1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe

Introduced in 1951, the Ferrari 212 represented the ultimate development of the marque’s first production model, the Tipo 166. Building upon the success of the 166 and 195, the 212 featured a larger 2.6-liter version of Gioacchino Colombo’s brilliant V-12 engine, delivering increased performance while retaining the refinement that established Ferrari as Italy’s premier builder of sporting automobiles. Offered in both road-going Inter and competition-oriented Export variants, the versatile 212 chassis provided the foundation for some of the most attractive and exclusive coachbuilt Ferraris of the early postwar era.

Completed in December 1951, this Ferrari 212 Inter, chassis 0169 E, was dispatched to Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin for coachwork. Among Ferrari’s early coachbuilding partners, Ghia occupies a particularly rarefied position. Between 1950 and 1953, the celebrated carrozzeria produced just 36 bodies for Ferrari, making its output considerably rarer than that of contemporaries such as Pinin Farina, Touring, and Vignale. Focused primarily on refined gran turismo automobiles, Ghia’s Ferrari creations were distinguished by exceptional craftsmanship, luxurious appointments, and sophisticated styling.

The elegant fastback coupe fitted to 0169 E ranks among the most successful expressions of Ghia’s Ferrari design language. Characterized by a commanding grille, tasteful chrome embellishments, and beautifully balanced proportions, the design reflects the subtle American influences that were increasingly shaping Italian automotive fashion during the early 1950s. Yet the overall effect remains unmistakably Italian, combining elegance and presence in a manner that underscores the creativity for which Ghia became renowned. As one of only 36 Ferraris bodied by Ghia, 0169 E occupies a particularly desirable place among early coachbuilt Ferraris.

Upon completion, the Ferrari was delivered through the Roman agent Ponti e Mambretti to its first owner, Francesco Marsili Feliciangeli. The 212 remained in Italy during its early years, passing through the hands of Silvano Bernabei of Rome, Guido Balestra of Ascoli Piceno, and Benedetto De Martinis, also of Rome. In 1956, the Ferrari attracted the attention of American enthusiast William A. Lester of Del Mar, California, who acquired the car directly through Ferrari.

Lester later recalled purchasing the Ferrari for just $2,500 F.O.B. Modena, describing it as “a bargain” at a time when used Ferrari GTs sold for several times that amount in the US. Upon its arrival in California, he drove the car home from the docks “amid many admiring glances from other motorists.” After covering more than 7,700 km, Lester concluded that the Ferrari was “too valuable a car to drive every day,” ultimately selling it to Donald Levinson of San Mateo.

Levinson retained the Ferrari until 1965, when it passed to noted California enthusiast Robert Gangemi, an owner of several important Ferraris, including a 340 America. In 1970, chassis 0169 E was acquired by Terrill E. Buffum of Palo Alto, who actively enjoyed the Ferrari and entered it in the Monterey Historic Automobile Races in 1975. Marshall Roath of San Francisco became its next caretaker in 1981, and just one year later the Ferrari entered the collection of its current owner.

For more than four decades, the car has remained under the stewardship of the same San Francisco-based collector. During this period, it participated in several editions of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, including appearances in 1984, 1994, and 1995, before gradually retreating from public view. As a result, this Ferrari has remained largely unseen for decades.

Today, 0169 E survives as an honest and highly appealing example retaining its original engine, numbered 0169 E, with internal no. 74. Accompanied by a report from marque historian Marcel Massini and documented in the authoritative Ferrari literature, this rare Ghia-bodied Ferrari offers a compelling combination of provenance, originality, and exclusivity.

As one of the earliest generations of road-going Ferraris, the 212 occupies a foundational place in the marque’s history, while its handsome and exceptionally rare Ghia coachwork places it among a select group of bespoke Ferrari grand touring cars from this formative era. Equally suited to continued enjoyment on leading tours and rallies or as the basis for a concours-quality restoration, 0169 E represents a singular opportunity to acquire one of the most distinctive and seldom-seen coachbuilt Ferraris of the early 1950s.

Notes Please note that this vehicle is titled 1954 and as 0169.