One of three Ferrari 212 Exports upgraded to 225 S specs in period

If you were looking for fast car to race in the early 1950s, the Ferrari 212 Export might have been at the top of your list. It had won storied events such as the Targa Florio, Carrera Panamerica and Tour de France l’Automobile. This particular example competed in the 12 Hours of Reims, 1000 Km of Paris and the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally. Unfortunately, the owner of the car at the time, Marius Heyman, died in this car during the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally after he struck a tree.

Ferrari built only 27 examples of the 212 Export. After Heyman’s accident the car was rebuilt with 225 S upgrades, one of only three to receive such updates in period. Joseph Ampoulie bought the car in 1955 and raced the 1000 Km of Paris and the 12 Hours of Reims, the latter of which he placed seventh overall.

The Ferrari was deregistered from the road in 1958, went through several owners, remaining in storage and deteriorating along the way. Marcel Massini reported in 1996 that while the engine still ran, the car was in poor condition overall. The Ferrari underwent a complete restoration from 1998 to 1999, with a new body built based on another chassis. In 2020 to 2024, Ferrari Classiche performed a concours-level restoration. With its matching-numbers engine, gearbox and rear axle, the Ferrari is now an ideal candidate to enter historic events such as the Mille Miglia Storica, Le Mans Classic, among others.