The 212 Inter turned Ferrari into a road-car maker rather than a racing team that sold cars — and was the first Ferrari bodied by Pinin Farina.
The 212 Inter replaced both the 166 and 195 Inter as Ferrari's road-car offering. It was the most prolific of Ferrari's early production cars, with the widest range of body styles — berlinetta, cabriolet and coupé — and drew work from Touring, Ghia, Ghia-Aigle, Vignale, Stabilimenti Farina, Motto and Fontana. Vignale bodied the largest share.
It was also the first Ferrari bodied by Pinin Farina — the start of the relationship that defined the marque; neither Enzo Ferrari nor Pinin Farina would approach the other to ask for the business. Two 212 Inter Vignale coupés finished 1–2 at the 1951 Carrera Panamericana, driven by Taruffi/Chinetti and Ascari/Villoresi. Autocar recorded over 116 mph on what it called the first production 212 while limiting the engine to 6,500 rpm out of respect for a new car. Owners included Gianni Agnelli and Roberto Rossellini; chassis 0253EU — the last Barchetta built by Touring — was acquired by the Ford Motor Company for Henry Ford II as research toward Ford's answer to the Corvette, and is now in the Petersen Automotive Museum. Chassis 0223EU was fitted with the 2.7-litre engine on a long-wheelbase chassis, creating a one-off sometimes called the 225 Inter or 225 Europa, bodied by Vignale to a Michelotti design.
The 212 Inter was the car that turned Ferrari into a road-car maker rather than a racing team that sold cars, and the first Ferrari bodied by Pinin Farina. Coachbuilder, body style and documented history separate these cars entirely; the identity of the carrozzeria matters more than the specification.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 212 Inter | 1951–1952 | 82 | Road car. 2,563cc Colombo V12, bore 68 mm × stroke 58.8 mm. 150 PS / 148 hp with a single Weber 36DCF; triple carburettors optional. Improved cylinder heads raised output by 5 PS in 1952. Wheelbase 2,600 mm — 100 mm longer than the Export's 2,500 mm. Suspension: double wishbones front, live axle rear, carried over from 166 and 195 Inter. Later cars used the tubular 'Tuboscocca' chassis for greater rigidity. THE FIRST FERRARI BODIED BY PININ FARINA — the start of the relationship that defined the marque; neither Enzo Ferrari nor Pinin Farina would approach the other to ask for the business. Coachbuilders: Touring, Ghia, Ghia-Aigle, Vignale, Stabilimenti Farina, Motto, Fontana. Vignale bodied the largest share. Two Vignale coupés finished 1–2 at the 1951 Carrera Panamericana (Taruffi/Chinetti and Ascari/Villoresi). Autocar recorded over 116 mph, 0–60 in 10.5 s and 0–100 in 22.5 s on a car limited to 6,500 rpm out of respect for a new car. Chassis 0253EU (last Touring Barchetta) acquired by Ford for Henry Ford II as research for Ford's answer to the Corvette, now in the Petersen Automotive Museum. Chassis 0223EU fitted with a 2.7-litre engine on a long-wheelbase chassis, sometimes called the 225 Inter or 225 Europa, bodied by Vignale to a Michelotti design. The 212 Export is a SEPARATE competition variant and is NOT covered in this guide. VERIFY: displacement 2,563cc vs 2,562cc (ferrari.com). VERIFY: launch — Brussels Motor Show 1951 vs Paris, October 1951. VERIFY: production end — 1952 vs 1953. VERIFY: power — Ferrari states a 130–150 bhp range; other sources state 150 PS flat. VERIFY: the last 212 production cars carried the EU engine designation and were known as the 212 Europa. Single source. |
Any purchase of an early coachbuilt Ferrari should begin at Ferrari Classiche in Maranello. Confirm chassis and engine identity, coachbuilder attribution and every body-specific record before pricing. For the 212 Inter specifically, coachbuilder identity — Touring, Ghia, Ghia-Aigle, Vignale, Stabilimenti Farina, Motto, Fontana or the debut Pinin Farina body — is the primary purchase decision, ahead of any specification-side detail.
Early Ferraris are individually coachbuilt cars. Confirm the specific coachbuilder — Vignale, Ghia, Touring, Motto, Pinin Farina — against Ferrari Classiche's records and period photography, and reject any car whose bodywork attribution cannot be documented.
Restoration standard is a decisive factor. Confirm the extent of any body, trim or mechanical restoration, the coachbuilder-competence of the shop that carried it out, and the originality of the engine, gearbox and driveline against Ferrari Classiche's records.
Ownership continuity is a material value driver on cars of this era. Confirm the ownership record, matching identity of engine and chassis, and any period competition or concours record against the Ferrari Classiche archive.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
Body style separates the 212 Inter market more than year or condition. Cabriolets have made $2,200,000 and €1,176,000; a coupé made $1,100,000. Two cars failed to sell in late 2015, against estimates of $2,000,000–$2,400,000 and $1,300,000–$1,900,000. Coachbuilder identity is the dominant variable, and results for one carrozzeria do not transfer to another.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-14 | Bonhams Quail Lodge, Carmel | 1951 212 Inter Cabriolet Lot 65. | — | $2,200,000 Sold |
| 2016-05-14 | RM Sotheby's Monaco | 1952 212 Inter Cabriolet by Vignale Lot 262. | — | €1,176,000 Sold |
| 2016-01-28 | RM Sotheby's Arizona, Phoenix | 1953 212 Inter Lot 227. Sale ran 28–29 January 2016; date approximated to open. | — | $1,100,000 Sold |
The 212 Inter was the car that turned Ferrari into a road-car maker rather than a racing team that sold cars, and the first Ferrari bodied by Pinin Farina. Coachbuilder, body style and documented history separate these cars entirely; the identity of the carrozzeria matters more than the specification.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
