The idea that competition improves the breed is perhaps no truer than at Ferrari, and the pure, jewel-like 166, 195, and 212 especially lived up to the mantra. The dual-purpose nature of Ferrari's early models meant that many owners could be cruising the streets of Milano one day, and carving the twisting, grueling lanes of the Mille Miglia the next, and with any luck, be back to the Autostrada by Monday. Italy's most celebrated coachbuilders clothed customer 212s in a variety of body styles ranging from light and sinuous <em>barchettas</em> to luxurious coupes and cabriolets.
Chassis number 0147E is a 1951 212 Inter, one of just 36 chassis originally bodied by Vignale, and boasting a fascinating, unique history. First delivered to Siro Sbraci of Firenze, Italy, it was originally fitted with coupe coachwork by Carrozzeria Vignale. Sbraci was a gentleman racer active in Italy for about a decade starting in the late 1940s, beginning at the helm of a little Ermini 1100 Sport, which he ran at the Mille Miglia and other Italian national events through 1950. In 1952, he upped his game with the purchase of 0147E the 2.6-liter V12 Ferrari undoubtedly being quite the upgrade from the Fiat 1100-based Ermini!
At the wheel of his new Ferrari, Sbraci placed 3<sup>rd</sup> overall at the Fiesole hillclimb in Firenze in April, followed very shortly after by entry into the Mille Miglia in early May. Sharing duties with Sante Guidici and running car number 559, s/n 0147E unfortunately logged a DNF. Looking for more power, Sbraci later had the engine upgraded with three carburetors by Garage La Rotonda in Firenze. The upgrade paid dividends, with a class win coming at the 1953 Coppa della Toscana, and 2<sup>nd</sup> at the Vermicino hillclimb. In March of 1954, Sbraci sold his 212, later moving to more specialized machinery including a Maserati A6GCS and Ferrari 500 TRC.
Gino Casarotto of Venezia was the next owner of 0147E. He continued to campaign the car at local events, including the Coppa della Toscana, Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti, and the crown jewel of Italian motorsport the Mille Miglia, which again ended prematurely in a DNF. The Ferrari traded hands again in 1955, and twice in 1956, ending up with Piero Cattelan.
From here, the history of 0147E takes an intriguing turn. It is not known if the car was Cattelan's at the time, but sometime around late 1961, it was turned over to Piero Drogo's Carrozzeria Sports Cars in Modena for a new lease on life. By this time, the rigors of motorsport would have undoubtedly shown on the original Vignale body, and perhaps the new owner was after a more contemporary look. This is certainly not a unique occurrence, as many Ferrari owners over the years particularly during this renaissance period of Italian coachbuilding commissioned new coachwork to modernize or personalize their cars.
Drogo was tasked with building a completely new alloy body in the style of Scaglietti's 250 California Spider, which was first seen just a few years before in 1957. Drogo re-skinned 0147E, deftly proportioning the design to accommodate the 212 Inter's chassis dimensions.
Piero Drogo's Carrozzeria Sports Cars was subcontractor that played an integral role in Ferrari lore. Based near the Ferrari factory, the firm served both customer teams and Scuderia Ferrari. Drogo was known for their work with aerodynamics and were tasked with re-shaping many competition Ferraris for high-speed duty. Cars like the wild 250 SWB Breadvan, the Garage Francorchamps 250 SWB, and long-nose variant of the works 1965 250 LM are among Drogo's many famous creations. The great Giotto Bizzarrini was a fan of their work, calling upon Drogo to build the bodies for the first run of Iso Grifo A3C models. Most famously however, Carrozzeria Drogo served as the official coachbuilder of Scuderia Ferrari for a glorious period between 1966 and 1967, crafting the bodies for the stunning 206SP, 330 P3, and 412P arguably among the most beautiful sports racing cars of the 60s, if not of all time.
Historians discovered photos of 0147E in bare alloy parked on Drogo workshop forecourt in the early 1960s, verifying the history of the unique coachwork. Additionally, there are photos of the car in its original guise at the Mille Miglia, linked together with Italian registration documents on file. The next notable owner was Count Giovanni 'Johnny' Lurani Cernuschi, himself a successful racer, having run the Mille Miglia no fewer than 11 times, winning his class three times, and famously sharing a Works MG K3s in 1933. Following a crash in a Maserati 4CM, he focused on sports car racing through the 1950s, taking a class win at LeMans in 1951 in a Lancia B20 GT. In retirement, Count Johnny Lurani became a significant player in European motorsport governance, influencing Formula Junior, motorbike racing, and founding several Italian motoring magazines.
Count Lurani then sold 0147E to fellow Italian Corrado Cupellini, before the car went to the UK, where it spent the late 60s into the early 70s. In 1973, it came to the United States with Dr. Raymond E. Boniface of Youngstown, Ohio, who owned the car for three decades having it restored in the early 1990s, and the engine rebuilt by Wayne Obry in 1998. In 2004, it was in the care of a West Coast Ferrari collector and enthusiast who used it extensively in Ferrari Historic Challenge events, putting the punchy 2.6-liter 212 to very good use. It found new hands with a private collector in 2007, who continued to show and race the car with great enthusiasm in the Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, and at the Cavallino Classic at Palm Beach Raceway in 2012, 2013, and 2014. While dressed in a svelte California Spider suit, a prod of the starter reveals the 2,562cc Colombo V12's race bred roots, firing to life with a magnificent snarl that feels edgier and more eager than the 250 California Spider which inspired its looks.
This wonderful and unique Ferrari has had a relatively low profile recently, and the pleasingly mellowed older restoration remains very attractive thanks to regular expert care. The well documented history is backed by a FIVA Passport, which opens up entry into a wide range of historic events worldwide, while it is prime for continued enjoyment in club gatherings or select concours events where its fascinating story can be showcased.
With a mere 36 examples produced, the availability of one of the Vignale 212s presents a rare opportunity for collectors. Chassis 0147E adds to the appeal as a two-time Mille Miglia entrant with period race history, ownership by an Italian motorsport legend, and a beautiful one-off alloy body by one Scuderia Ferrari's favored <em>carrozzerie</em>, Piero Drogo.
- -One of just 36 examples of the 212 Inter Vignale produced
- -A two-time Mille Miglia entrant, run at numerous Italian races and hillclimbs
- -Updated to triple carburetors in 1953
- -Rebodie
