www.QV500.com - Ferrari 212 Part 2: 212 Export
 

212 Export Vignale Berlinetta chassis 0190 ED		 The Export was Ferrari’s competition 212, a vehicle openly available to wealthy enough customers and one capable of winning the worlds most prestigious endurance races. They took a variety of notable victories between 1951 and '53, thus playing an integral role in cementing Ferrari’s reputation. Like the Inter, Export chassis's were direct descendants of the tubular steel frames used for the 166. Suitably reinforced to cope with the additional stresses caused by a powerful 2.6-litre engine, the 2250mm wheelbase was 35cm shorter than the concurrent 212 Inter.
   
Other upgrades were also made, but Ferrari's evolutionary development process was clear to see. Incorporating the Gioacchino Colombo-designed, single overhead camshaft 60° V12 with its displacement of 2562cc, most Export's were purchased for competition use and as a result, the majority of engines were completed to a very high specification with three Weber 32 DCF carburettors and 175bhp at 6500rpm. Those customers who intended to use their cars for fast road touring, however, often chose a 150bhp at 6000rpm motor with its less complicated single Weber 36 DCF carb. Compression was increased over the Inter with an 8.0:1 ratio (compared to 7.5:1), Ferrari's identical five-speed non-synchromesh transmission being retained. Typically weighing in at around 10% less than the average 212 Inter, Export's were lively performers with a top speed of 140mph and (depending upon gear ratios) a zero to sixty time in well under seven seconds. As with most high performance GT cars of the period, customers normally purchased Export's bereft of bodywork or cockpit fixtures and fittings. Rolling chassis's were sent to one of the Italian carrozzeria's who would fabricate a body and fit an interior. Vignale was the most popular coachbuilder of the time, executing 13 Export bodies in total.
 

212 Export Vignale Berlinetta chassis 0190 ED		 Three were Spyder's, eight Berlinetta's and two Convertible's, all of which were designs of outstanding elegance. Some were devoid of almost any stylised trim, others featuring lavishly detailed grilles, vents and lourves carved into their bodies. Extremely pretty, Vignale’s run of 212 Export bodies ranks among the most consistently impressive from this or any design house of the period. Ten Export's received coachwork by Touring of Milan, the six Spyder's, one Barchetta and three Berlinetta's once again having come in the firm's tried and tested style.
   
Many enthusiasts regard Touring's styling to have become the definitive look for vintage Ferrari racing cars whether in Berlinetta, Spyder or the much-loved Barchetta configuration. It's a combination of their timeless style, understated elegance and not least the fact that some of Ferrari's most important victories were achieved with vehicles wearing eminently comparable coachwork. Motto and Fontana were much less well-known, both firms designing and fabricating bodies for a pair of 212 Export's. Motto were responsible for a Berlinetta and a Spyder, both of these super lightweight minimalistic designs getting pared right down for competition use. Devoid of any unnecessary stylistic trim, they were both clean and well proportioned cars. As for the pair bodied by Fontana one (on chassis 0082 E) was the wacky Uovo (or Egg, as it is commonly known). It featured an incredibly rounded design with a prominent, almost circular grille and heavily sculpted wings. Nothing like the Uovo has ever been seen since, it truly was a unique Ferrari and later got upgraded by the factory to full 225 Sport specification. Interiors were trimmed according to the requirements of their owner although as a general rule, Spyder's and Berlinetta's were typically fitted out more spartanly than the likes of a Coupe or Cabriolet.
 

212 Export Motto Spyder chassis 0094 E

Ferrari 212 Export Chassis Index

 With the majority of 212 Export's bought primarily for racing, few were ever opulently appointed and even the Vignale Convertible's were less luxurious than most Inter's. Ferrari put their new model into production during late 1950 and it quickly became a popular choice. Successful around the world although especially so in Europe, we believe that Ferrari originally constructed 28 examples, four later being returned to the factory and upgraded to even hotter specifications. The chassis numbers of these 28 cars and their original configurations are listed below:
   
0074 E Motto Berlinetta 1951 Tour de France 3rd
0076 E Vignale Spyder Re-numbered from a 166 Spyder Corsa (chassis 06 I)
0078 E Touring Spyder Tour de France winning car
0080 E Vignale Berlinetta Road car, no race history
0084 E Fontana Berlinetta 225 spec engine then 1951 Giro di Toscana winning car
0086 E Fontana Spyder Fitted with Sicillian Cart bodywork, 1951 Giro di Sicilia winning car
0088 E Touring Berlinetta Little known
0090 E Vignale Spyder Early race history
0092 E Vignale Berlinetta 1952 Carrera Panamericana 6th
0094 E Motto Spyder 1952 Premier Eva Peron winning car
0096 E Vignale Berlinetta 1951 Tour de France 2nd, re-bodied by Zagato
0098 E Vignale Berlinetta Early race history
0100 E Touring Spyder Early race history, re-bodied as Vignale Berlinetta
0102 E Touring Spyder Early race history
0104 ED Touring Barchetta Re-bodied by Vignale as a Berlinetta
0106 E Vignale Cabriolet Road car from new
0108 E Touring Berlinetta Early Italian race history
0110 E Vignale Cabriolet Little known
0112 E Touring Berlinetta Four time Mille Miglia veteran, up to 225 S spec
0128 E Vignale Berlinetta Some early North American race history
0134 E Touring Spyder 1952 Bremgarten Grand Prix winning car
0136 E Touring Spyder South American race history
0146 E Vignale Berlinetta Re-numbered
0158 ED Touring Spyder 1952 GP di Pergusa winning car
0170 ET Vignale Berlinetta Upgraded to 225 Export specification
0190 ED Vignale Berlinetta Upgraded to 225 S specification
0214 ED Vignale Spyder Believed to have early South American race history

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