One to Buy: ex-Roberto Rossellini / Ingrid Bergman 1953 Ferrari 212 Europa (212 Inter)
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Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1951, the 212 Inter was Ferrari’s third iteration of its dedicated road car line initiated with the 166 Inter of 1948.
Named in honour of Scuderia Inter, the racing equipe established by Prince Igor Troubetzkoy and Count Bruno Sterzi whose funds were vital in Ferrari’s early days, the 166 Inter proved a resounding success with 37 copies manufactured.
Towards the end of 1950, Ferrari replaced the two-litre 166 Inter with a 195 Inter that ran a 2.4-litre iteration of the Gioacchino Colombo V12. Although only produced for around twelve months, 24 195 Inters were sold as the model helped solidify Ferrari’s reputation as builder of arguably the finest high performance road cars anywhere in the world.
With over 80 examples built, the 212 Inter became the most commercially successful Ferrari thus far.
Famously, within a few weeks of launch, a pair of works 212 Inters were entered for the 1951 Carrera Panamericana, an epic 1934 mile dash through Mexico organised strictly for production cars. Against a strong field, the Ferraris finished first and second to demonstrate their unmatched speed and surprising ruggedness.
No less than five chassis suffixes were used during 212 Inter production and, as a consequence of their ‘EU’ markings, some later Inters were simultaneously described as 212 Europas.
One such car was chassis 0265 EU which will be going under the hammer at Broad Arrow Auctions’ Zurich sale on November 1st.
Configured with Coupe coachwork by Pinin Farina, chassis 0265 EU was ordered by renowned Italian film director, Roberto Rossellini, for his wife, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman.
Bergman requested the elegant two-tone exterior combination of Nero with a Grigio Saloma roof and Grigio upholstery. Upon completion, Ferrari displayed 0265 EU on its stand at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1953.
Following the Ferrari’s delivery to Rome, Bergman and Rossellini embarked on an 1800 mile tour across Europe to Sweden for which it was equipped with a handsome roof rack as currently fitted.
In January 1954, Rossellini sold chassis 0265 EU to fellow film director, Clarence Leon Brown. Towards the end of the decade, the car was exported to the United States where it resided until the mid 2000s.
Soon after returning to Europe, the 212 underwent an exacting restoration. More recently it has been granted Ferrari Classiche ‘Red Book’ certification that confirms matching numbers chassis and engine with the gearbox and differential listed as correct-type replacements with casings produced by Ferrari Classiche.
