Ferrari 212 Europa Thread

212 Inter and 250 Europa are distinct models; no 212 has ever been known as an Europa.

 

Hi Julio
Very sorry to disagree.
Sample: Chassis 0183 EL: On the factory warranty card listed as 212 Export, on the factory build sheets listed as 212 Europa (but naturally not as 250 Europa). I have copies of all that.
Next sample: 0237 EU: On the factory warranty card listed as 212 Inter, on the factory build sheets listed as 212 Europa. I have copies.
Same for 0241 EU, 0243 EU, 0245 EU and 0247 EU, plus also 0251 EU and 0253 EU and 8 more cars.
Marcel Massini

 

A 212 Europa, first owner Pierre Guilherme in Paris, France.
Marcel Massini

 

Hi Marcel,

I know that I enter into a discussion with you at my own peril, but allow me to be imprudent, because you have not convinced me that I am wrong (for once):

If I understand you correctly, there are build sheets that list cars as 212 Europas. That is very interesting and I was unaware of it. Nevertheless, I believe the cars were sold as 212 Inters or Exports, as indicated by:

1. Warranty cards: 212 Export or Inter. Never 212 Europa
2. Repair and maintenance manuals : 212 Export or Inter. Never 212 Europa
3. Sales brochures: 212 Export or Inter. Never 212 Europa
4. Other promotional material, such as magazine inserts: 212 Export or Inter. Never 212 Europa

If you think the build sheet is paramount and all the rest is irrelevant, you are right, the 212 Europa exists as a separate model. But I would respectfully disagree.

In true Ferrari fashion, we of course have some confusion here. What constitutes a model designation? The warranty card? The build sheet? The sales list at the dealer? I would submit that although build sheets list 212 Europas, this model designation was never used and only exists in a very internal document.

Furthermore, as the OP said, there is NO difference betwen a 212 Inter and a "212 Europa": same chassis, same engine, same designers. The 250 Europa, on the other hand, appears with a new 250 engine (Lampredi, then back to Colombo) and also a different, longer chassis (2800mm wheel base).

I could of course be entirely wrong in all this, and I am sure you will correct my inevitable mistakes.

Cheers,

Julio

 

My dearest Julio
I didn't say that you are wrong. And yes, there are build sheets describing a car as 212 Europa. Several, actually.
I do agree with you, to a certain point. However, I tend to believe the factory warranty cards and the factory build sheets. I am NOT saying that only the information from the build sheet matters and is paramount and all the rest is irrelevant. Certainly not. But for me the build sheets are the most important information. Don't trust the Owners Manuals or Sales Brochures. Often cars were pictured or described which were totally wrong for that particular model. There are plenty examples. And while they built approx. 165 units of the 250 SWB Berlinetta, they didn't even have a manual (they used the GTE manual) for it. But then, for the 250 LM (32 units built) they even printed two different sales brochures..........
One thing is for sure with Ferrari: NOTHING is absolutely bullet proof, perfect and consistent. That was and has never been their goal in the past sixty years. That's one of the many reasons which makes it so interesting for all of us. Today we live in an almost "perfect" world where everything is organised, categorized, computerized, analyzed, and on and on. Not so with the factory and especially not so in the early 1950s when these cars were built. The only consistent thing with Ferrari is the constant inconsistency.

Marcel Massini

 

Dear Marcel,

Agreed and understood.

I am aware that sales brochures and manuals are not very reliable evidence. As you well say, many important models didn't have any.

It is always a pleasure to debate with you.

Cheers,

Julio

P.S. The 212 Inter (not Europa!) is happy in Spain, getting ready to meet you again (I hope) next year in Brescia!

 

Isn't the point actually that the concept of 'official model designation' is something that we have dreamt up more recently. At the time the car seems to have been described both ways (according to the evidence presented above).
If I had gone to order one of these cars at the time I can imagine that depending on whom I spoke to it might have been described to me either way.

 

Interesting and true.

I find it significant that in all my reading of the relevant Ferrari litterature (Fitgerald & Meritt, Prunet, Massini, and others) I do not recall ever coming across a mention of a 212 Europa. I will check again this evening when I get home.

 

Julio,
I notice the Pinin Farina series of the 212 (same body design), with the EL and EU designation, is referenced in Stanley Nowark's (Ferrari on the Road). The chassis numbers being 0229EL, 0245EL, 0247EL, 0249EL, 0259EL, 0261EU,

0263EU, 0265EU, 0269EU, 0275EU, 0277EU, 0279EU,0281EU, 0283EU, 0291EU. Namely 0263EU,0265EU, 0269EU, 0291EU labelled Europa. (plus afew other 212's) However the 15 Pinin cars I thought virtually identical. Marcel, what is the story here.
Warren

 

Could it have something to do with the introduction of the America models?

 

The EU is just part of the serial number. Serial number terminations do not always have a relationship to the model designation. Nowak and others certainly reference 212 EU's, but never talk or mention a 212 Europa. I am not taking Nowak as the primary reference here, but rather Fitzgerald/Merrit and Prunet, and of course Massini himself. In "Ferrari by Vignale", Massini lists various 212's with a "EU" serial number, and calls them 212 Inters (0257EU, 0269EU).

As you well say, there is NO difference, engine or otherwise, between the EL and the EU (supposed 212 Europas) numbered 212's.

I am not addressing the issue of the build sheets; that is another matter, which I was not aware of.