Description
The Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa was one of the very first competition cars built by Ferrari as an independent manufacturer, produced in 1947 and 1948. It was directly developed from the earliest Ferrari 125 S and 159 S models, forming the foundation of the company’s postwar racing program. The 166 Spyder Corsa was designed purely for competition use and played a crucial role in establishing Ferrari’s reputation in international motorsport.
The car was powered by Gioachino Colombo’s 2.0-liter V12 engine, which in race trim produced around 130 to 140 horsepower. Equipped with triple Weber carburetors and a single overhead camshaft per bank, the engine was compact, high-revving, and remarkably advanced for its size. Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, it allowed the lightweight car — weighing roughly 650 kilograms — to reach speeds of around 210 km/h. This performance, combined with excellent agility, made the 166 Spyder Corsa competitive in both short-distance road races and long endurance events.
The chassis was a tubular steel frame with a relatively short wheelbase, providing quick, responsive handling. Suspension used independent wishbones with a transverse leaf spring at the front and a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. Braking was provided by large drum brakes, which were effective for the period but demanded skillful driving in long races to manage fade.
The bodywork of the 166 Spyder Corsa was hand-crafted by Italian coachbuilders, often in collaboration with Ferrari, but with variations from car to car. The design was stripped down for racing efficiency: cycle-style front fenders, a minimal windscreen or small aero screen for the driver, cutaway sides for easy arm movement, and a compact, rounded tail. The style reflected its sole purpose — to be light, fast, and competitive — with no concessions to comfort or luxury.
The car proved successful almost immediately. In 1948, a 166 Spyder Corsa driven by Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone won the Mille Miglia, giving Ferrari its first major international victory. The model also competed in events such as the Targa Florio and the Giro di Sicilia, often against more established marques, and quickly made a name for Ferrari as a builder of serious racing machinery.
Only a small handful of 166 Spyder Corsas were built — likely fewer than ten — and each was slightly different depending on customer requirements and continuous development. Many were sold to privateer racers, while others were campaigned directly by the Ferrari works team. Over time, some chassis were updated or rebodied to remain competitive, making original examples in period-correct configuration extremely rare today.
The Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa stands as one of the most important models in the company’s history. It represents the point at which Ferrari began to move from a fledgling workshop to an internationally recognized racing marque. Its victories in the late 1940s laid the groundwork for the decades of motorsport success that followed, and it remains a treasured piece of Ferrari’s earliest racing heritage.