Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale

The Ferrari 212 Inter was a grand tourer that blended high-performance engineering with bespoke Italian coachwork, often crafted by Carrozzeria Vignale. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, Vignale’s bodies on the 212 Inter were distinctive, featuring bold lines, striking two-tone color schemes, and elegant detailing. Among these, chassis 0197EL and 0211EL were two nearly identical Berlinettas, both featuring right-hand drive configurations and a two-tone paint scheme.

Chassis 0197EL was completed in June 1952 and delivered to its first owner, Desire L. Signoret of Dignes, France. Originally finished in yellow with black fenders, the car remained in France until 1958, when it was spotted at Joseph Cattaneo’s garage in Paris, now repainted red. By 1960, it had crossed the Atlantic, landing in the hands of Luigi Chinetti in New York, before passing to James D. Floria of Connecticut in 1961. The car was later offered for sale in Road & Track for $3,800 in 1962 and subsequently purchased by Richard A. Watson in 1966. Over the years, it changed hands multiple times, eventually finding its way to Anthony Bamford in the UK in 1972. During his ownership, the original engine was removed and stored, with a 250 GT PF Coupe engine installed at some point in the 1970s. Donald K. Nelson later acquired the car, participating in events such as the Norwich Union RAC Classic Run to Silverstone in 1988 and the Christie’s International Historic Festival in 1992. By the late 1990s, the car returned to Bamford’s collection, where it was reunited with its original engine before being displayed at Pebble Beach in 2003. It was later offered for sale by Gregor Fisken in London and eventually made its way to Robert Cole in California. The car was sold at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Monterey auction in 2009 for $804,500 and entered the prestigious collection of Arturo Keller in Petaluma, California.

Chassis 0211EL, built in 1952, was originally delivered to Gianni Agnelli, one of Ferrari’s most influential patrons. The car was registered in Turin and later sold in May 1953 to Angelo Bordogna of Milan. At some point, it was exported to the United States, where it was registered in New York under the same plate number as 0197EL, suggesting it may have passed through similar ownership circles. By 1975, it was owned by Robert Hansen in New Jersey, before being acquired by Donald Dethlefsen in Chicago a year later. Joe Marchetti, a well-known Ferrari dealer and collector, took possession of the car in 1978, refinishing it in red with a tan interior. Marchetti later offered it for sale at $35,000, and the car continued to appear at events, including the Monterey Historic Races in 1984. Jeffrey Vogel of New York became the next owner in 1986, participating in the Mille Miglia that same year. After passing through several more collectors, including Bruno Koepp of Switzerland and Engelbert Stieger’s Turning Wheel Collection, 0211EL found itself in the spotlight once again. In 2021, it was displayed at the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena as part of the “Gianni Agnelli and Ferrari” exhibition, followed by another appearance at the museum’s “Ferrari Forever” showcase in 2022, celebrating the marque’s legacy. Both chassis 0197EL and 0211EL serve as remarkable examples of Michelotti’s design for Vignale, embodying the spirit of early Ferrari grand touring machines. Their shared bodywork and unique histories underline Ferrari’s tradition of building limited-production road cars with strong ties to motorsport and bespoke craftsmanship.