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Ferrari Profile
Ferrari | Profile 30
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1953 Ferrari 212 inter Coupe
There will be a rallying cry to keep it original, but unfortunately it just isn’t
nice enough to display or use the way it is
by Steve Ahlgrim
Photos: Phil Greatorex ©2011 Courtesy of RM Auctions
details
Years produced: 1951–1952
Number produced: 84
Original list price: $9,500
SCM Valuation: $550,000–$1,000,000
Tune-up Cost: $3,000
Distributor caps: $225 (reproduction)
Chassis #: Side frame rail towards the
front of the engine
Engine number: Right side of engine near
the rear
Club: Ferrari Club of America
More: www.ferrariclubofamerica.org
Barn-find Alternatives:
1948 Tucker 48, $797,500
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing,
$660,000
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante,
$852,500
SCM Investment Grade: B
Comps
series carried the latest evolution of the formi-
Produced between 1951 and 1953, Ferrari's 212
dable Colombo V12 engine. It was immediately
successful in competition, winning both the
Tour of Sicily and the Coppa Inter Europa, but the most
important victory was surely the rugged 1951 Carrera
Panamericana where the Ferraris delivered an amazing
one-two finish!
As was common Ferrari practice, even-number
chassis were applied to competition cars while odd
numbers were road cars– or Inters. However, the de-
gree 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.
Almost all 212s have detail differences, as they
were individually custom-bodied by various coach-
builders. The Vignale-bodied cars are particularly at-
tractive. This was due in large part to the relationship
between Alfredo Vignale and his star designer Giovanni
Michelotti. Together they gave Ferrari an aggressive and
distinctive look.
Over the years, Vignale carried a number of dis-
tinctive design features—everything from rear fins,
triangular cutaways on the rear wings, slotted taillights,
fender portholes, unique interiors and distinctive front
end treatments. No two Vignale Ferraris were styled
exactly alike.
In 1977, 0267EU was acquired by Larry Nicklin,
from whom it is offered today. Nicklin's penchant for
strong design clearly influenced his attraction to this
car. In 1979, he repainted it in its original black with a
green top. It has remained in Larry Nicklin's possession
for over 30 years.
It is often repeated– and entirely accurate– that a
classic car is only original once. More and more, Ferrari
enthusiasts are attracted to highly original cars because
of the restoration or preservation opportunities they
present. As such, 0267EU could either be left entirely
as-is, sympathetically restored and mechanically sorted
or taken down to its chassis and completely restored, in
which case the fact that the new owner has an extremely
original car to start the project.
Add to that the fact that 0267EU is a matching-
numbers car of a very desirable early Ferrari model,
bodied by Vignale, no less. It is guaranteed to garner
tremendous attention from Ferrari enthusiasts the world
over.
sCM analysis This car, Lot 154, sold for $660,000,
including buyer’s premium, at RM’s
Amelia Island Auction on March 12, 2011 against a pre-
sale estimate of $375,000 to $550,000.
The World War II military production complex set a
new tone for businesses throughout much of the world.
The need to design, manufacture and distribute military
supplies brought workers together to think beyond their
job tasks and concentrate on what they could do to con-
tribute to the cause.
1952 Ferrari 212 Inter
Lot 269, s/n 0170ET
Condition 2+
Sold at $873,908
RM Auctions, Monte Carlo, MC, 5/1/10
SCM# 160447
1952 Ferrari 212 Inter
Lot 235, s/n 0197EL
Condition 2+
Sold at $804,500
Bonhams, Carmel, CA, 8/14/09
SCM# 142101
1953 Ferrari 212 Inter
Lot 27, s/n 0387GT
Condition 4
Not sold at $416,000
Artcurial, Briest-Poulain Le Fur, Paris,
FR, 2/8/09
SCM# 119662
48 Sports Car Market