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1952 Ferrari 212 Europa 2 2 Cabriolet by Vignale ( USD 1650000 )

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Engine Type: 2.5 Litre Colombo 12-Cylinder
Engine Number:0255EU
Color:Dark Blue / Red Leather
Additional information and photos to follow shortly. 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa 2 2 Cabriolet by Vignale s/n 0255EU, Engine no. 0255EU Dark Blue with Red Leather Interior A development of Ferrari’s earlier 166 and 195, the 212 was a more powerful roadgoing car that expanded the visibility (and finances) of the marque, while also further underscoring Ferrari’s intention to expand into the role of producing cars for the street. At this time, Ferrari was not offering standard coachwork, and the cars were clothed with bodies by a range of coachbuilders including Vignale and Pinin Farina. Cars varied greatly in mechanical specification and cosmetic features and configuration, making each 212 one of just a handful of identical cars, if not totally unique. This particular car has interesting known history from new, and is one of 28 212s bodied by Vignale, of which just four were open cars. This car was originally commissioned by an Englishman living in Paris named John McFadden, and a certificate of origin for chassis number 0227EL was issued on the 11th of August 1952. McFadden specified the car as a left hand drive example since he would be keeping and using the car on the continent. This would have made the car one of the very earliest left hand drive Ferraris, as right hand drive was then the convention. However, the car was constructed as a right hand drive example, which could have occurred for any number of reasons from clerical error to the possibility that the factory was not finished tooling up to construct left hand drive cars. Whatever the reason, McFadden became aware that the car was being built as a right hand drive example and announced that he was unwilling to accept the car. Ferrari agreed to construct another car, this time a left hand drive example, with the same serial number and French registration “402TTY2” as the right hand drive car. That newly constructed car already had a chassis number assigned to it, 0255EU, and this number was superseded by a newly stamped number, 0227EL, the original number from Mr. McFadden’s order and French registration. The right hand drive car was restamped 0255EU so that the two cars essentially swapped identities. Both cars survive today with both numbers on their chassis, although they have always been retained singular and separate identities reflecting the original commissioner of each car: the left hand drive car as 0227EL and the right hand drive car as 0255EU. Consequently, this car, the right hand drive example originally constructed for Mr. McFadden (but never owned by him) has been known as 0255EU since leaving the factory for the first time in May of 1953, although it also bears 0227EL stamped on the chassis. In the past, this peculiarity around numbering has caused some confusion around these two cars, this has been laid to rest by the factory by the original records as well as Classiche certifications for both cars. Prior to being delivered to its first owner, Umberto Nuvoli of Rome, this car was converted to a triple Weber carburetor set up that it retains to this day. This car’s first registration was issued on 22 May 1953. Nuvoli kept the car until 1954, when it was sold by a dealer in Florence. The car was subsequently imported to owners in California, and the car resided in the Bay Area until the early 1990’s, when it passed into the hands of another collector. In recent years, the car has been enthusiastically owned and looked after, having participated in the California Mille three times (2001, 2002, 2004), the Tour Auto twice (2003, 2005), the Mille Miglia (2005), and shown at Pebble beach (2002), prior to a comprehensive restoration being undertaken to the cars current excellent condition. The restoration was performed without regard to cost, with a strong focus on authenticity and correctness. The work was performed by Symbolic Motors in San Diego, and the engine was rebuilt by Patrick Ottis. Since the completion of the restoration, the car has run the Mille Miglia (2007) and the Tour Auto (2008) once more. Additionally, the car was shown at Cavallino in 2007, where it scored 96.5 points, earning it a Platinum award.

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