A 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta by Touring, chassis number 0158 ED, will headline the RM Auctions Villa d’Este 2015 sale, scheduled for 23rd May at Villa Erba on the shores of Lake Como, Italy as the official auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
“While many early Ferraris were campaigned hard by their first owners, few emerged largely unscathed from the rigors of competition. 0158 ED is one such example. Matching numbers, it is a proven contender both on and off the track,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Auctions – Europe.“We’re thrilled to have been entrusted with this very special 212 Export at our Villa Erba sale. Arguably one of the finest of its kind, it is a fantastic dual-purpose Ferrari, ready for use at concours events, rallies and historic racing worldwide. This includes eligibility for such well-known, historic European events as the Tour Auto, Monaco Historic Grand Prix, Le Mans Classic, Goodwood and of course, the Mille Miglia.”
The matching-numbers Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta was the final Touring-bodied, race-ready ‘Export’ model built by the Ferrari factory. Fitted with a Tipo 212 V-12 engine, 0158 ED spent its formative years in Italy, where it was campaigned extensively through 1956, enjoying numerous podium finishes. Among some of its various high-profile appearances, 0158 ED enjoyed back-to-back runs in the Targa Florio in 1952 and 1953 and was an entrant in the 1956 Mille Miglia.
The car’s success was not limited to just the track. After its retirement from the racing circuit, 0158 ED went on the Concours circuit, including competing five times at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, claiming a 2nd place award in 1966 and again in 1973, and later winning the Hans Tanner Trophy in 1974.
0158 ED has also held its own at various historic racing events and rallies, including the Monterey Historics and Colorado Grand. Offered in the same livery it wore for the 1956 Mille Miglia, 0158 ED is fresh to the market at RM’s 2015 Villa Erba sale where it is expected to garner in excess of €5 million.
Held on the shores of Lake Como, Italy every two years since 2011, RM’s boutique Villa Erba sale is a highlight of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend. In 2013, the RM sale generated €27 million just two hours of bidding. This year’s auction is set to continue the momentum, lifting the hammer on a curated selection of 40 automobiles.
Additional early Ferrari highlights secured for the May 2015 sale include a matching-numbers 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (Est. €1.400.000 – €1.800.000); a 1991 Ferrari F40 (Est. €700.000 – €850.000) and a 2002 Ferrari Enzo (Est. €750.000– € 950.000).
For further information, to view an updated list of entries, or to discuss consignment opportunities for RM’s sale during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, call +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or visit rmauctions.com.
[Source: RM Auctions; photo: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]
