1954 Ferrari 212 Inter, one off special coachwork, the last production 212.
Specifications:
170bhp, 2,562cc single overhead camshaft V-12 engine, three Weber 36if4c carburetors, five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension via A-arms, transverse leaf springs, and hydraulic lever shocks, live axle rear suspension with semi elliptical springs and hydraulic lever shocks, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2’600mm (102.4 in.)
A brief History of the 212 Ferrari
Produced between 1951 and 1953, Ferrari’s 212 series carried the latest evolution of the formidable Colombo V-12. It was immediately successful in competition, winning both the Tour of Sicily and the Coppa Inter Europa. Gianni Marzotto won the Coppa Toscana, but the most important victory was surely the 1951 Carrera Pan Americana, wherein Luigi Chinetti and Piero Taruffi came in first, followed by Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi – an amazing one-two finish for Ferrari.
As was common Ferrari practice, even-number chassis were applied to competition cars while odd numbers were road cars – or Inters. However, the degree of individual orders meant that Inters could have different performance features, and this particular car is currently fitted with the triple Weber carburetor setup, which boosts performance by 30 horsepower and pushes top speed to around 125 mph. This example also has the larger fuel tank for sportive and racing events.
Eighty open and closed 212 Inters were built, making it the most prolific model to use the original Colombo-designed V-12 engine. And despite the number of 212s sold, almost all have detail differences, as they were individually custom-bodied by various coachbuilders.
These Berlinetta coupes and open two-seater Barchettas, with their lightweight V-12 engines and tube frames and aluminum panel “superleggera” construction, would set the Ferrari pattern for the next decade.
All told, the 80 units of the Ferrari 212 Inter built in all body styles ranged in serial number from 0111 to 0297. Of those 80, it is believed 17 were bodied by Ghia and the same number by Pinin Farina, for a total of 34. The remaining 46 were bodied by other coachbuilders such as Touring, Vignale and others, including the Swiss firm Ghia-Aigle.
The difficulty in specificity is attributed to the fact that a number of 212s were re-bodied and several were upgraded to 225 specifications with a larger engine. It is therefore rather difficult to know precisely how many 212 Inters were retaining their original coachwork.
The series consisted of 212 Exports, whose chassis numbers had the suffix EL (Export Lungo) and the 212 Inter which carried EU at the end of the chassis number. This stood for Europa, a designation sometimes given to late 212 Inters
Ferrari Chassis no. 0297 EU
The remarkable 212 Inter chassis 0297 EU is a particularly striking design with unique features not duplicated on other Pinnifinina coupes. The front grill is more reflective of the 250MM and the roof line is particularly low with no ridge on the front section of the top where it meets the windshield. Usually this model has the roof made like a “pagoda”, with front hem that goes on the upper part of the front window. This gave most Pinnifarnia coupe a high profile windshield. 0297EU has not this feature and has a roof like a 250 MM, without hem and more aerodynamic.
Ferrari 0297EU was sold new to Wisconsin Race Driver and event promoter Tom Marchese. Tom Marchese took delivery of 0297EU at the Maranello works during his well documented 1954 tour and shipped the Ferrari back to Wisconson on the Andrea Doria the legendary cruise ship.
