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1953 Ferrari 166 MM news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Spyder Designer: Alfredo Vignale Chassis Num: 0278M Engine Num: 0278M |
As was customary at the time, a rolling chassis was supplied to custom coachbuilders to outfit the vehicles according to the customer specifications. The 166MM was named after its historic victories at Mille Miglia. In 1948 the Carrozzeria Vignale was founded at Via Cigliano, Turin. It became a well known Italian coach-building company. Vignale designed cars for Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia and many others. Six Vignale 166MM's were produced.
This 1953 Ferrari 166MM with coachwork by Vignale won its class in the 1953 Mille Miglia, finishing fifteenth overall. In 1954 the vehicle was sold to MGM Studios in Hollywood, California where the bodywork in the front was altered and the vehicle made a starring role in the movie 'The Racers.' The car passed through several owners throughout the years, before coming into the care of Mr. Gent Jr. who purchased the car in October of 1980. In 1983, the car was brought back to its original specification and prepared for the show circuit. It was shown in 1984 at the Ferrari Concours and a few days later at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Its last major public outing was in 1987, before it was placed and storage while Mr. Gent focused on other priorities - his family. After raising a family and having just completed work on his new house, the car was shown at the 2007 Ault Park Concours d'Elegance in Cincinnati, Oh. It was a very welcomed sight and was awarded Best in Class, among other awards.
| | | Spyder Designer: Alfredo Vignale Chassis Num: 0278M Engine Num: 0278M |
The Tipo 166 had an Aurelio Lampredi-designed tube frame and double wishbone/live axle suspension. Only eight had the special Vignale body in 1953. The Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine with single overhead camshafts produced 160 hp at 6,000 RPM with three Weber carburetors, which is excellent power for the 1,764 pound 166. Ferrari has often named cars by the displacement of each cylinder, thus at 166 cubic-centimeters per cylinder the displacement of the engine is 2.0 liters. Motor Trend Classic named the 166MM as number six in their list of the 'Ten greatest Ferraris of all time.' A 166 won the 24 Hours of LeMans in the hands of Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon, the Targa Florio with Clemente Biondetti and Igor Troubetzkoy, and the Spa 24 Hours in 1949. It is the only car in history to have won all three of those races. In total, Tipo 166 racers won 54 events plus 35 class wins and set three world records.
 |  |  | Competizione Spider Coachwork: Autodromo Chassis Num: 0272M Engine Num: 0272M |
The car was certified and purchased on the same day, on March 21 of 1953. It was bought by Dottore Alberico Cacciari who raced it extensively in 1953. It completed at the Mille Miglia in April, the Trofeo Regina Sarda in May, and the Caserta in June. In July it raced at Aosta-Grand St Bernard Hill Climb and on September 5th it raced at SuperCorte Maggiore at Monza. On September 20th it raced at Castelliaccio-Livorno and then on Sept 29 it raced at Copa Bracini. October 11th it raced at Rocca di Pappa, Octember 18th it raced at Coppa d'Oro di Sicilai- Siracusa. It raced at Sienna-Firenze in November.
When producers were looking for cars for their movie 'The Racers', they went to Europe in search of suitable vehicles. In April of 1954, the car was sold to Gaetano Luongo of Roma from a movie company. Three now-uncompetitive Ferraris - a 212 and two 166MMs - were acquired to represent the racing team and were customized to create the 'Buranos.' This 166MM has been since restored as originally built.
This Type 166 Ferrari - Burano in the film - was driven by Emmanuel de Graffenried with co-driver Paravicini in May of 1954 Mille Miglia, with race number 556.
It was in 1948 when the newly formed Italian automobile company named Ferrari began selling a promising sports car named the 166. The two seater sports car featured a 12-cylinder engine mounted in the front and supplying over 100 horsepower to the rear wheels. The engine was just under two-liters in size and had a unitary displacement of 166 cc, thus, the evolution of the model name. Production would last until 1953 with only 38 examples being produced. Even though production was low, its accomplishments are large, with wins at LeMans, Mille Miglia, and the Targa Florio.
The 166 was a continuation of the 125, introduced a year earlier. The 125's size of 1497 cc was later enlarged to 1902cc, bringing about the Tipo 159. In 1948, it was enlarged to 1995 cc and became the 166.
As was customary at the time, a rolling chassis was supplied to custom coachbuilders to outfit the vehicles according to customer specifications and their intended purposes. The 166 MM was named after its historic victories at the Mille Miglia. The 166 MM versions were given even chassis numbers and built with racing intentions. The 166 Inter, named after victories at the Coppa Intereuropa at Monza, were given odd chassis numbers and became Ferrari's first road car.
The 166 Inter road cars featured a 2 liter, 12-cylinder Colombo engine producing about 115 horsepower. The engines were mounted longitudinally and given one Weber 32 DCF Carburetor. A five-speed manual gearbox provided power to the rear wheels while drum brakes provided the stopping power. Top speed was achieved at just over 105 mph. Zero-to-sixty took about ten seconds. The tubular frame was given a live-rear axle and a front wishbone suspension. When production began, Carrozzeria Touring was the primary coachbuilder, outfitting the cars in both Berlinetta and Coupe bodies. Later, other coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina, Ghia, Vignale, and others, produced bodies for the 166 Inter.
The phenomenal accomplishments achieved on the race track did much to stir enthusiasm for the cars. To generate even more publicity, in November of 1948, Ferrari displayed examples of his 166 MM and 166 Inter Coupe at the Turin Motor Show. Other shows included the Paris salon in October of 1950 and the Geneva Salons in March of 1951.
With just 38 examples created, the 166 Inter was replaced in 1950 by the 195 Inter. The 195 Inter came into existence by the enlargement of the engine to 2.3 liters. A year later the engine was enlarged to 212 cc and the name changed to 212 Inter. In 1952, after 142 examples were created, production ceased.
166 MM
The 166 MM was a competition version of the 166 Inter. It featured the same 12-cylinder engine, but modified to produce 135 horsepower. The suspension and chassis were similar to the 166 Inter. The bodies were lightweight, small, and built to endure the grueling requirements that racing requires. Initially, Ferrari intended the 166 MM to be a customer racing car. After a number of 166 MM models captured a large number of class and overall victories against stiff competition such as Maserati, Cistiralia, and Alfa Romeo, Ferrari commissioned the creation of the 166 MM as factory works cars.
Touring of Italy was commissioned to provide the coachwork for most of the 166 MM, and many were given Barchetta bodies. The name 'Barchetta' came about because of the size and design of the car. Barchetta in Italian means little boat.
Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone drove a 166 MM to overall victory at the Mille Miglia in 1948. A year later, Biondetti and Ettore Salani captured the victory at Mille Miglia in a 166 MM. Giannino Marzotto and Marco Crosara capture victory at Mille Miglia in 1950, driving a 166 chassis with a bigger 195 engine. In 1949 a Ferrari 166 MM, entered by Lord Selsdon and mostly driven by Luigi Chinetti, captured overall victory at Le Mans.
The 166 MM's were a powerful, reliable and competitive automobile. Their historic accomplishments are legendary and their designs are elegant, beautiful and breathtaking. VIN #002C, a 166 Spyder Corsa, is the oldest Ferrari car still in existence.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe 166 was a continuation of the 125, introduced a year earlier. The 125's size of 1497 cc was later enlarged to 1902cc, bringing about the Tipo 159. In 1948, it was enlarged to 1995 cc and became the 166.
As was customary at the time, a rolling chassis was supplied to custom coachbuilders to outfit the vehicles according to customer specifications and their intended purposes. The 166 MM was named after its historic victories at the Mille Miglia. The 166 MM versions were given even chassis numbers and built with racing intentions. The 166 Inter, named after victories at the Coppa Intereuropa at Monza, were given odd chassis numbers and became Ferrari's first road car.
The 166 Inter road cars featured a 2 liter, 12-cylinder Colombo engine producing about 115 horsepower. The engines were mounted longitudinally and given one Weber 32 DCF Carburetor. A five-speed manual gearbox provided power to the rear wheels while drum brakes provided the stopping power. Top speed was achieved at just over 105 mph. Zero-to-sixty took about ten seconds. The tubular frame was given a live-rear axle and a front wishbone suspension. When production began, Carrozzeria Touring was the primary coachbuilder, outfitting the cars in both Berlinetta and Coupe bodies. Later, other coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina, Ghia, Vignale, and others, produced bodies for the 166 Inter.
The phenomenal accomplishments achieved on the race track did much to stir enthusiasm for the cars. To generate even more publicity, in November of 1948, Ferrari displayed examples of his 166 MM and 166 Inter Coupe at the Turin Motor Show. Other shows included the Paris salon in October of 1950 and the Geneva Salons in March of 1951.
With just 38 examples created, the 166 Inter was replaced in 1950 by the 195 Inter. The 195 Inter came into existence by the enlargement of the engine to 2.3 liters. A year later the engine was enlarged to 212 cc and the name changed to 212 Inter. In 1952, after 142 examples were created, production ceased.
166 MM
The 166 MM was a competition version of the 166 Inter. It featured the same 12-cylinder engine, but modified to produce 135 horsepower. The suspension and chassis were similar to the 166 Inter. The bodies were lightweight, small, and built to endure the grueling requirements that racing requires. Initially, Ferrari intended the 166 MM to be a customer racing car. After a number of 166 MM models captured a large number of class and overall victories against stiff competition such as Maserati, Cistiralia, and Alfa Romeo, Ferrari commissioned the creation of the 166 MM as factory works cars.
Touring of Italy was commissioned to provide the coachwork for most of the 166 MM, and many were given Barchetta bodies. The name 'Barchetta' came about because of the size and design of the car. Barchetta in Italian means little boat.
Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone drove a 166 MM to overall victory at the Mille Miglia in 1948. A year later, Biondetti and Ettore Salani captured the victory at Mille Miglia in a 166 MM. Giannino Marzotto and Marco Crosara capture victory at Mille Miglia in 1950, driving a 166 chassis with a bigger 195 engine. In 1949 a Ferrari 166 MM, entered by Lord Selsdon and mostly driven by Luigi Chinetti, captured overall victory at Le Mans.
The 166 MM's were a powerful, reliable and competitive automobile. Their historic accomplishments are legendary and their designs are elegant, beautiful and breathtaking. VIN #002C, a 166 Spyder Corsa, is the oldest Ferrari car still in existence.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007
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