One of Mike Hawthorn’s first sports car driving assignments for Ferrari was the 1953 Mille Miglia. In order to learn as much about the race and route as possible, Hawthorn enlisted the experienced Swiss journalist, Hans Tanner, to accompany him on a three day journey around Italy, on the roads to be used in the Mille Miglia (two more three day laps had been planned but car trouble intervened).

Their transportation was a loaned light blue 212 Ferrari coupe, bodied by Touring, with dark blue cloth seats, serial number 0143 E, which Enzo Ferrari had presented to Hawthorn that spring for his personal use. For the race, Hawthorn was put into a 250 MM Vignale spyder, s/n 0288 MM, with Azelio Cappi navigating, but they retired at Pescara on the Adriatic coast barely 630 kilometers into the race.

© Alan Boe

The car seen outside the Tourist Trophy Garage in 1953 (does anyone have an original of this photocopied image?)

The car has been restored and you can find full details about it in the new Mike Hawthorn book "Golden Boy" where it is covered in a lot of detail with many photographs and a full description from its current owner.