www.QV500.com - Ferrari 195 Part 1: 195 Inter

195 Inter Ghia Coupe chassis 0109 S

Ferrari’s 195 was available in two alternative guises; Inter or Sport. The Inter was Ferrari's street car to replace their similarly titled 166, the Sport a short wheelbase competition version with a more powerful engine. The main difference between the outgoing 166 and Ferrari's 195, meanwhile, was an engine enlarged from two to 2.4-litres. However, despite a corresponding power increase, relatively few 195's were ever built as they quickly got superceded by the 2.6-litre 212. Several developments were introduced on the 195 Inter, one of the most important having been to the welded tubular steel chassis.

Ferrari stretched the wheelbase to 2500mm (a gain of 80mm) while the front track was also increased (by 20mm). Everything else remained fundamentally unchanged with independent front suspension and a live rear axle, drum brakes and Borrani wire wheels. The engine was an enlarged version of Colombo's two-litre 60° V12 found in the 166, the 195's single overhead camshaft unit featuring an increase in bore (by 5mm) that resulted in a 2341cc displacement (bore and stroke were 65mm x 58.8mm respectively). Like its predecessor, initially only one carburettor was fitted (a single twin choke downdraught Weber 32 DCF), however, it wasn't uncommon for certain cars to be fitted with a three-carb set up. Compression was set at 7.5:1 and yielded an output of 130bhp at 6000rpm, enough to propel the Inter to sixty in under ten seconds and on to a top speed of 120mph. As usual, customers would send their newly completed roller to the carrozzeria of their choice where it would be fitted with a body and interior. While Touring seemed to have become the most prolific body builders for Ferrari race cars, the Milanese organisation produced just a handful of shells for the 195 Inter. The bulk of production was split between Vignale and Ghia (both from Turin) who clothed ten cars each. Vignale produced five supremely elegant Coupe's all rich in period features and often lavishly detailed, the firm's extensive use of chrome to embellish grilles, vents and lips becoming a Vignale trademark.

195 Inter Ghia Coupe chassis 0109 S

The five Vignale Berlinetta's were a little more sporting with their rakish lines often accentuated by sweeping cabins and curvaceous wings. These vehicles were also often stylised with typical Vignale flamboyance, their intricate detailing providing them with a unique aura among coachbuilt Ferrari's. As mentioned earlier, Ghia also provided bodies for ten 195 Inter's, seven of which were normal Coupe’s and the remaining three Coupe’s with 2+2 seating. Ghia's bodywork was generally more conservative than that of Vignale, but these cars were typically very elegant and most perfectly proportioned.

With regard to Ghia's trio of 2+2 Coupe's, they were probably the most attractive four-seat Ferrari's constructed in the fifties and can still teach modern designers a thing or two about the 2+2 concept. Touring originally fabricated bodywork for just three 195 Inter's, all of which were Berlinetta’s along the Milanese carrozzeria's tried-and-tested format. Prominent features were the familiar egg crate grilles while the front and rear wings were once again masterfully crafted into the rest of the bodywork. These cars are often referred to as Fastback's on account of their long rear cabins running directly down to the tapered tail. Ferrari's final 195 Inter was clothed by the little-known outfit of Motto who fitted a Berlinetta body to chassis 0117 S. Normally associated with competition Ferrari's, Motto executed a purposeful-looking design with its large grille opening and absence of stylised details. According to the desires of a client and depending upon the body style (Coupe or Berlinetta, for example), 195 interiors would be completed with a varying degree of luxury and cockpit trimmings are a regular point of differentiation between seemingly identical vehicles. Generally, the most luxurious 195's would have been the Coupe's, Berlinetta’s often receiving less in the way of fixtures and fittings although there are of course exceptions to this. Most 195 Inter's weighed in at around the 950kg mark.

195 Inter Ghia Coupe chassis 0109 S	Although never conceptualised as a competition car, the 195 Inter did nevertheless make a few tentative forays into the world of motorsport. The most notable result came for chassis 0117 S, the sole Motto Berlinetta, this car racing in the 1951 Mille Miglia. Driven by Ammendola with navigator Pinzero, the pair went on to finish in a very impressive 15th overall. The Coppa Inter Europa at Monza then saw Franco Cornacchia enter chassis 083 S, this car going on to be used for South American races also. 24 195 Inter's were constructed, the chassis numbers of which and their original configurations are listed below:
195 Inter Chassis Index

0109 S images courtesy of Michael Sheehan at Ferrari's Online See his exceptional inventory of specialist Ferrari at www.Ferraris-Online.com

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