Ah, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera! Attached to some of the most storied names in automotive history, like the Ferrari 166MM, given the diminutive nickname “Barchetta,” one of which won Ferrari’s first 24 Hours of Le Mans!
At least the proportions are better than the 212 Ford bought for The Deuce. That one’s on the Europa chassis, which was a 2+2, so there’s a big space behind the passenger compartment, giving it a long tail. The write-up on the plaque at the Petersen points out the proportions as one of the design cues that made it into the Thunderbird, but that’s a long nose - short tail car not long - long. I guess they figured Ford thought Americans would go for a bigger car. They also like big engines, so it has the 2.7 liter, three- carb V12. Also maybe the only LHD 212. The whitewall tires may have been suggested by The Deuce’s brother William Clay Ford’s wife, a descendant of Harvey Firestone.
Repeating my opinion that if I were thinking of creating a Ferrari tribute (fat chance!) there’s only one model I’d want to recreate - the 250 GT Lusso.
