1952 Ferrari 212 Inter (Ghia coachwork)
- Colour
- Yellow over black with whitewall tires
Chassis 0191 EL is a one-off Ghia-bodied Ferrari 212 Inter completed in summer 1952, originally bodied as a show car and exhibited at that year's Paris Motor Show. Designed with styling cues shared with Ghia's Virgil Exner collaborations, it was subsequently acquired by Argentine President Juan Perón via a Roman intermediary. After Perón's 1955 ouster it remained in Argentina until 1973, then passed to European ownership in 1987, receiving a comprehensive restoration. The car has earned recognition at Pebble Beach and the Cavallino Classic.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,187,500
- 1952 → 1952Factory deliveryFerrari / Ghia (show car preparation)partial documentation
Chassis built in late summer 1952 and sent to Ghia in Turin for bespoke coachwork, intended as a factory show car for the Paris Motor Show.
- 1952 → 1955Private saleJuan Domingo Perónpartial documentation
Purchase arranged via an intermediary based in Rome; the transaction was structured discreetly to avoid Argentine luxury-import taxes and unwanted press attention. Car remained in Argentina after Perón fled the country following his removal from power.
- → 1973Acquisition unknownArgentine dealernone documentation
Following Perón's exile the car passed through Argentine hands and reached a local dealership by the early 1970s.
- 1973-08-01 → 1987Private saleConrado Tenninapartial documentation
Italian resident of Buenos Aires who held the car for approximately fourteen years before selling it to a European buyer.
- 1987 → 1999-12-01Private saleEuropean owner (identity unspecified)partial documentation
Commissioned a thorough restoration encompassing full mechanical work and a return to the original two-tone Paris Salon colour scheme with whitewall tyres.
- 1999-12-01 →Private saleCurrent consignor (noted Ferrari show-car collector)partial documentation
Respected specialist collector who had minor cosmetic corrections carried out by Motion Products in Neenah, Wisconsin in mid-2002 and entered the car at several concours events; Ferrari Classiche certification was in progress at time of cataloguing.
Competition
- 1952-10-011952 Paris Motor ShowExhibited on the Ferrari stand
Debuted as a factory show car alongside a Pinin Farina cabriolet; it was at this event that Perón reportedly first saw and decided to acquire the car.
- 20012001 Cavallino Classic
Presented by the current consignor shortly after acquisition; no award result mentioned for this appearance.
- 2002-08-012002 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance2nd in class
Appearance followed minor cosmetic freshening by Motion Products; the result was seen as validation of the earlier European restoration.
- 20032003 Cavallino ClassicPlatinum Award and Excellence Cup
Second Cavallino appearance for the car under the current owner; won the top class recognition at the event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1987Restoration
A thorough restoration was undertaken after the car entered European ownership, covering a complete mechanical rebuild and an exterior refinish returning it to the original two-tone yellow-over-black Paris Salon livery with correct whitewall tyres.
Commissioned by the European owner who acquired the car from Conrado Tennina.
- 2002BodyworkMotion Products
Minor cosmetic corrections to the engine bay, restoring finishes and fittings to factory-correct specification following the earlier full restoration.
Work carried out in Neenah, Wisconsin, in the first half of 2002, prior to the Pebble Beach showing in August.
- —InspectionFerrari Classiche
Ferrari Classiche certification process under way at the time of the auction catalogue's preparation.
Described as ongoing at time of sale; expected to open eligibility for major international concours.
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