Help ID a '50s-era Ferrari

PKR · 04-04-2011, 01:15 PM

I'm hoping you can help me nail down a few basic facts on a Ferrari my father owned back in the early '50s. I believe he bought it in Europe, possibly at the factory. He raced it at a number of SCCA races around the Midwest and also owned/raced an XK120 and a J2X LeMans

Thanks for your help

JazzyO · 04-05-2011, 11:10 AM

On page 418 of Hans Tanner's "Ferrari" - Fifth Edition, 1978 - there is a picture of a practically identical car, could well be the same car. It is a 212 Export Vignale.

Onno

JazzyO · 04-05-2011, 11:35 AM

The thread below shows that it is definitely a 212 by Vignale. I can't find the same car, so don't have a chassisnumber, but too many close calls to call it anything else. Try the red car wearing number 228 on this page: Carrozzeria VIGNALE - Ferraris bodied by Vignale - Page 2 - FerrariChat.com

Onno

Granucci · 04-05-2011, 01:31 PM

Jazzy is correct from the markings and features.

PKR: Would you have any documentation that might show the serial number?

r

PKR · 04-05-2011, 06:14 PM

Thanks very much for your help.
At this early point in my research I have assembled only photos and a few related facts, no documents.
An online search has revealed that my father raced the car at Iowa City and Chanute during the summer of 1954. I have also found a letter to him from E. de la Torriente Jr, apparently an organizer of the first Cuban Grand Prix (Feb., 1957) who wrote that my father had sold the car to him and that it had been sold again and that the car finished third "in the sporting class". My mother has told me that she recalls traveling with my father to Nova Scotia to pickup the car, though she cannot recall any other details.
I'll post a few more photos soon ....

212Export · 04-05-2011, 10:59 PM

IMO your car is 212 Export 0131 E, Vignale coupe, originally with 2 tone paintwork Black/silver. First owner Franco Cornacchia from Scuderia Guastalla, car bought on 25th of November 1951. The car has a race history in the U.S. and most of all was raced in the Carrera Panamericana 1952 (DNF). All this on the assumption that THIS car is 0131 E. Reference is Marcel Massini's wonderful book on the Vignale Ferrari's. Please forgive if I'm wrong.

Granucci · 04-06-2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 212Export

IMO your car is 212 Export 0131 E, Vignale coupe, originally with 2 tone paintwork Black/silver. First owner Franco Cornacchia from Scuderia Guastalla, car bought on 25th of November 1951. The car has a race history in the U.S. and most of all was raced in the Carrera Panamericana 1952 (DNF). All this on the assumption that THIS car is 0131 E. Reference is Marcel Massini's wonderful book on the Vignale Ferrari's. Please forgive if I'm wrong.

I'll almost bet that is one set of photos Marcel doesn't have....but one never know when it comes to Marcel, so, all bets off.

r

PKR · 04-06-2011, 03:18 PM

Here is another photo.
I 'm continuing to look for a color shot since my own childhood recollections of the car are somewhat foggy. If I had to guess I'd say that the car probably was not black/silver at this time. I'll keep an open mind though ... but hopefully I'll find a color photo.

PKR · 04-06-2011, 03:20 PM

Here's another photo. Still looking for a color shot ...

212Export · 04-06-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granucci

I'll almost bet that is one set of photos Marcel doesn't have....but one never know when it comes to Marcel, so, all bets off.

r

That particular set of photos probably not (but I wouldn't bet on that). The one's pictured in the mentioned Vignale book of 0131E look very, very similar. The included early US history of 0131E does give a "picture-fitting" impression as well.

PKR · 04-07-2011, 06:01 AM

OK, I've uncovered a color snapshot of the car, albeit not a very good one. While the primary color is dark - either black or dark blue - the other color has a cream or light brown look to it. Of course, it might have been repainted by a previous owner but I doubt my father would have done it.

N72727 · 01-08-2012, 10:28 PM

This car is 212 Export #0146E.

N72727 · 01-10-2012, 10:30 AM

#0146E at the start of the Pinar Del Rio - Havana race.

PKR · 01-12-2012, 05:40 AM

Thanks very much for your help. I'm curious to learn how you came upon this information; PM me if you prefer.

dim · 01-15-2012, 10:22 AM

1952/april/30, Salzburg-Liefering, driver/owner Kurt Zeller, Germany
Picture stolen from site Technisches Museum Wien
© Artur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien

JazzyO · 01-15-2012, 11:35 AM

Very cool pictures. Seems like this is a car that was properly raced (and apparently rolled in Havana). Fantastic!

Onno

04-04-2011, 01:15 PM	#1
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	Help ID a '50s-era Ferrari I'm hoping you can help me nail down a few basic facts on a Ferrari my father owned back in the early '50s. I believe he bought it in Europe, possibly at the factory. He raced it at a number of SCCA races around the Midwest and also owned/raced an XK120 and a J2X LeMans Thanks for your help

04-05-2011, 01:31 PM	#4
Granucci Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: far and away Ferrari Life Posts: 5,050	Jazzy is correct from the markings and features. PKR: Would you have any documentation that might show the serial number? r Guide to the Galaxy: Don't Panic Rik -- LAH ! Current: 1990 Mondial T Cabriolet : Red/Tan 1995 456 GT 2+2 : Roso Metalizzato [Fer 311/C] & Tan

01-10-2012, 10:30 AM	#13
N72727 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: France Ferrari Life Posts: 5	#0146E at the start of the Pinar Del Rio - Havana race. Attached Images

01-15-2012, 10:22 AM	#15
dim Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Russia Ferrari Life Posts: 2	212 Export s/n 0146E 1952/april/30, Salzburg-Liefering, driver/owner Kurt Zeller, Germany Picture stolen from site Technisches Museum Wien © Artur Fenzlau / Technisches Museum Wien Attached Images

01-15-2012, 11:35 AM	#16
JazzyO Owner Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands Ferrari Life Posts: 4,289	Very cool pictures. Seems like this is a car that was properly raced (and apparently rolled in Havana). Fantastic! Onno Future: 458 Italia (May 2012) Present: 550 Maranello, 330GTC, 365BB (x2) Past: eh - see above.

04-05-2011, 11:10 AM	#2
JazzyO Owner Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands Ferrari Life Posts: 4,289	On page 418 of Hans Tanner's "Ferrari" - Fifth Edition, 1978 - there is a picture of a practically identical car, could well be the same car. It is a 212 Export Vignale. Onno

04-05-2011, 11:35 AM	#3
JazzyO Owner Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands Ferrari Life Posts: 4,289	The thread below shows that it is definitely a 212 by Vignale. I can't find the same car, so don't have a chassisnumber, but too many close calls to call it anything else. Try the red car wearing number 228 on this page: Carrozzeria VIGNALE - Ferraris bodied by Vignale - Page 2 - FerrariChat.com Onno

04-05-2011, 06:14 PM	#5
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	Thanks very much for your help. At this early point in my research I have assembled only photos and a few related facts, no documents. An online search has revealed that my father raced the car at Iowa City and Chanute during the summer of 1954. I have also found a letter to him from E. de la Torriente Jr, apparently an organizer of the first Cuban Grand Prix (Feb., 1957) who wrote that my father had sold the car to him and that it had been sold again and that the car finished third "in the sporting class". My mother has told me that she recalls traveling with my father to Nova Scotia to pickup the car, though she cannot recall any other details. I'll post a few more photos soon ....

04-05-2011, 10:59 PM	#6
212Export Owner Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 2,288	IMO your car is 212 Export 0131 E, Vignale coupe, originally with 2 tone paintwork Black/silver. First owner Franco Cornacchia from Scuderia Guastalla, car bought on 25th of November 1951. The car has a race history in the U.S. and most of all was raced in the Carrera Panamericana 1952 (DNF). All this on the assumption that THIS car is 0131 E. Reference is Marcel Massini's wonderful book on the Vignale Ferrari's. Please forgive if I'm wrong.

04-06-2011, 03:18 PM	#8
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	Here is another photo. I 'm continuing to look for a color shot since my own childhood recollections of the car are somewhat foggy. If I had to guess I'd say that the car probably was not black/silver at this time. I'll keep an open mind though ... but hopefully I'll find a color photo.

04-06-2011, 03:20 PM	#9
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	Here's another photo. Still looking for a color shot ...

04-07-2011, 06:01 AM	#11
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	OK, I've uncovered a color snapshot of the car, albeit not a very good one. While the primary color is dark - either black or dark blue - the other color has a cream or light brown look to it. Of course, it might have been repainted by a previous owner but I doubt my father would have done it.

01-08-2012, 10:28 PM	#12
N72727 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: France Ferrari Life Posts: 5	This car is 212 Export #0146E.

01-12-2012, 05:40 AM	#14
PKR Join Date: Apr 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 6	Thanks very much for your help. I'm curious to learn how you came upon this information; PM me if you prefer.

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