1954 FERRARI 250 EUROPA: Coachwork by Pinin Farina
Estimate: £1,250,000 - £1,500,000
Chassis: 0351 EU
Engine: 0351 EU
Car Highlights
First-Generation Ferrari 250 Europa; One of Only 22 Examples Built
Combines Lampredi V-12 with Understated Pinin Farina Coachwork
Delivered New to Acclaimed Hollywood Director Clarence Leon Brown
Displayed by Ferrari Collector Stan E. Baker at Pebble Beach in 1965 and 1990
Pictured in the 1954 Ferrari Yearbook and on the Cover of Cavallino Magazine
Ferrari Classiche Certified; Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini
Technical Specs
2,963 CC Tipo 103 SOHC 60º V-12 Engine
Three Weber 36 DCZ3 Carburetors
200 BHP at 6,300 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Front Transverse Leaf-Spring Suspension with Shock Absorbers
Rear Live Axle with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
At the Paris Motor Show in 1953, Ferrari unveiled two new models – the 250 Europa and the 375 America. The cars were virtually identical except for engine displacement; the 375 America was powered by a 4.5-liter Lampredi V-12, while the 250 Europa featured a Lampredi engine of three-liter capacity. Both models were designed as elegant road cars for Ferrari’s well-heeled customers, and were the first in a series of companion models that evolved throughout the 1950s, culminating in the 250 GT and 400 Superamerica of the early 1960s.
The 250 Europa and 375 America were almost exclusively tailored by Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. Their handsome design was instrumental in defining the traditional “Ferrari look,” with its imposing eggcrate grille, elegant proportions, and restrained-yet-sporting lines. Interiors were luxuriously appointed, with comfortable accommodations for two occupants and ample luggage space for long-distance touring. In all, Ferrari built just 22 examples of the 250 Europa before the model was replaced by the revised Europa GT in 1954.
Completed in May 1954, the 250 Europa presented here, chassis 0351 EU, is the penultimate example of this rare breed. Assigned Pinin Farina body no. 12458, the Ferrari was originally finished in Grigio Metallizzato (Metallic Gray) with a dark gray roof and red leather upholstery, a tasteful color scheme perfectly suited to its understated design.
The Ferrari’s first owner was Clarence Leon Brown, then a 64-year-old Hollywood film director. A long-standing auto enthusiast who even started his own motor car company prior to WWI, Mr. Brown began his motion picture career in 1920 and produced numerous films for both Universal Studios and MGM, which collectively garnered 38 Academy Award® nominations and nine Oscars®. His most famous films include Anna Karenina, Intruder in the Dust, and National Velvet, featuring stars such as Greta Garbo and Elizabeth Taylor.
A successful career, and shrewd Los Angeles real estate investments, made Mr. Brown a wealthy man; he took delivery of his new Ferrari while summering in Cap d’Antibes on the French Riviera. While in France, Mr. Brown entered the Europa in the Cannes Concours d’Elegance, as immortalized in the 1954 Ferrari Yearbook. Mr. Brown later exported the Ferrari to the US and owned it until 1958, when it was sold to Lawrence J. Garden of Washington state.
In 1961, Stanley E. “Stan” Baker of Seattle became the Europa’s third owner. A famous gunsmith and proprietor of Stan’s Gun Shop, Mr. Baker repainted 0351 EU in its current ivory color and retained it for the next 42 years, during which time it shared the garage with a 410 Superamerica. In 1965, he entered the car in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and won First in Class for European sports cars costing more than $7,000. When he returned to the show 25 years later, Mr. Baker’s beautifully preserved Ferrari was awarded Third in Class.
In 2003, Mr. Baker finally decided to part with 0351 EU, and it found an appreciative new home with Ferrari enthusiast and FCA master judge Thomas E. Shaughnessy. During his ownership, the Europa was displayed at the annual Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, Florida, and graced the cover of Cavallino magazine (Issue no. 142). After acquiring a 166 Spider Corsa, Mr. Shaughnessy sold 0351 EU to revered East Coast collector Ervin F. “Bud” Lyon in 2005.
Five years later, the Europa was purchased by Ian Proudfoot, who endeavored to preserve it in largely original, well-preserved condition. Under his care, 0351 EU benefited from an engine and gearbox rebuild carried out by marque specialist Terry Hoyle, as well as extensive detailing and thoughtful preservation efforts. This included fashioning a set of driver-seat cushions to preserve the beautiful patina of the original upholstery.
Under Mr. Proudfoot’s ownership, 0351 EU was issued Ferrari Classiche certification, successfully participated in the Austrian Ennstal-Classic rally, formed the basis of a subject article in Forza magazine, and won awards at both Salon Privé and the Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain’s Annual Meeting, before being acquired by the consignor in 2020.
Remarkably, after 70 years, this Ferrari remains in well-preserved and largely original condition, having never required a comprehensive restoration. Instead, it has been allowed to age gracefully, retaining its wonderfully patinated red leather upholstery and, according to the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, its original, serial-numbered components. Furthermore, 0351 EU is offered with an impressive historical dossier, a copy of Marcel Massini’s report, and valuable accessories including a tool roll and jack.
Delivered new to a distinguished Hollywood director and lovingly preserved by its six subsequent owners, this handsome 250 Europa is among the precious few Lampredi-powered Ferraris to have survived to this day in fundamentally unrestored condition, contributing greatly to its charm and appeal among connoisseurs. Undeniably attractive, 0351 EU has been a feature of concours d’elegance since it was new – displayed at Cannes in the 1950s, Pebble Beach in the 1960s, and various rounds of the contemporary international circuit since the 1990s. Over the years, it has also been featured in numerous books on the marque and model, including the famous Ferrari Yearbook, and has been the subject of feature articles in Cavallino and Forza magazines. Rare, elegant, and tastefully presented, 0351 EU is a superb example of a gentleman’s gran turismo, with qualities that ought to appeal to any discerning Ferrari collector.
*Please note that this vehicle has a combined acceptance to two Mille Miglia events -- the Warm Up USA Event in November 2023 and the Mille Miglia 2024 -- subject to registration and payment of entry fee.
Text & Image: Gooding & Company
