For Sale: 1951 Ferrari 212 Barchetta
There are not many cars that capture the true spirit of early sports cars more so than the Ferrari 212 Barchetta, currently for sale at the the Classic Throttle Shop.
With its revvy 2.5 litre 12 cylinder engine, close ratio competition five speed gearbox in a lightweight body resulting in one of the best driving experiences you can have. It hurries along crackling on the over run from the small twin exhausts, the 170 bhp V12 engine really giving you super smooth power delivery from low down coming on song about 3000 rpm, then just taking off spinning eagerly up the rev range. With sharp steering and pliant suspension this fifties icon really gets your attention and every drive becomes a special one. It just feels right and the sound of that V12 engine is glorious. It is one car that i really would love to own it’s that good.
This early Ferrari 212 was built in 1951 and was displayed at the London Earls Court Motor Show that year. Displayed as a running chassis it was bought off the stand by racing driver Mike Hawthorn who was later to become Formula One World Champion. He commissioned coach builders Abbott of his hometown Farnham, Surrey to build an open tourer for him. As was the tradition in those days there were many coach builders designing and building bodies for the Ferrari factory. This car was the only Ferrari to be bodied by Abbott. Hawthorn owned the car for approximately two years before passing it on to a gentleman in the North of England who in turn sold it to well known Alfa specialist Simon Moore in 1971 after the car had been taken off the road in 1958.
Simon Moore had the car for approx. 12 months and sold to fund his first house purchase. It eventually ended up with Martin McGlone circa 1984 who commissioned R M Wilson Engineering in Leicestershire to re body the car in the identical type of the Phil Hill 212 Barchetta, at great cost and to the highest exacting standards.
Terry Hoyle Engineering rebuilt the engine and mechanicals and the car was once again back on the road now fully restored with FIA papers and sporting its new touring Barchetta body.
The car was entered in the 1993 Mille Miglia as well as the ’93 Coppa D’Oro Della Dolomiti and was best placed UK car. It also competed at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb, Presscott Hillclimb and in 1994 the Rally Des Pyrennes.
It was sold by Martin in approx. 1996 to NZ based Peter Giddings who set about campaigning it in many events both in NZ and Australia as well as in the US. Giddings sold the car to Ferrari collector Guido Belgiorno-Nettis who used it at The Australian Grand Prix and Phillip Island. In 2003 Melbourne based Classic Car dealer Jeff Dutton bought the car and had it repainted from Black to Rosso Corsa and again did several local events in the car.
CTS bought the car on behalf of its current owner in 2007 where it has been part of a collection of blue chip cars. It has been well maintained and used sparingly over the past few years for weekend drives.
With a large and comprehensive history file with many bills and photos dating back to the late sixties including, buff log book and letter from Abbotts confirming that they built it for Mike Hawthorn, this interesting car retains all original period mechanicals.
It is a car that can be used with confidence and is eligible for entry to many of the worlds best classic car events.
With only 79 Ferrari 212 Barchettas built, and prices on the up, its one for the collection!
More information? Please call Classic Throttle Shop us on 02.9922 2036 or write an email: sales@classicthrottleshop.com
