[Mike430]

On offer from Mike Sheehan...

We are pleased to offer 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta s/n 0024 M, an all matching-number Touring Barchetta and one of only 25 166 MM Touring Barchettas ever built. S/n 0024 M has its complete original, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. The complete suspension and all gauges are original to the car. Nicely sorted and ready to go, 166 Barchetta s/n 0024 M is the perfect weapon for the Mille Miglia or any other prestigious event. Classiche certification now submitted. See it at The Quail. Priced right at $2,950,000.

From new with the "Lusso" interior but with full competition engine, gearbox and suspension. 166 MM s/n 0024 M was new in the Argentinean National colors of Blue and Yellow and was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in October, 1949. After the Paris Motor Show, it was invoiced to the Auto Club of Argentina as a gift to Eva Peron and shipped to Argentina where Carlos Menditeguy raced s/n 0024 M in the Mar del Plata Road Race on January 15th, 1950 winning the race with a 1st place overall! 166 MM Barchetta s/n 0024 M was then shipped back to Europe and raced in the 1951 Mille Miglia, driven by Aprile Palmer, a noted lady driver of the time, finishing 8th in class. Ms. Aprile Palmer next raced 166 MM s/n 0024 M on 21 July, 1951 at the XVI Susa Moncenisio hillclimb, placing 11th OA.
In 1953 the Touring Barchetta body was removed and replaced by a very attractive Vignale Berlinetta body. In 1956 s/n 0024 M was sold to Theodore Samuel "Ted" Pala, an American from Los Angeles, who used s/n 0024 M as a chase car to follow the 1956 Mille Miglia before shipping it home to Los Angeles. In 1986-1989 a major restoration was completed and an all new alloy Touring Barchetta body was built and fitted by Neil Twyman of Potter's Bar, England on the original chassis. S/n 0024 M has its complete original, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. The complete suspension and all gauges are original to the car.
Over the last thirty-five years we have sold over 2,000 Ferraris, and we have never had an early Ferrari as well documented as is 166 MM s/n 0024 M. We have copies of the build sheets, copies of all of the original Italian Automobile Club registration documents, original shipping invoices, voluminous correspondence and amazing period photos plus hundreds of restoration photos. The records, photos and documents for this car stack over four inches tall!

[Barry]

very nice!

[JazzyO]

Bit of an understatement Barry. The only car ever to win LeMans, Targa Florio and Mille Miglia. Glorious machine. Want one. Badly!


Onno

[Granucci]

man...just, wow.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't someone put back the curve line over the rear wheel area to original? Someone at one time made it straight, but he curved line is as from the factory.

[wetpet]

Dammit mike, cut it out. this is worse than water boarding!

[barcheta]

Well-weathered leather,
Hot metal and oil,
The scented country air.
Sunlight on chrome,
The blur of the landscape,
Every nerve aware.

Its simply beautiful..... and one of the reasons I own a Ferrari.

[212Export]

One of the best designs ever...., just gorgeous ! The reading of the complete history of the car is worthwhile as well. Interestingly, regarding to the detailed photographs which I received on Sheehans emails regarding this 166MM Barchetta, the chassis and engine block number are not corresponding?! (Although I've read that it is all original and matching?)

[bryanp]

if you've never seen one of these in person, the first thing that strikes you is that they are TINY. A 360/430 would look like an RV if it were parked next to a 166.

Just for giggles, I compared it to another small car - the new Mini Cooper S. The wheelbase of a 166 barchetta is only 7'-2"; that's 11" shorter than a Mini Cooper S. Think about that. And it weighs about 1430 lbs as compared to the Mini's 2680. With 140hp compared to the Mini's 173, the 166's power to weight ratio of 10.2:1 blows the Mini, at 15.5:1 into the weeds.

Of course, the Mini is $2,925,000 cheaper, but who is counting.

[360 Modena]

Shall we go all in for a "group buy" as an investment club?

Damn fine car.

Too much for my meager bank acct.

[wetpet]

is this the one that's getting trashed over on the other site for having a re-creation body?

[bryanp]

yes; I don't totally understand it, though. Even sheehan's description tells what happened;
"In 1953 the Touring Barchetta body was removed and replaced by a very attractive Vignale Berlinetta body." In the late 80s a thorough restoration in the UK re-created the Touring Barchetta body that had been removed in 53. A lot of things happened to these cars during their lives, and I guess I don't see the harm in trying to put them back to the way they originally were, esp, in this case, if the second body (the Vignale Berlinetta body) wasn't really known for anything special (for instance, you would never take the breadvan's body off and re-create its original 250SWB today - that car's race history is known for its unique breadvan body). And I think the Sheehan price already reflects the discount for not being completely original bodymetal