Enzo Ferrari was infamously obsessed with finding the right ‘look’ for his road cars throughout the 1940’s in an effort to define the company from a visual standpoint. As a consequence, Enzo enviously courted a number of different coachbuilders to take the brand to new, unparalleled heights.
Consequently, Enzo teamed up with Alfredo Vignale, a revered craftsman for his innovative design updates to Fiat and Lancia cars, to create the special edition 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe. Together, the pair curated an impactful design for the Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe, handcrafted to form a unique car that boasts the enigmatic flair and attitude of Ferrari.
Every Vignale-bodied Ferrari is exceptionally special. Combining sharp angles, round edges and iconic air inlets, all of which offer a functional purpose alongside their aesthetic elegance.
Beginning their relationship in 1950 and latterly ending their relationship in 1954, Ferrari and Vignale’s models remain the most sought after Ferrrari’s in the world, with their unique character and charisma forging a new direction in modern motoring.
This specific 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe rolls up to auction through RM Sotheby’s as part of their hotly anticipated ‘Driven By Disruption’ auction series.
The Europa Coupe’s former owner, Heinrich Kampfer, restored the car himself in his homeland of Switzerland to propel the car back to its original, elegant form. Previous parts which had gone missing over the years were reproduced to exact specifications alongside a new lacquer paint finish to refine the car in a new, eloquent exterior.
Completing the restoration in October 2011, it was estimated that Kampfer spent 3,000 hours of work on the car with a further 800 hours completed by outside specialists to complete the gruelling renovation. The Coupe’s first public outing was at the Concorse d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2012, where it was awarded the Trofeo Foglizzi for best interior design.
Today, the car stands embellished as one of the curiously special Ferrari’s in existence, revered by collectors, enthusiasts and historians alike. A true marquee car, the 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe turns up to the RM Sotheby Auction on December 10th 2015 – for full auction information head to the website here.