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In 1953, a second version of Ferrari's venerable 166 Mille Miglia (MM) was produced and it was Ferrari's sports car of choice for racing clientele that would race in the 2-liter class. The new car used an upgraded engine with roller cam followers that was first innovated by Lampredi on the long block V12. Along with other tweaks, 160 bhp was possible at 7,200 rpm.

The chassis and running gear of the 166 MM/53 was similar to the first 166 MM. The chassis was made from two large oval longerons that was cross-braced and built by Gilco. Suspension was also the same with unequal front wishbones upfront that shared a common transverse leaf spring. The rear was a live axle that held by semi-elliptic leaf springs and a pair of radius arms.

The 166 MM/53 was offered alongside other Ferraris that had larger engine sizes including the 3.4-liter 340 MM. Typically most were bodied as Touring Barchettas.

Chassis & Sales

0308M/0050M-1953 Ferrari 166MM Spider Scaglietti. Originally bodied as a Vignale Berlinetta, 0308M ran the 1953 Tour de France and finished 6th overall and first in class with Antoine Causse behind the wheel. Shortly thereafter it in a large accident and the body was scrapped. Ferrari then had Sergio Scaglietti design a new body which was his first Ferrari. The design was dramatic and became the prototype for the subsequent 250 Monza. It was then offered to Porfirio Rubirosa who had it restamped 0050M to avoid importation problems. It was then sold to Danny Collins who campaigned the car in the US. It was bought by Jack Reuter in 1965 for $1,000 USD and subsequently restored. The engine block was cracked and the engine from a 225S Berlinetta Vignale 0168ED was fitted.

In recent times, 0308M/0050M was raced by Herb Wolfe in the 2003 and 2004 Shell Historic Challenge. Then sold, refurbished and run in the 2005 Mille Miglia Storica. It was also shown at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. In 2009 it was offered by RM Auctions at their Sports & Classic Cars of Monterey event. They verified the car's chassis number history, but it failed to sell with an estimate of $1,400,000-$1,800,000 USD and a high bid of $1,100,000.

Chassis & Sales

1953 Ferrari 166MM/53 Spider Scaglietti 0308M/0050M - did not sell for $1,100,000 Several 166MM/53 models did well in competition, including the car presented here, which was delivered to Antoine Causse of Casablanca, Morocco in 1953. Originally issued in the numerical sequence of the time as chassis 0308M, it was a Competition Berlinetta bodied by Vignale, with the characteristic chromed ‘portholes’ on its flanks, a common Vignale ornamentation from the period. Monsieur Causse appears to have raced the Berlinetta twice; on... more
Gallery: 2009 RM Auctions Sports & Classics of Monterey

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