Lot 142: 1951 Ferrari Tipo 212 Inter Berlinetta
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia

Capitalising on the success of his V12-engined competition cars, Enzo Ferrari began to develop exclusive road-going models for sale to private customers as a means of financing Scuderia Ferrari’s racing programme. One of the first of these, the 212 Inter of 1951/’52, was directly descended from the very first Ferrari that had appeared just four years previously. Enzo Ferrari had begun planning his new car during the war and in 1946 commissioned Gioacchino Colombo to design a small-capacity V12 engine for it. The 1.5-litre Tipo 125 unit took its designation from the capacity of an individual cylinder (125cc) thus instigating a system of nomenclature that would characterise Ferraris for many years to some. Ferrari’s Tipo 125 sports-racer made its competition debut in 1947 and by mid season had been re-designated Tipo 159, its engine having been enlarged to 1.9 litres. Later in the year the first Tipo 166 (2.0-litre) unit appeared. In race tune up to 150bhp was available (the Inter road car with its single twin-choke Weber carburettor produced 100bhp) which was transmitted via a five-speed gearbox, an unusual feature in those days, even on a competition car.

In typical Ferrari fashion the twin-tube chassis employed transverse leaf and double wishbone front suspension, and a semi-elliptically sprung live rear axle located by torsional stabilising bars. Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers were fitted all round. The 166 Inter chassis was produced in two different wheelbase lengths - 2,420mm and 2,500mm - this latter dimension being the one adopted for the succeeding Tipo 195 Inter. As its type numbering reveals, the 195 Inter’s V12 engine displaced 2,341cc, but in most other respects the car remained the same as the 166.

For the final car of the series, the Tipo 212 Inter, built during 1951/52, Colombo’s versatile V12 was enlarged yet again, this time to 2,562cc, by means of another increase in bore size. There was a commensurate increase in maximum power, which now stood at 150bhp in road trim. Three different suffixes were employed after the 212 Inter’s chassis numbers – ‘E’, ‘EL’ and ‘EU’ - the majority of cars being erected on a lengthened 2,600mm frame. With between 150 and 170bhp on tap, a top speed of around 120mph and race bred handling, the Tipo 212 was among the quickest road cars of its day in real driving conditions. As one would expect from a car developed directly from Ferrari’s competition models, the 212 series was also superb on the racetrack and the direct ancestor of the famous 250GT. Significant race results achieved by the 212 include wins in the Tour of Sicily, Coppa Inter Europa at Monza, Tourist Trophy, Tour de France and Mexico’s Carrera PanAmericana.

A car possessing such impeccable credentials not unnaturally attracted the attention of Italy’s finest carrozzeria, Ghia, Vignale, Pinin Farina and Touring among them. Right-hand drive chassis number ‘0189EL’ is one of only 80 Ferrari 212s made and the 25th of 35 Ferraris bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia. Carrozzeria Ghia was founded by Giacinto Ghia in Turin in 1919, soon establishing a reputation not just for luxury coachwork but also for bodying competition cars. After WW2, the company provided the training ground for many of Italy’s rising-star designers - Michelotti, Boano and Frua all making a contribution to its continuing success - and collaborated with many of the world’s leading car manufacturers.

Originally finished in grey metallic with blue/grey cloth interior, ‘0189EL’ was completed in December 1951 and sold new to Karl Forster, of Zurich, Switzerland the following year. In 1953 the car was sold to Adolf Schumann, a clothing manufacturer resident in San Francisco, California, USA and is reputed to have belonged subsequently to King Farouk of Egypt who was living in exile in Rome, Italy, although this has not been confirmed. ‘0189EL’ was then exported again to the USA where, repainted red, it was shown at a race meeting and Concours d’Elegance at Buchanan Field, CA on August 20th 1955.

In the 1960s the Inter belonged to Henry I Smith of Sunnyvale, CA, subsequently enjoying a number of other owners in the USA (list available) before ending up in the possession of Alan Holmes, owner of The Fine Car Store in San Diego, CA in 1988. Refurbished and repainted metallic silver grey, it was featured in Automobile Quarterly in 1989 (Volume 27, No. 2). The car returned to Europe soon after.

Offered with French Carte Grise, ‘0189EL’, with its most attractive Ghia styling, represents an exciting opportunity to acquire a rare early Ferrari, eminently usable in today’s historic motoring events.




Le châssis à conduite à droite n° 0189EL appartient à la série des 80 Ferrari 212 construites et cette voiture est la 25e des 35 Ferrari habillées par Carrozzeria Ghia.

Peinte à l’origine en gris métallisé avec intérieur gris-bleu, « 0189EL » fut achevée en décembre 1951 et vendue neuve à Karl Forster de Zürich (Suisse) l’année suivante. En 1953, elle fut vendue à Adolf Schumann de San Francisco (Californie). Elle aurait appartenu au roi Farouk d’Egypte alors exilé à Rome (Italie), mais ce information n’est pas confirmé.
« 0189EL » fut exportée de nouveau aux Etats-Unis où, repeinte en rouge, elle participa à une réunion sportive et à un concours d’élégance à Buchanan Field (Ca) le 20 août 1955.

Dans les années 1960, l’Inter appartenait à Henry I Smith de Sunnyvale (Ca) avant de passer aux mains de plusieurs Américains (liste disponible) pour arriver chez Alan Holmes, propriétaire de The Fine Car Store à San Diego (Ca) en 1988. Restaurée et repeinte en gris métallisé, elle figura dans Automobile Quarterly en 1989 (Vol. 27 n°2) avant de revenir en Europe peu de temps après.

Offerte avec sa carte grise française, « 0189EL » habillée d’une très séduisante carrosserie dans le style de Ghia, est une très belle occasion d’acquérir un de ces rares Ferrari des débuts tout à fait à sa place dans les épreuves historiques.