1953 Ferrari 166/250 MM Abarth Spyder

The Ferrari 166 MM/53 Abarth Spyder finished in silver carries chassis number 0262M. It was constructed on March 14th of 1953 and is a right-hand drive vehicle. For reasons unknown, the Abarth body was removed and replaced with coachwork by Scaglietti. Some have speculated that a shortage of replacement panels may have been the reason that forced Musitella to discard the Abarth body. 0262M carried the Abarth coachwork for less than a year.

Before disappearing for many years, the car was raced during the 1953 and 1954 season. It finished 21st at the 1953 Targa Florio driven by Giulio Musitelli. Musitelli was the cars pilot for most of its racing career. In July of 1953 the car was entered in 10 Hours of Notturne di Messina where it was driven by Eugenio Castellotti and Musitelli. When the checkered flag dropped, it was the 026M in first place. During the 1954 Rio di Janerio Grand Prix, Musitelli finished in an impressive second place finish.

At the 1954 Mille Miglia, the car was driven by Musitelli and Edoardo Drago and wearing number 608. Sadly, the car failed to finish the race. The car was entered into to more Grand Prix events in 1954 where it finished in second place.
The car was sent to Luigi Chinetti in the US who sold it to Gary Laughlin in 1955. The car was entered in the Palm Springs Race where it was piloted by Laughlin to a fourth place finish. The car was sold in 1956 to Lorin McMullen who continued the cars racing career. The car was entered in eight races by McMullen. The best finishes were at the SCCA Mansfield races where the car finished in second, three times.

Many years later, the car was rebodied in its original Abarth coachwork. It crossed RM Auctions auction block where it netted nearly $850,000 including buyers premium. Since that time it has been shown at various events and concourses. It can be seen here at the Cavallino Classic and the Palm Beach International Concours.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007