The Ferrari 212 were built between late 1950 and 1953. It was built on two main directions: the Inter and the Export. While the Inter was the road-going version, most of the Export was racing models.
After Enzo Ferrari left the Alfa Romeo factory and started its own company, he decided to built cars differently. The 212 was based on the previous model, the 166. The Inter was the most successful of the early production cars built by Ferrari. It had a variety of body styles, as berlinetta, cabriolet, and coupe versions. The 212 started the cooperation with Pininfarina design studio and created a long-term relationship between the two Italian companies.
It all started with a chassis and few design cues that had to be respected. But the coachbuilders had enough freedom to express their creativity. Companies like Ghia, Ghia Aigle, Pininfarina, Stabilimenti Farina, Touring, Vignale or the British company Abbott built few vehicles. Not all the Export vehicles were used for racing. Some were used as road vehicles, proving the dual-purpose nature of the Ferrari vehicles.
The 212 Inter featured a V12 engine based on the original Colombo design, but with different bore and stroke and a 2.6-liter displacement and a single twin-choke unit carburetor, but a three carburetor arrangement available as an option.