1949 Ferrari 166 Inter

1948 is generally regarded as Ferrari’s first full racing season, marked by the debut of the 2-litre version of its V12 engine, created for a new family of models destined for both sports-car competition and Formula Two. This was the beginning of the successful and long-lasting “Tipo 166” series, which played a major role in establishing Ferrari’s early international prestige. Designed to compete in the 2-litre class, the 166 was an evolution of the 159 S, itself directly derived from the first 125. It quickly proved competitive and achieved important successes in period. The 166 family included the 166 S, the 166 MM, the road-going 166 Inter, and the 166 F2 single-seater, all sharing the same basic 2-litre Colombo V12 architecture. The chassis and suspension layout were only slightly revised from the earlier models; the tubular steel frame was a Ferrari design and was built by Gilco. The engine was the well-tested 60-degree V12 designed by Gioacchino Colombo, enlarged to 1,995.02 cc in order to reach the limit of the 2-litre class. With up to 140 hp in sports-car form, it appealed to many gentlemen drivers of the period, while its flexibility and robustness made the 166 suitable for virtually every kind of competition. As was Ferrari practice, the model name referred to the displacement of each individual cylinder. In 1953, Ferrari introduced a second series of the 166 MM, known as the 166 MM/53, intended to keep the model competitive in the 2-litre sports category. With mechanical updates and revised bodywork by several coachbuilders, this later development extended the racing life of the 166, although by then competition from increasingly advanced rivals, especially Maserati, had become stronger.

The 166 Inter is generally regarded as Ferrari’s first true gran turismo. Developed from the 125 S and 166 S competition cars, it was in effect a sports car for the road. The “Inter” name commemorated the victories achieved by Scuderia Inter with the 166 S. Presented on September 15, 1948, at the Salone dell’Automobile di Torino together with its racing counterpart, the 166 Mille Miglia barchetta, the Inter was produced until 1950, with the series comprising 37 examples carrying chassis numbers in the odd-numbered Ferrari road-car sequence from 007 S to 0079 S. Like all 166s, it used the dedicated Gilco chassis, initially with the 2,420 mm wheelbase of the 166 S and later extended to 2,500 mm. It also shared the 2-litre version of Gioacchino Colombo’s V12 engine, although output increased thanks to revised induction with three carburettors. The first 166 Inter shown at Turin was an elegant coupé bodied by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan and built using the Superleggera system. Customer deliveries soon began, and the model became the first Ferrari intended primarily for road use rather than for the racetrack. While many clients chose Touring to clothe the bare chassis, more individual interpretations were supplied by other coachbuilders. Ghia produced a particularly daring one-off coupé, designed by Felice Boano, Stabilimenti Farina built several refined examples, and Vignale also contributed bodies that foreshadowed some of its designs of the following decade. Two cabriolets built by Pinin Farina and Bertone likewise anticipated those companies’ later involvement with Ferrari.

This is the first of only six Ferrari 166 Inter coupé Vignale bodied. All Vignale Ferrari's consist of very many body-panels that form themselves to the Ferrari-chassis that is underneath it. Almost all designs originate from Giovanni Michelotti and were built in aluminium. The designer Michelotti worked closely with Alfredo Vignale, one of the newest coachbuilders in Turin; the pair had worked together at Stabilimenti Farina. The car has had an adventurous life mechanically. The original engine (0059S), in fact, was replaced, when the car was imported into the USA, with a Chevrolet V8 block. It later ran out of engine and another engine (0083S) was offered to the then owner of the original engine for an exchange. In this way the car regained its original engine, returning to Italy.