What was the first Ferrari designed by Pininfarina?

The first Ferrari designed by Pininfarina was the Ferrari 212 Inter, specifically a Pinin Farina-bodied Cabriolet. Its chassis, number 0177E, marked the beginning of one of the most influential design partnerships in automotive history.

The 212 Inter was introduced in 1951 as a refined grand tourer and replaced Ferrari’s earlier 166 and 195 Inter models. It used a 2.6-litre version of Gioachino Colombo’s V12 engine and could be ordered with bodies from several coachbuilders, including Vignale, Ghia, Touring and Pinin Farina.

The collaboration was not immediate. Enzo Ferrari and Battista “Pinin” Farina were both proud, established figures, and neither initially wanted to make the first approach. A meeting arranged at a halfway point helped resolve the impasse. Pinin Farina’s elegant proportions soon became closely associated with Ferrari’s road cars.

The 340 Mexico and 375 MM came later, while the 250 GTO was a much later competition-focused design. The technically precise answer is the 212 Inter Cabriolet, making “212 Inter” a fair canonical answer.