A 1952 Ferrari 225E, chassis 0178, was recently restored after two years of work by the Ferrari Classiche department in Maranello, Italy. The project was a great challenge for Classiche as the car, which belongs to an Argentinean collector, arrived at the Ferrari factory in a terrible state of repair, having been partially destroyed in a fire.
This 225E left the factory in May 1952 and was first owned by Count Antonio Sterzi. It quickly made its competitive debut in none other than the Mille Miglia in the hands of that gentleman and his co-driver Nino Rovelli. In June the same year, the 225E won the Coppa della Toscana with Bruno Sterzi who also raced it to victory in the Bolzano-Mendola hillclimb and the Coppa InterEuropa at Monza for which both front and rear bumpers were removed. The car changed hands a couple of times but was then involved in a fire in which it sustained severe damage. The engine, however, was almost entirely salvageable and an attempt was made during the 1980s to restore the bodywork. Unfortunately, however, the 225E remained undriveable.
The 225E’s renaissance came about thanks to its new owner who commissioned Ferrari Classiche to do the reconstruction of the interior and a full restoration of the car. Because the documentation regarding the original interior had been lost, the Maranello team decided to examine all the Ferraris of this kind built in the early 1950s to ensure the new interior’s spec would be as faithful as possible. The engine too was fully reconditioned and just a few days ago, sporting a two-tone white and blue livery, the 225E finally returned to ruling the roads.
1952 Ferrari 225E chassis 0178 – Photo Gallery
[Source: Ferrari SpA]
