious cabriolets. Most of the coachwork for the 212 was performed by Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale with other bodies supplied by Touring and Ghia. The 212 was also the first Ferrari to be clothed by Pinin Farina, beginning a relationship that would yield some of the most attractive, elegant, and alluring Ferraris to-date.

Carrozzeria Vignale dressed 37 examples including 4 cabriolets. Touring built five Berlinettas and Ghia built 12 coupes.

The original V12 Ferrari engine designed by Gioacchino Colombo displaced 1.5-liters with 125cc per cylinder. The bore centers were placed 90 mm apart, allowing for future expansion. The engine would remain in production in numerous iterations until 1988, growing to nearly 5.0 liters in the 1985 412i grand tourer. In 1963, the engine received a redesigned block with wider, 94mm, bore spacing.

The Colombo-designed engine received its first increase in displacement to 1,995cc in the Ferrari 166, then to 2,341cc in 1950, followed by an increase in the cylinder bore from 65mm to 68mm bringing the individual cylinders to 212cc and the engine's displacement to 2,562cc.

In a similar fashion to the engine, the Ferrari chassis spanned many years and generations. It was constructed from two elliptical steel side-members with cross-members added for strength and rigidity. The rear suspension was comprised of a conventional live-axle setup with longitudinal semi-elliptic leaf springs. In the front were double wishbones with a transverse leaf spring and hydraulic shock absorbers. Ferrari's large hydraulically actuated drums provided the stopping power. The transmission was mounted directly behind the engine and had five forward speeds.

Two basic versions of the 212 were produced, but with unique distinctions. The Export model was intended for racing on tighter circuits and had a wheelbase of 2,250mm. The Inter version was typically built on a longer wheelbase chassis in both Gran Turismo and racing guise. Just like the coachwork, the engines were tailored to clients' needs with different carburation and tunes.

Over the production lifespan of the 212, the engine's elements were refined, including the introduction of cylinder heads with individual intake ports. When fitted with three 36mm downdraft Weber carburetors, horsepower improved to 170 bhp. Another change that occurred during the 212's production was the model designation, without comment or notice, to 'EU', foreshadowing the 250 Europa that followed.

Accolades in motorsport earned by the 212 include a first and second-place finish in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana by Piero Taruffi / Luigi Chinetti and Alberto Ascari / Luigi Villoresi.

Over a five year period, ending in 1952, Ferrari road car production totaled 142 examples of the 166, 195 and 212 Inters, with 82 being the 212 Inters. The 212 Inter was an essential automobile for Ferrari, providing necessary financial stability for the company while achieving some racing successes along the way.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2020