One to Buy: 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter
Between 1947 and 1948, Ferrari’s legendary Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine was rapidly enlarged from the 1.5-litres displacement seen in the original 125 Sport to 2-litres as used by the myriad 166 variants. One of these 166-engined offerings was the Inter – Ferrari’s first model conceived exclusively for road use.
The 1950 season then saw Enzo Ferrari commission an even bigger 2.4-litre engine from Colombo. These enlarged motors were plumbed into four 195 Sports that went on to secure victories at the 1950 Mille Miglia, Rome 3 Hour Night Race and Giro delle Calabria. Additionally, Giovanni Bracco took a quintet of victories in a 195-engined Ferrari on his way to becoming 1950 Italian Hillclimb Champion.
On the back of this success, Ferrari decided to drop a de-tuned version of the 2.4-litre engine into an improved road-going model: the 195 Inter.
Ferrari built 24 examples of the 195 Inter from late 1950 to late 1951. All were right-hand drive.
During the early 1950s, Ferrari customers were able to have their car bodied by one of many Italian coachbuilders that existed. The bulk of 195 Inters wore bodies by the Turinese firms Vignale and Ghia. Each clothed ten cars while the remaining four were split between Touring (three) and Motto (one).
Currently on offer at the VSOC showroom in Sassenheim, Netherlands, is one of those Ghia-bodied Coupes: chassis 0105S.
Originally delivered to a customer in Milan, by the 1960s chassis 0105S had been exported to the USA. The car subsequently spent some time in Japan during the late 1980s collector car boom and then returned to Europe in the early 1990s.
Today, this matching numbers car comes complete with Ferrari Classiche certification and much recent expenditure.
Reprinted below is VSOC’s description for this particularly fine early 1950s Ferrari Grand Tourer:
We are pleased to present you this outstanding Ferrari 195 Inter with its very elegant bodywork by Carrozzeria Ghia from 1950.
After the succes of the 166 Ferrari with its two litre V12 engine, the next development was the 195. The engine was enlarged to 2.3 litres giving more power and more elasticity.
This example is reputed to have been on the Autosalone di Torino and possibly the Autosalon de Paris.
Ghia built 5, sort of, similar examples of which this is the 2nd one we have at VSOC. They also built a 2+2 version with more room in the rear cabin.
As far as we know this Ferrari has no competition history. After its early days in Europe she was exported to the USA in the 60’s and was sold to Mr. Barrett S. Wayburn in Michigan, USA. Mr. Wayburn sold her in 1969 to Mr. Edsel H. Pfabe in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. That year the car was repainted in red. Mr. Pfabe participated at the 1983 4th annual Palm Beach Polo Concours d’Elegance in Florida, USA. His beautiful Ferrari 195 Inter Ghia was then awarded as the Best of show!
After a short period in Japan the car was bought by Mr. W. Schaefer from Hainhausen, Germany in 1992. Mr. Schaefer was a vivid rally driver as he attended with this Ferrari many events, including 3 times the Mille Miglia. He participated at the 1993 Mille Miglia, finishing 38th in class and 47th overall. A year later he finished 132th overall at the 1994 Mille Miglia.
In 1997 Ferrari celebrated their 50 year anniversary with a very exclusive rally in Italy. Mr. Schaefer took part in this anniversary rally with his Ferrari 195 Inter. These Ferrari anniversary rally’s are considered as the nicest Ferrari events in the world.
The car was bought from Mr. Schaefer by a well known customer of ours and collector of coach built Ferrari’s. After 10 years the collection was dispersed at the factory sale and was bought by an Italian collector.
In all these years the interior was preserved and the bodywork remained in excellent condition. Now she is back with us and in even better shape. The body has been perfectly repainted in black and the mechanics have been completely rebuilt with no expense spared.
Apart from being unique and beautifully built, these wonderful very early coach built Ferrari’s have an incredible sound from the 12 little dwarfs dancing in the front compartment! If you consider that just after the 2nd world war competition and the cars were being developed either from scratch or based on the pre war designs then the 12 cilinder Ferrari’s were a revolutionary design. Think of the new 5 speed gearbox and think more than 180 km/h and you will appreciate these 70 year old pieces of art..
Importantly this car has:
Certificato di autenticitá
Ferrari Classiche Certification
Original chassis, engine, gearbox and rear axle
Original built sheets
Extensive history file from 60 years
Recent invoices totaling 140.000 euro
