A 1950 Ferrari 166MM Barchetta – one of just 25 examples bodied by Touring – is expected to sell for as much as $10,000,000 when it crosses the block at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction on 11 March.
The incredible racer boasts a long and prestigious competition career which began shortly after its first owner, Marco Dallorso, gave the car as a gift to up-and-coming racing driver Eugenio Castelotti. The young driver immediately entered the car into the 1951 Mille Miglia and drove to a sixth in class finish with the help of co-driver Giuseppe Rota.
A short time later the Ferrari was returned to Maranello for further fettling. It was fitted with a competition manifold and triple Weber carburettors, while the gearbox was converted to a later offset lever-type and the original single-scoop bonnet was replaced by an unvented version.
The upgraded 166 then strung together a series of impressive race finishes, including eighth overall at the Coppa della Toscana, seventh overall at the Circuito Internacional do Porto and third in class at the Giro delle Calabrie.
In 1953, the Ferrari was campaigned in the Mille Miglia for the second time, though it failed to finish. A minor accident at the VII Varse-Campo dei Fiori Hillclimb just two months later bookended its time in Italy, and it was exported to the United States and the famed Mille Miglia Motors of Charles Rezzaghi after repairs had been completed.
The Ferrari’s competition career continued once in America, with a number of appearances at the Madera and Bakersfield road races driven by its new owner Raymond Craycroft, who also managed a second place finish in the novice class at the Pebble Beach Road Races.
By 1966, the 166MM had been sold Larry Taylor, who in turn sold the car to Ferrari expert and concours judge Ed Gilbertson after just over a decade of ownership. Gilbertson took the car back to Pebble Beach in 1979 – this time to the concours e’elegance – where it picked up the coveted Hans Tanner Trophy.
Future owners added to the Ferrari’s trophy collection, picking up top awards at the Cavallino Classic, FCA National Meet, Concorso Italiano, and second in class at Pebble Beach in 1999. Most recently, the car took part in the ‘Ferraris of Pebble Beach Road Races’ held in 2015 – click here to see a full photo gallery or click the image below.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC