Behind-the-scenes bathtime with a Ferrari 212 Barchetta

Ever wondered how blue-chip collector cars are prepared before an event appearance? We came across this Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta undergoing a final detailing session outside Fiskens, ahead of being loaded onto the trailer for its reveal at last week’s Rétromobile…

Only 27 examples of the 212 Export were produced in the early 50s, this example being one of only a few Touring-bodied Barchettas. Add to its rarity a Classiche certificate and both Hollywood and Mille Miglia provenance, and you have a certified blue-chip classic – hence the level of preparation ahead of its Rétromobile appearance, administered by star detailer Richard Tipper. The car is now back at Fiskens’ London showroom, no doubt gleaming just as resplendently as it did on its Parisian debut.