The innovative nose of the train was developed after studies in the wind tunnel at the Politecnico di Torino engineering university.

On 6 December 1937 the ETR 201[note 1] reached a top speed of 201 km/h (125 mph) on the Rome-Naples line (between the stations of Campoleone and Nettunia).

On 20 July 1939, the ETR 212, driven by driver Alessandro Cervellati, established a new world record running (on the average speed for the whole run) between Florence and Milan at 165 km/h (103 mph), and also improving the absolute top speed record up to 203 km/h (126 mph) in the stretch from Pontenure to Piacenza.

In the early 1960s, the remaining sixteen units were converted to ETR 220/230/240 by adding a fourth car and making other improvements.

The ETR 232, former 212 (the unit making the 1939 record run), has been preserved as a historical train and is in full working order.