Premium

Ferrari 166 MM Touring - the cornerstone of an unprecedented success story

Name: Ferrari 166 MM Touring 1950
Brand: Ferrari

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on February 21, 2017

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Patrick Ernzen - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Bruno von Rotz

ACO

Archiv

Patrick Ernzen - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

Bruno von Rotz

ACO

Archiv

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the origin of the "Barchetta" design

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - not a gram too much, that is also visually visible

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - "Barchetta" actually stands for "small boat"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - Gianni Agnelli also owned a 166 MM (0064M)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - a good-running Barchetta would have run easily at around 200 km/h

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - little wind protection

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - flat and purpose-built

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - one of the fastest in the early fifties

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - round and likeable

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - certainly one of the most beautiful Ferraris of all time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - elegant and simple at the same time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - just 1.65 meters wide

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the racing versions had little light decoration

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - powerful and rounded

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the "Barchetta"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - get in, drive off - if only you could ...

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - wide-angle view from above

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - View over the bow

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - comparatively comfortable entry

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - View into the cockpit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - red zone at 6500 rpm, but the twelve-cylinder engines revved higher

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - beautifully drawn instruments

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - Smiths speedometer up to 240 km/h

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - already with five-speed gearboxes at the end of the 1940s

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the V12 engine with a displacement of just two liters

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - three four-barrel carburetors provide 160 hp

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - short front overhang

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the "Superleggera" design promised lightness and rigidity

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - spoked wheels with the elegant wing nuts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1950) - the mark of the coachbuilder

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 (1949) - the Touring Coupé at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 (1949) - the generously glazed coupé next to the 166 MM at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - alongside the Cabriolet and the Touring Coupé at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1948) - as a 'Barchetta' and as a coupé from Touring Superleggera

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - Front view at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - with Touring-Barchetta body, at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - View of the interior, at the 1949 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - Test drive with the Touring Barchetta

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - Chinetti/Mitchelll/Thompson - Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) at the veteran race before Le Mans 1973 - Luigi Chinetti drove this Ferrari 166MM to first place at Le Mans 1949. Chinetti also won in 1932 and 1934 on Alfa Romeo

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - victorious at the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and Spa

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - Spider Superleggera, surrounded by small Fiat vehicles

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 Inter Touring (1950) - exhibited at the Turin Motor Show in 1950

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 Inter Touring (1949) - shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1949

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Le Mans Berlinetta Touring (1950) - shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1950

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1951) - on the occasion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1949) - used at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - part of the ACO collection - Rétromobile Paris 2016

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Touring (1949) - in front of a Matra in the special show "110 years of ACO" - Rétromobile Paris 2016

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM (1949) - Chassis 014 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1949 in the category up to 2 liters displacement - in the special show Le Mans at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring (1950) - at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2015 in Class E "Gentlemen's Racers"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring (1950) - received the Coppa d'Oro (audience award) at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2015 in Class E "Gentlemen's Racers"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

You have only

1 out of 61

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Between 1949 and 1953, Ferrari and Touring Superleggera built exactly 25 examples of the 166 MM Touring Barchetta. These were used very successfully in racing, as evidenced by a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and another at the Mille Miglia in 1949. Today, these simple and elegant open-top sports cars are among the most sought-after Ferraris of all. This report describes the Ferrari 166 MM and shows it in current and historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Early success
More power
Reliable construction
25 examples
Becoming valuable
Comparison of the Ferrari 166 S and 166 MM
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1945, Enzo Ferrari founded his own sports and racing car factory. He had taken his experience and some of his staff with him from Alfa Romeo, where he had worked before the war. Right from the start, he and his chief engineer Colombo focused on small-volume twelve-cylinder engines and high quality. Although his belt was tight in the post-war years, the "Commendatore" spared no expense when it came to procuring modern machine tools or selected materials. Only the best was good enough for him and he constantly encouraged his employees to achieve new best performances. And this paid off, also in terms of business success.

Welcome to Zwischengas!