Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé

The Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, chassis number 0295EU, is a remarkable piece of Ferrari history, with a story that spans across decades and continents. This car, first introduced at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, became an instant symbol of elegance and performance. As a Vignale-bodied creation, it carried the distinctive and graceful design of Giovanni Michelotti, representing Ferrari’s commitment to luxury grand touring cars during the early 1950s. After its Paris debut, the car found its way to George Reed of RRR Motors in Homewood, Illinois, in 1953. During this period, it underwent some subtle changes, including the replacement of its front bumpers with two vertical bumperettes, which became a distinctive feature of the car. Over time, ownership of 0295EU passed through several hands in the United States, with notable owners such as Ken Hutchison in Tower Lake, Illinois, Robert F. Tarwacki in South Bend, Indiana, and John Delamater in Indianapolis. By 1968, the car had found its way to Merriman in Kansas City, Kansas, before eventually making its way to Gilbert Walton in Danville, California, in 1971. Walton would go on to keep the car for many years, during which it saw a full restoration between 1986 and 1990 by Crockett Auto Restoration in the United States, bringing it back to its original beauty. The car was then acquired by Kevin Cogan of Louisville, Kentucky, who would be instrumental in showcasing the car at prestigious events around the world. Under Cogan’s stewardship, the car participated in several highly regarded concours events, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2015, where it competed in the Class M1 – Ferrari Grand Touring category. Other notable appearances included the Cavallino Classic in 2016, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and the Arizona Concours. The car also took part in the Ferrari 70th Anniversary Celebration in Maranello, Italy, in 2017, cementing its place in the history of Ferrari as a collector’s gem. In 2019, 0295EU continued to turn heads at the Swiss Concours d’Elegance Coppet and the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, while in 2022, it participated in the Ferrari Cavalcade Classiche. After years of showcasing its beauty at these iconic events, the car was eventually sold at RM Sotheby’s Miami Auction in 2024, where it fetched an impressive $4,295,000—well within its estimated range of $4.5 million to $5.5 million.