Unveiled at the 1951 Brussels Motor Show, the 212 Inter was developed as a successor to Ferrari’s earlier grand tourers. The vehicle utilized a chassis design similar to the Ferrari 125, featuring a suspension system composed of double wishbones at the front and a live axle at the rear. The Inter variant was characterized by a 2,600 mm (102.4 in) wheelbase, which was four inches longer than the 2,500 mm wheelbase found on the 212 Export sports racer.
The model's competitive reputation was established early in its production cycle. In 1951, two Vignale-bodied 212 Inter coupés dominated the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico. The entry driven by Piero Taruffi and Luigi Chinetti took the victory, followed by the pairing of Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi in second place.
Beyond its racing success, the 212 Inter marked a significant shift in Ferrari's manufacturing history through the commencement of a partnership with Pinin Farina. Prior to this, Enzo Ferrari and Pinin Farina had not collaborated due to mutual pride, with neither party willing to visit the other's place of business. A compromise was reached with a meeting held halfway between Maranello and Turin. This negotiation resulted in the 212 Inter Cabriolet (chassis no. 0177E), the first Ferrari to be bodied by Pinin Farina.
The 212 Inter was powered by a 2.6-liter (2563 cc) version of the Colombo V12 engine, featuring a 68 mm bore. In its standard configuration with a single Weber 36DCF carburetor, the engine produced 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp). In 1952, the introduction of improved cylinder heads increased the power output by 5 PS.
In a 1950 road test of what was described as the first production model, the British magazine Autocar recorded a top speed exceeding 116 mph (187 km/h). The vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds and reached 100 mph in 22.5 seconds. Testers noted that these figures were achieved while limiting the engine to 6,500 rpm due to the car's low mileage, and remarked on the novelty of the vehicle's five-speed gearbox.
A variety of coachbuilders provided bodies for the 212 Inter chassis, including Carrozzeria Touring, Ghia, Ghia-Aigle, Vignale, and Stabilimenti Farina.
Several unique iterations of the 212 Inter were produced:
225 Inter / 225 Europa: Chassis no. 0223EU featured a long-wheelbase Europa-type chassis fitted with a 2.7-liter Colombo V12 engine. This one-off model featured a Vignale coupé body designed by Giovanni Michelotti.
Chassis 0253EU: This unit also utilized the 2.7-liter V12 with three carburetors. It was the final Barchetta constructed by Carrozzeria Touring using their Superleggera method. This specific car was purchased by the Ford Motor Company for Henry Ford II, who used it as a benchmark during the development of the Ford Thunderbird. It is now housed in the Petersen Automotive Museum.