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In many ways, the Europa was Ferrari's first grand touring car. It was the first built with no racing intentions and, due to a new relationship between Pinin Farina and Ferrari, its style was more uniform than any previous series. The success of the Europa model contributed to all of Ferrari’s road cars right up to present day and it helped Pinin Farina mature their ever-important relationship.

Compared to the 212 Inter it replaced, the Europa was a much larger car, with a chassis like the 375 America and a much larger long block engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Only a handful of cars were built before a much more successful second series of cars were produced.

When Mercedes-Benz entered the high-end sports car with their space-frame 300SL, Ferrari responded with a second series Europa. In 1954, the Europa GT was launched with Colombo’s lighter and more compact short-stroke engine. It also had a shorter in the wheelbase than that of the first Europa, independent front suspension having coil springs instead of the previous transverse leaf type and a four-speed, Porsche-type, all-synchromesh gearbox.

The GT designation on the new car was an important one, as Ferrari’s 250 GTs would go on to rule sports car racing from 1956 to 1964.

Pinin Farina was responsible for all the second series Europas minus one exceptional Vignale Coupe built for Princess Liliane de Rethy of Belgium on chassis #0359. Pininfarina also made few special cars, but most of the 28 cars shared the same design language.

Just eighteen months into production, the Europa was replaced by the new 1956 Boano/Ellena body style which was penned by Pinin Farina.

Story by Richard Owen for Supercars.net