Petersen Automotive Museum Acquires Rare 1952...

[Variance]

Link: http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_ne..._pam_barchetta/

Petersen Automotive Museum Acquires Rare 1952 Ferrari Barchetta

Museum's latest best of show installment, originally a gift from Enzo Ferrari to Henry Ford II, inspired '55 Thunderbird styling and design features

August 26, 2005

Motor Trend

The Petersen Automotive Museum, a pioneer in automotive education and one of the nation's largest automotive museums, has acquired one of the most historically significant Ferraris of all time. The black 1952 Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta by Touring Superleggera recently won Best of Show at the Meadow Brook Concorso d'Italia event on August 6th, 2005, in Rochester, Michigan. The car was originally a gift from Ferrari corporate founder Enzo Ferrari to Ford Motor Company President Henry Ford II and is valued at several million dollars. This European sports car contributed to the development of the 1955 Ford Thunderbird (the first year of the make) with a number of its unique design features.

Representing the last non-racing Ferrari bodied by Touring, this legendary Ferrari won the prestigious Best of Show title at the Concorso d'Italia over ninety other Italian cars at Concorso d'Italia. The Meadow Brook win is especially symbolic as it marks the Ferrari's 40-year reunion in Detroit, where it was originally shipped to Henry Ford II. The beautiful black Barchetta remains entirely original from the time it was delivered to Ford with the larger 225-horsepower engine, exclusive left-hand-drive, and whitewall tires, all features important to American drivers of the era. Sporting fewer than 13,000 actual miles since new, the car had not needed restoration and retains its original paint, engine, upholstery and even its whitewall tires.

The 1952 Ferrari becomes part of the permanent collection at the Petersen Automotive Museum due to the generosity of Museum co-founders media mogul Robert E. Petersen and his wife Margie. Set to make its debut at the Petersen in September 2005, the 212/225 Barchetta will be on display in the Donor's Corner on the Museum's second floor.

"Our most recent addition is significant on many levels," says Dick Messer, Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. "This legendary Ferrari was evaluated by Ford stylists and made a lasting impression on American car design. From Enzo Ferrari to Henry Ford and now the Petersen Automotive Museum, patrons will be able to view first-hand this historic Ferrari's influence on automotive history."

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students with ID, and $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members and children under five are admitted free. Covered parking is available for $6.00 per car. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum's Web site address at www.petersen.org

[balthazar]

That's a very American-looking ferrari/. I think the '53 Corvette is a lot more stylistically refined, however... and for that matter, so is the '55 T-bird. Really wierd to see a ferrari with wide whites!

[HarleyEarl]

That is one beautiful Ferrari. So pure.

[CarPenter]

never been to petersen ? check it out on my blog , went to the america muscle car exibit a few months back.... http://inline6.blogspot.com/ Edited August 27, 2005 by CarPenter