1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa Spyder Corsa

Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa with chassis number 014I was constructed in May of 1948 and is a right-hand drive vehicle. It was raced extensively by the factory during 1948 and sold to a privateer at the close of the season.

Chassis 014I was the seventh competition sports Ferrari built (at least the seventh to be numbered). The two new shorter-wheelbase Spyder Corsas believed to be 008I and 014I were given to Ferrari's two works driver - Tazio Nuvolari and Raymond Sommer. It is uncertain what happened to chassis 008I. O141 was later sold to Giampiero Biancheti of Milan who also owned 003S, the 1948 Mille Miglia-winning 166S.
The privateer, Giampiero Bianchetti of Milano continued its racing career by entering in competition during the 1949 season.

The inaugural race for the vehicle came in May of 1948 when it was entered in a Grand Prix event, Formula 2 competition. Driven by Giuseppe Farina and bearing the number 8. At the conclusion of the event, the 166 Spyder Corsa was no longer on the track. It had retired earlier and given a DNF. The first race it would finish would come during its next outing which was in June. It was driven by Giampiero Bianchetti at the Circuito di Mantua where it finished in seventh place overall. At the next event, it finished in 5th overall and second in class. This would be its best finish during the 1948 season.

The 1948 season was disappointing, plagued with DNF and DNS during many of its entries. It did achieve a Second in Class driven by Bianchetti at the Aosta-Grn San Bernardo Hillclimb near the close of the season.

In 1956 it was re-bodied by Scaglietti using the 500 TR body style. The fuel tank was cut down in size in order to make room for the new low bodywork and the spare wheel mounted above it. The car still has the original Spyder Corsa-type radiator with a rounded top tank. From new, the chassis has been modified slightly with the addition of lightening holes and extra bracing. It has a wheelbase that measures 88.75 inches and there is no evidence of chassis tampering, meaning this could very well be one of the two short-chassis Spyder Corsa's. Other modifications include Houdaille shock absorbers and radius rods to the rear axle. The original engine block has been replaced with a later 166 type. The timing hole is at 12-o'clock, though the Spyder Corsa's fly-wheel has the timing marks meant to be read at 2-o'clock. The three Weber 32DCF carburetors are period correct. Twin magnetos are mounted at the rear of the camshaft and the cam covers are of the later type. The car is fitted with a later 166 'nine-bolt' gearbox to match the later-type cylinder block. It has the original Spyder Corsa-type shift knob. The brake reservoir has been replaced in favor of a later type. Another modification was to the brake drums and the cooling hoods. The steering box is a replacement and is believed to be from mid-1952. The four-original wheels have been replaced with wider 4.5-inch Borrani wire wheels.

From that time, it passed through the years in the collection of many prominent people. It was exported to the United States in 1957. In 1994 it was shown at the International Ferrari Concours in Monterey, California.

The car was offered for sale in 2001 by RM Auctions at Monterey. The high-bid was $830,000.

Recently, the car has been shown at the 2007 Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, Florida.

In 2007 it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, Ca and sold for $1,045,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008