The Astonishing History of the 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT

The Ferrari 250 Europa was a massive step for its maker, marking the first fully fledged road car from the Maranello stable but it was the Europa GT that really drove that home. Prior to this, Ferrari road cars were pretty much racing cars with only minimal concessions to everyday use.

To upscale production, Ferrari expanded the factory and light-alloy foundry, and dedicated more staff to the roadgoing operation. Being a Ferrari though, it still had competition running through it – the car was basically a roadgoing 250MM, but without that car’s quad-choke Weber carburettors. Three Weber 36mm carburettors were used instead.

Its design evolved from the earlier Europa, of which the Europa GT could be argued is a second series variant. The bodywork is by Pinin Farina, which came about via a chance meeting between Enzo Ferrari and Batista Farina in a restaurant in 1951. Pinin Farina offered two body styles – a three-window two-door coupé with panoramic rear glass, or one with additional side windows. While Pinin Farina designed and bodied most Europa GTs, the very last example was bodied by Scaglietti.

The wheelbase was shortened by 200mm to 2600mm in a bid to improve handling, which was a factor that influenced the fitting of coil spring front suspension, rather than the single transverse leaf spring arrangement seen on Ferraris prior to the Europa GT.

Under the skin, the Europa GT was very different from the earlier car. Instead of the Lampredi V12 from the Europa, power came from the 2953cc Tipo 112 Colombo V12, which would come to underpin the 250 line for many years to come.

This particular car was on display at Concours of Elegance 2023 and is the 11th of 35 examples built, and was first delivered to Jan de Vroom, a major financial backer and silent partner of Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team. De Vroom, an enthusiastic backer of Chinetti, made his fortune in the import/export business and was a close friend of Margaret de Cuevas, the sole surviving granddaughter of John D Rockefeller Sr. De Vroom owned several Ferraris during his lifetime, including a 250GT SWB California Spyder, a 500TRC, a 290MM and a 410 Superamerica, as well as this 250 Europa GT.

It was presented in its original two-tone Azzurro Duco and Grigio colour scheme over beige leather interior. It also boasts its matching-number chassis, body, engine and rear axle.