1947 Ferrari Tipo 166 Le Mans Berlinetta

This Ferrari Touring Berlinetta is believed to be chassis number 02C by many leading authorities, including the late Stan Nowak, David Seielstad, Tito Anselmi and Gianni Rogliatti. As such, this is one of the most important Ferraris extant.

Ferrari wanted to develop a powerful, reliable and smooth competition motor using a V12 configuration. So, in 1945, he had Enrico Nardi visit Gioacchino Colombo, the designer of the successful Alfa Romeo 158 ‘Voiturette.’ Colombo agreed to design the new 1½-liter V12 engine that Ferrari wanted built for his upcoming competition cars. Working in modest surroundings with engineers Colombo, Giuseppe Busso and eventually Aurelio Lampredi, Ferrari was quickly able to accomplish that vision.

The first Ferrari was brought out for display on March 12, 1947, at Maranello, Ferrari’s new factory. In April, chassis number 02C was completed and road-tested by Franco Cortese and Giuseppe Farina....