One to Buy: ex-Charles Moran 1951 Ferrari 212 Export
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After Ferrari’s extremely successful 1949 and ’50 campaigns, a healthy customer base had emerged for the Maranello firm’s products to whom a pair of new competition models were offered for the 1951 season: the 4.1-litre Lampredi-engined 340 America and the 212 Export with a 2.6-litre Colombo unit.
Phased in to replace the enormously successful 166 Mille Miglia, the 212 Export was principally supplied as a customer car. It featured a revised long wheelbase tubular steel ladder-type chassis (extended by 50mm) with independent double wishbone suspension up front and a live axle at the rear. Houdaille hydraulic shocks were fitted all round along with drum brakes. In the engine bay was a 170bhp 60° V12 coupled to a five-speed gearbox.
Customers could choose to have their 212 Export bodied by their coachbuilder of choice; most opted for Vignale designs with Touring a close second in terms of popularity.
One of those 212 Exports equipped with Touring bodywork is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams 18th August sale at The Quail.
Chassis 0100 E was ordered by New Yorker Charles Moran, an enthusiastic privateer and partner at Francis I. DuPont & Co., a major Wall Street brokerage and investment bank.
Moran made his debut in 0100 E alongside Ferrari dealer Franco Cornacchia at the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours where he finished an impressive 16th overall and seventh in class.
Chassis 0100 E was subsequently shipped out to the US where Moran continued to race it for the next couple of years.
Today chassis 0100 E is offered complete with its original Touring Spyder bodywork fresh from a recent refurbishment.
