Ferrari 212 Europa Spider Touring

The Ferrari 212 Europa Spider, chassis number 0253EU, is a one-off vehicle built in 1952 and bodied by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. It represents the final open example constructed using Touring’s Superleggera method, a system combining a tubular steel framework with aluminum alloy body panels. The car was designed by Federico Formenti and features a three-seat barchetta configuration. The exterior was originally finished in black, with a tan interior. This chassis is powered by a 2.7-liter Colombo-designed V12 engine, equipped with three Weber carburetors. Performance was in line with the 212 Europa series, which was positioned as a grand touring model. Chassis 0253EU was delivered new to the United States and acquired by William Ford. It was subsequently used by the Ford Motor Company as a reference model during the early development phase that led to the Ford Thunderbird. The vehicle later passed through a number of private owners in North America, including Richard F. Merritt, Tom Barrett, and Dr. Frederick Simeone. In the 1990s, the car was part of the Henri Chambon collection in France and appeared at multiple European events including Retromobile and the Concours d’Elegance at Bagatelle. Since the early 2000s, the car has been held in the collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It has participated in various public exhibitions, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it received second in class in 2012. Other appearances include the Quail Motorsports Gathering, Concorso Italiano, and several Ferrari-specific anniversary events. Only a limited number of Ferrari 212 Europa Spiders were produced, and 0253EU is the only known example configured with this specific design and layout. The car remains in preserved condition and is considered part of the early production history of Ferrari road models.