1953 Ferrari 166 MM Spyder

The 166MM is the automobile that established Ferrari as a world-class manufacturer of racing sports cars. Fewer than 50 were built. In the hands of drivers such as Chinetti and Ascari the 166MM would give Ferrari its first overall victories in the Mille Miglia, Le Mans 24 Hour and Targa Florio.

One of just 13 Series II cars, 0300M wears unique one-off coachwork by Oblin of Brussels. Purchased new as a Vignale Coupe by Belgian privateer Jacques Herzet, 0300M was raced throughout Europe and Brazil with great success before returning to Belgium to be fitted with this special lightweight Barchetta body in 1955. Unveiled at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, the 166 featured sensational matte black livery with gloss red stripes. Herzet, with his talented co-driver Lucien Bianci, continued to score numerous victories through 1957. 0300M has been restored to its 1955 Brussels Motor Show specifications.

This 1953 Ferrari 166 MM first carried a Vignale coupe body when delivered to its first owner, Jacques Herzet. After racing in the Coupe de Spa-Francorchamps, the Rallye des Alpes, the Liege-Rome-Liege, and the Tour de France, the car placed second in the 1953 European Championship. Herzet then took the car to South America for another series of races. After returning to Europe, the car was sent to Carrozzeria Oblin in Brussels to be re-bodied as the spyder it is today. With its new look, this 166 MM soon raced again; at the 1954 Twelve Hours of Reims, Herzet shared the drive with Johnny Claes. The car's racing days continued until 1957 when Herzet hung up his goggles for the last time. The car has recently changed hands and has been restored to the condition it was in at the end of the 1954 season, with matte-black paintwork and a glossy red racing stripe.