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
Produced between 1951 and 1953, Ferrari’s 212 series carried the latest evolution of the formidable 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 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.
Almost all 212s have detail differences, as they were individually custom-bodied by various coachbuilders. The Vignale-bodied cars are particularly attractive. 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 distinctive 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
Detailing
| Vehicle: | 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe |
| Number Produced: | 84 |
| Original List Price: | $9,500 |
| SCM Valuation: | $550,000-$1,000,000 |
| Tune Up Cost: | $3,000 |
| Chassis Number Location: | Side frame rail towards the front of the engine |
| Engine Number Location: | Right side of engine near the rear |
| Club Info: | Ferrari Club of America |
| Website: | http://www.ferrariclubofamerica.org |
| Alternatives: | 1948 Tucker 48, $797,500 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, $660,000 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, $852,500 |
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 contribute to the cause.
Designers were challenged to both rethink products that were in production—and imagine new products that had never been built before. Engineers were challenged to implement the designers’ ideas, and workers were challenged to develop skills to fulfill the engineers’ plans. Italy was no exception, and the rather relaxed Italian lifestyle was replaced with an urgent need to supply the troops.
After the war, raw materials and high spirits were rather scarce in Italy, but skilled workers and the machinery of an industrialized nation were still in place. As the darkness of Fascism lifted, wartime workers began to use their skills on peacetime projects. In Italy, much of the creativity gravitated toward the automotive industry, where large and small automobile manufacturers began to flourish.
During this period, the creativity at Ferrari was unparalleled. No fewer than 25 Ferrari models were produced between 1947 and 1953. Each new model featured an improvement from the previous model. Horsepower rose from barely 100 to over 300—with parallel increases in acceleration and top speed.
On the international front, Ferraris were competing and winning at major races on several continents. The most prolific model of this era was the 212 Inter.
Every 212 a little—or a lot—different
Every time I research the 212s, I become more fascinated with the model. My initial exposure to Ferrari 212s was through some rather mundane examples that had all the appeal of a 1950s Nash. However, over the years I’ve been surprised by the diversity of models—and blown away by some individual examples.
There were 212 Exports designed for racing, 212 Touring Barchettas, and the mainstay 212 Inter. The Inter was the production car, and it was built and sold to help finance the racing side. At least five different companies produced bodies for 212 Inters. The designs run from uninspiring to truly exciting. No two bodies seem to be exactly the same, and even the mechanical configurations from car to car can vary. It is this diversity that makes the value spread of 212s so wide.
The seller of our subject car, Larry Nicklin, brought two of the feature cars to RM Auction’s 2011 Amelia Island sale: this 212 and a Ferrari 340 Mexico. Nicklin is one of the unsung heroes of the Ferrari hobby. Nicklin, along with a small group of like-minded enthusiasts, founded the Ferrari Club of America. The club has been a networking hub for Ferrari enthusiasts worldwide for nearly 50 years.
The 340 Mexico (SCM June 2011, Ferrari Profile, p. 44) had an impressive racing history. It had been restored in 1968, and perhaps because it had been on display at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg museum in Auburn, IN, it still looked great. On the other hand, the 212 had been repainted in 1979, and had substantially deteriorated. While the car appeared sound, the paint was shot and Bondo—with large areas of primer—dotted the body.
Restoration bills start now
The Mexico ran first. It sold for $4,290,000, the top sale of the day—and well above the estimate. The 212 brought $660,000, which was 20% over the high estimate and one of the top sales of the day. The sale price was not out of line with other recent 212 sales—until you consider this car needs no less than $100,000 of work.
212 s/n 0267EU has great provenance, good bones, and a wonderful Vignale body. 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.
The reality is, it needs work and if you touch one area there will be no stopping point. Considering its condition, the buyer probably paid above market for it, but with few Inters produced—and each one individual—if the buyer liked this particular design, it was his only shot. Once restored, it will be a hit wherever it’s shown. It will be eligible for most vintage rallies and pretty much guaranteed an entry. It’s a car I would love to have in my garage and neither party should be unhappy with the result.
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)