by Mike –
This Ferrari is up for auction at RM Southeby’s Driven by Disruption Auction in New York on December 10, 2015.
These are my photos from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance and the description below was in the 2013 Pebble Beach Car Guide.
1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale
From the 2013 Pebble Beach Car Guide
Known as the “Geneva Coupe”, this car was shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1952. It features jet-age styling with elegant fins, a rakish roofline and high-set quarter bumpers that add to its dramatic appeal. It is the first of six Geneva Coupes created in a similar style and was proudly shown at the Italian San Remo Concours d’Elegance by its first owner in 1954.
Returned to Ferrari soon after, the car was shipped to Chinetti Motors in New York. Its second owner was Mr. Robert C. Wilke, the founder of the Leader Card Indianapolis racing team and collector of many coachbuilt Ferraris.
RM Southeby’s Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000 USD
This Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale (Chassis: 0257 EU) was sold at the Gooding auction in Scottsdale in January 2014 for $1,787,500 USD.
There is a discrepancy about the model year of this Ferrari. It was presented at the Gooding auction and at Pebble Beach as a 1952 model and now RM Southeby’s describes it as a 1953 model and states it was assembled in December 1952 and delivered new in the Spring of 1953.
If it was assembled in December 1952 it could not have been at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1952 which was in March.
RM Southeby’s writes,
170 bhp, 2,563 cc SOHC V-12 engine with three Weber 36 DCF3 carburetors, five-speed manual transmission, front upper and lower wishbone independent suspension with transverse leaf springs and shock absorbers, rear live axle with leaf springs, parallel trailing arms, and Houdaille shock absorbers, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 98.5 in.
Displayed at the 1954 San Remo Concours d’Elegance
Formerly owned by Robert Wilke and Pierre-Paul Jalbert
Restored to original specifications in 2013
2013 Cavallino Classic Platinum Award winner
Ferrari Classiche certified; original matching-numbers engine
Chassis no. 0257 EU
Engine no. 0257 EU
Assembled during December 1952, this unique Vignale Coupe was delivered new in spring 1953 to a Turinese Ferrari dealer named Fontanella.
Perhaps this Ferrari was at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1953 (instead of 1952) and considering it was made in December perhaps the model year was accidentally misstated previously.
It certainly can be difficult to document the history of classic cars especially one made in 1952. Gooding said in their catalog in 2014 that this Ferrari had “well documented provenance” but they did not say it was Ferrari Classiche certified which RM Southeby’s does now state.
Maybe in the process of the Ferrari Classiche certification the model year discrepancy was discovered and corrected.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
How fantastic to see what the passion of a stylist can bring as result!
Hopefully I might be able to do as to what has been created by the Vignale workers!!
That is one beautiful car, and in fabulous colours.
Also, what is the car model to the left in the picture? it looks like a 1 OFF based on what I don’t know as I don’t recognise the body so obviously a Coach Built Special, almost certainly Italian I guess?
Ciaran,
That is a 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Berlinetta Speciale. Now you know.