(08) 1948: Ferrari 166 MM Touring

Photo Credit: https://www.ferrari.com/en-TW/history/garage/1948/166-mm

Carrozzeria Touring of Milan was tasked with designing the body of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 in 1940, giving it a sober, elegant look, giving it an unmistakable personality. A decade later, when Ferrari wanted to put a car into production that qualified unequivocally as a sports car, he knew he'd have to go with the Milan atelier, known for its "Superleggera" or super-light bodies. It was a big deal when Maranello unveiled the first much admired example of the 166 MM Touring barchetta at the Turin Motor Show on September 15, 1948. Once again, the car's lines were sleek and coherent at the same time, but without that angular appearance that had previously characterized Ferraris, especially Allemanos. This 166 was called barchetta because of the long strengthening ribs that ran down both sides. This model could also produce 140 hp at 6600 rpm with Ferrari's two-litre 60° V12 engine. With all that power and a relatively light body with a weight of 650 kg, the 166 MM was an excellent racing car. It was Luigi Chinetti, future importer of Ferrari cars in North America, who won the 1948 12 Hours of Paris driving the fast and agile Touring barchettas. Afterwards, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which was Ferrari's first major victory on French soil, and the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Also that year, Clemente Biondetti won the Mille Miglia in a 166 MM, beating Felice Bonetto and Pasquale Cassani.