Prince Bernhard 212 arrived in Holland

**Marcello** · #1 05-30-2006, 08:56 AM

Hi all FerrariChatters,

A Dutch collector has bought a 212 Inter Pinin Farina Coupé.
Car is said to be owned by Prince Bernhard, wich was 0269 EU.
Very weird, because 0269 EU has a rather complex and strange history,
so I´m very curious what we will learn from all this.
Have not seen the numbers myself yet, but car has arrived at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam now.
Here´s a picture of how it looked in the old days, and how it was found.

Any comments highly appreciated...

Best regards,
Marcel

**WCH** · #2 05-30-2006, 12:01 PM

Would love to see any more detailed photos you may be able to post after seeing the car, as I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that it passed through PF not too long before my car, 0279. Thank you, Will

**Marcello** · #3 05-30-2006, 02:01 PM

Hi Will,

I have some pictures of your car in my files, looks lovely.
Yes, your assumption is correct.

There are only 5 cars built with this design.
(straight rear fender line & windshield having sharp corners).

0269 EU is the first, your 0279 EU the fourth.

I will sent you some pictures as soon as I have them,
very soon hopefully.

Best regards,
Marcel

stugots · #4 05-30-2006, 02:26 PM

Are those the same car?

Note the front bumper and chrome trim down the center of the hood?

**vince308** · #5 05-30-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stugots

Are those the same car?

Note the front bumper and chrome trim down the center of the hood?

I noticed the same, and the interior mirror ins't at the same place either.....

**Marcello** · #6 05-30-2006, 04:59 PM

Yes, I think it is the same car.
Mirrors, strips and bumpers can be replaced, car is over 50 years old.

Best regards,
Marcel

**toto70_0** · #7 05-30-2006, 05:06 PM

It is still visible where the mirror was fitted before, maybe the mirror was lowered because of a smaller driver then Prince Bernhard.

ArtS · #8 05-30-2006, 06:56 PM

Did this car come out of Florida?

Art S.

**DBR328&330** · #9 05-30-2006, 11:16 PM

I have a Series 2 330 GT 2+2 that was owned by the Prince. Does this car have a speedo in MPH but all other guages European? My car is set up this way as was a 365 GT4/C that he owned. Usually his cars were dark green or dark blue so it is interesting this is black.

Dan

**Marcello** · #10 05-31-2006, 02:02 AM

Hi Dan,

I know you own that car, very nice!
But did you ever see the 365 GTC/4 as well?
That car, s/n 14467 should be dark green, with tan interior.
Do you know where that car is today, and do you perhaps have any pictures?
Actually, at least 3 of the first 4 Ferrari's of the Prince were black.

Best regards,
Marcel

**DBR328&330** · #11 05-31-2006, 12:50 PM

Hi Marcel,

The 365GTC/4 was in Ferrari Market Letter about 1 year ago, so it should be easy to track down. I have not seen it though. At Reading Concours, I saw a Verde Scuro/tobacco 250 GTE. I wondered if the Prince owned that as it is an unusual color (the owner did not know the history). I can find the serial number if it helps.

Do you have a special interest in the cars of the Prince? Do you have a list of all his Ferraris?

Regards,

Dan

**DBR328&330** · #12 05-31-2006, 12:59 PM

By the way, I have always been curious about why the speedo is in MPH (it is specified that way on the build sheet). Would there have been a reason for this in Holland?

Dan

henk4 · #13 05-31-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBR328&amp

By the way, I have always been curious about why the speedo is in MPH (it is specified that way on the build sheet). Would there have been a reason for this in Holland?

Dan

Possibly he would feel less guilty when doing 100.....

quartermaster · #14 05-31-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtS

Did this car come out of Florida?

Art S.

Front license plate is old California style.

**Marcello** · #15 05-31-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBR328&amp

By the way, I have always been curious about why the speedo is in MPH (it is specified that way on the build sheet). Would there have been a reason for this in Holland?
Dan

Only reason I can think of is that your 330 GT 2+2 was not ordered by the Prince for his own use on our Dutch roads, but for Mr. Ryan (I'm sure you know what I mean) Where did he live? As I understand your car was probably delivered new in France?

**Marcello** · #16 05-31-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBR328&amp

Hi Marcel,

The 365GTC/4 was in Ferrari Market Letter about 1 year ago, so it should be easy to track down. I have not seen it though. At Reading Concours, I saw a Verde Scuro/tobacco 250 GTE. I wondered if the Prince owned that as it is an unusual color (the owner did not know the history). I can find the serial number if it helps. Do you have a special interest in the cars of the Prince? Do you have a list of all his Ferraris?Regards,
Dan

I will try to locate the GTC/4, thanks!
I don't think the Prince ever owned a 250 GTE, but your 330 was a surprise as well. If you can find the serial number, it might help indeed.

I try to track all the Ferrari's in the Netherlands, with chassisnumbers, history and pictures. I have some 2700 Ferrari's with some kind of Dutch history.
The Ferrari's of the Prince are of course extra special.

Best regards,
Marcel

Dave330gtc · #17 05-31-2006, 03:44 PM

Hi Marcel, I used to own #3547 which I thought had come from the Netherlands. Do you show that in your database? I believe Hil Raab purchased it from Rob Box and imported it himself.

**Marcello** · #18 05-31-2006, 04:23 PM

Hi Dave,

This is indeed a GTE that went through the hands of Dutchman Rob de la Rive Box. But he was a carslug living in Switserland, and only a few have Dutch history as well. I do not track all those cars he had. If you can remember something about the car that might lead to Holland I will be very happy to hear about it.

Best regards,
Marcel

**DBR328&330** · #19 05-31-2006, 09:50 PM

Hi Marcel,

I will have the SN of the 250 GTE in a couple days.

My car was delivered in France.

There are letters between Cornelius Ryan and the Prince about the fact Ryan bought the car from the Prince for $8000 yet made a profit when Ryan sold it for $11,000 so it appears the Prince owned it for a time. Weeks before he died, the Prince thru his secretary told me he was the first owner and then it went to Ryan. The Prince jokingly gave Ryan a hard time about making a profit on the 330 GT and tried to get him to buy another Ferrari but Ryan became ill and died.

Regards,

Dan

Sempre_gilles · #20 06-01-2006, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBR328&amp

Do you have a special interest in the cars of the Prince? Do you have a list of all his Ferraris?

Cavallino magazine had an article on one of Prince Berhard's cars a few issues ago. That article also had a list of all his cars.