Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The Ferrari 212 Export Touring Barchetta.
The Ferrari 212 Export Touring Barchetta was produced between 1951 and 1952 by Ferrari of Maranello as a limited-series sports competition vehicle. It was developed as a successor to the 195 S, forming part of the early evolution of Ferrari’s dual-purpose road and race models. The 212 Export was distinguished from the contemporaneous 212 Inter by its shorter wheelbase and mechanical configuration optimized for competition use. The chassis employed a tubular steel frame with a wheelbase of 2,250 millimetres. Front suspension consisted of independent wishbones with a transverse leaf spring, while the rear featured a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and radius arms. Braking was provided by hydraulically actuated drum brakes on all four wheels. The dry weight of the model, depending on body configuration, was approximately 850 kilograms. The powertrain was a front-mounted V12 engine designed by Gioachino Colombo, displacing 2,562 cubic centimetres. The engine employed a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and three Weber 36 DCF carburetors. Output was approximately 165 horsepower at 7,000 revolutions per minute. Power was transmitted to the rear axle via a five-speed manual gearbox. The performance characteristics were suitable for long-distance racing events held on both road and closed circuit courses. Several examples of the 212 Export were bodied by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan using their patented Superleggera construction system, which utilized a tubular substructure overlaid with aluminum body panels. The barchetta (open-top) configuration featured low doors, a narrow windscreen, and minimal coachwork ornamentation, conforming to prevailing competition design standards of the early 1950s. A total of 27 units of the 212 Export were constructed, with eight receiving barchetta bodywork by Touring. These vehicles were entered in a range of international competitions, including the Tour de France Automobile, Giro di Sicilia, Targa Florio, and Mille Miglia. Notable examples include chassis 0078E, 0102E, and 0158ED, each of which participated in major events under private or semi-official Ferrari entries. The Ferrari 212 Export Touring Barchetta is regarded as representative of Ferrari’s early racing activities and exemplifies the firm’s use of proprietary engine design, lightweight construction, and collaboration with external coachbuilders during the initial decade of production.
The Superleggera system, developed by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, stands as one of the most innovative achievements in the history of automotive design. This revolutionary construction method, guided by the motto “Weight is the enemy – Air resistance is the obstacle,” was more than just a new way of building cars; it was a transformative approach that redefined car manufacturing, blending cutting-edge engineering with elegant aesthetics.
Carrozzeria Touring stands as one of the legendary names in Italian automotive design, a coachbuilder synonymous with elegance, innovation, and lightweight engineering.
