A Film Star Ferrari with Racing History: 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta
Images: Fiskens
One of the kings of early-’50s international racing, this 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta was owned by a motor racing Italian Count, became a star of the silver screen and more throughout its colourful and exciting history. Today, it’s up for sale at Fiskens.
The Ferrari 212 Export was pitched at gentleman racers, featuring a shorter chassis and a 175bhp 2.6-litre V12 motor designed by Gioacchino Colombo. 27 212 Exports were made, and you could get them in Barchetta, Berlinetta, Spyder and Convertible configurations. This car, chassis 0102E was completed in March 1951 in Barchetta configuration. Count Giannino Marzotto, an Italian, was its first owner.
Marzotto was one of four brothers who had built up quite a reputation as racers. The four brothers owned four of the earliest 212 Exports, which confused the records of what which car was up to and when just a little bit. One of the brothers, Vittorio Marzotto, won the 1951 Giro di Sicilia in one 212 Exports, and would go on to win the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix and take Ferrari’s first victory in Monte Carlo.
Eventually 0102E would be sold to Pietro Palmieri of Rome, who would continue racing it. In August of 1951 he claimed second overall and first in class in the Giro delle Calabria. A week later he’d finish fourth in Senigallia on the Coppa Adriatica. He’d also lend the car to Bobby Baird who won his class and claimed sixth overall in the TT.
Its racing career would continue until it was sold to 20th Century Fox, who were adapting Hans Ruesch’s The Racer for the silver screen. To prepare it for its role as a ‘Burano’ in the film, Modena coachbuilders Autodromo were commissioned to lengthen its nose, lower its rear panels and create suitable side pipes.
The car was entered in the 1954 Mille Miglia as number 555, which you see on the car today, to be filmed in its native habitat and from there would head back to California to be shot in the sudio.
0102E was then sold to a private owner and would pass through a few lucky owners’ garages while staying in California. Later it would be bought by Joe Marchetti of Chicago, who raced it at Laguna Seca in the Monterey Historics, before selling it to Art Valdez who returned it to Europe to drive the Mille Miglia.
In 1996 Abba Kogan bought the car and raced it in the Monaco Historique in ’96, ’03 and ’04. It was then entrusted to British speicalist Terry Hoyle who treated it to a full mechanical refurbishment.
In 2007 it was sold again, and its new owner sent it to Modena where Autosport would carry out a full restoration guided by Marco Arrighi and the team at Ferrari Classiche. As part of this restoration the original, ‘Burano’-modified, bodywork was removed and a replica body built and fitted. Thanks to this the original body remains intact.
The car was certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2009, and since then its owner has been busy using it! The pair have entered the Gstaad Classic, the Techno Classic and done the Mille Miglia twice.
This beautifully-restored machine is in excellent condition and tells the kind of unique story that makes historic motorsport so compelling. It’s a lovely thing, and we hope to see it used and enjoyed for many years to come!
Head to Fiskens’ website here for more information.
Images via Fiskens
