Description
This car is Lot 135 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Sale on 6 February, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Tuesday 4 February from 08:00 until 18:00 and Wednesday 5 February from 9 AM - 6 PM, at The Grand Palais Historique, Paris.
Lot 135
1950 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta
Registration no.
Chassis no. 0034 M
Delivered new in Italy to Count Marzotto
4th overall in the 1951 Mille Miglia #357
Current owner since 1994
Massini Report on file
Eligible for the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic, Tour de France, Monaco Historic Grand Prix, and the most prestigious concours d'élégance and classic car competitions
The history of the Prancing Horse brand is closely tied to the legendary Mille Miglia, one of the world's most iconic endurance races. Founded in 1927 by gentleman drivers, this 1, 600 km open-road race from Brescia to Rome and back became a true challenge for the finest drivers of the time. In 1929, Enzo Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari to support Alfa Romeo owners and drivers in motorsport, a manufacturer that would dominate the Mille Miglia from 1928 to 1938, except for one edition only.
The war temporarily halted the race, which would only resume in 1947. During this period, in 1940, Scuderia Ferrari, previously a subsidiary of Alfa Romeo and now based in Maranello, gained its independence. While motorsport has often been a means to promote manufacturers, giving them prestige, aura, and visibility with the public to drive sales of production cars, this was not the case for Enzo Ferrari. Quite the opposite, in fact; he built production cars to finance his racing activities.
His passion, expertise, and the craftsmanship and innovation defining Scuderia Ferrari enabled the marque to continue its dominance of the Mille Miglia, now under its own banner, claiming victory in 8 out of the 11 post-war editions. 1948 marked the first year of this supremacy. Ferrari clinched the Mille Miglia with its 166S Berlinetta Allemano, driven by Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone. In the same year, in September 1948, the 166 MM, named in tribute to their triumph, was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. A new body style was born: the barchetta. The chassis and body formed a seamless silhouette with exceptional aerodynamics, strengthening the structure while housing a 2. 0-litre V12 engine. This extraordinary automobile made its mark in the most prestigious motorsport events of 1949, winning both the overall Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans just two months later.
The Ferrari 166 MM chassis #0034M was delivered new on March 8, 1950, to Count Paolo Marzotto, featuring a stripped-down interior. By the end of the month, the original certificate from Carrozzeria Touring in Milan was issued. Count Marzotto's intentions were clear: this 166 MM was destined for competition, and that's precisely how it would be used for the next decade.
In April 1950, the Barchetta was entered in the Giro di Sicilia with the number #440, followed a few weeks later by the Mille Miglia under number #656. These early races allowed the driver to familiarise himself with the new machine. In July, at the IV Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti, Marzotto and his co-driver Marco Crosara, racing under number #146, secured victory. In October, at the Criterium di Roma on the 22nd, with number #96, the car finished second overall, then placed third at the XI Trieste-Opicina on the 29th, concluding the season.
She returned to the racing scene with brilliance, securing 2nd overall at the Circuito di Siracusa on 10 March 1951. On 1 April, Marzotto and Marini achieved 6th overall in the XI Giro di Sicilia, racing under number #415. On 28 April, the same team competed in the Mille Miglia, finishing 4th overall with car number #357.
The 1952 season begins with the same triumph that concluded the previous one. Marzotto wins the XII Giro di Sicilia with number #423. In May, the car heads for the Mille Miglia, bearing number #526. However, June proves to be a more difficult month for the 166 MM. Registered for the Monaco Grand Prix and the XIII Trieste-Opicina Hillclimb, it ultimately does not take the start. In July, it competes in the VI Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti, now with Sergio Sighinolfi behind the wheel, and later participates in the Bari Grand Prix in September.
In March 1953, Marzotto sells the car to its second owner, Francesco Donato, based in Messina, Italy. In April, Donato enters the car in the Palermo-Monte Pellegrino Hillclimb under number #126, and then in the III Coppa dei Templi-Agrigento on May 17, securing a second-place finish in its class. In August, it takes part in the III Circuito Automobilistico della Città di Reggio di Calabria with number #58.
On April 4, 1956, its owner sold the car to Francesco Buonaccorsi, who decided to give it a new Spider bodywork, executed by the renowned Carrozzeria Scaglietti. In April 1957, the 166 MM #0034M, with its new body, participated in the Giro di Sicilia and the Naples race, driven by Mario Pandolfo, with numbers #339 and #36 respectively. It was not until September 1959 that the car reappeared in the Catania-Etna Hillclimb, still in the hands of the same driver, bearing number #462.
The Ferrari was then sold in 1962 by Buonaccorsi to Gustavo Zaccagnini, residing in Tagliacozzo. It is said to have changed hands again, becoming the property of Nicolás Franco, the nephew of General Franco, in Spain.
In the late 1960s, still in Italy, the car was fitted with a Touring Barchetta bodywork once again, before hitting the tarmac of the Mas du Clos circuit in 1970 under the command of dealer Corrado Cuppellini. In the 1970s, the current owner acquired it from Nicolás Franco. An original Spanish document from 1976, classifying the 'Bachetta Ferrari' number #0034M as a historic vehicle and designating the current owner as the owner at the time, is included in the file.
It returned to Brescia, the birthplace of the Mille Miglia, and took part in the event's classic version in 1984, under number #161. Two years later, it was driven by Emilio Gnutti, who went on to participate in the following seven editions of the Mille Miglia, from 1986 to 1992, with either a family member or Pozzi as co-driver. Remarkably, it finished in 8th place in 1987, with the number #159.
In 1994, it returned to Spain, where it was reunited with the highly prestigious collection of its current owner, who restored the Touring barchetta bodywork, returning it to its original silhouette, which it proudly retains to this day. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career in classic motorsport. The Ferrari 166 MM #0034M went on to participate in numerous iconic international events, including several editions of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, the Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, Mugello Classic, and the Trofeo Baleares. It has been carefully maintained by the renowned Corrado Patella, Ferrari specialist, from Autofficina Omega in Northern Italy.
A report written by Marcel Massini accompanies the car, along with a historical technical passport from 2012, a Spanish document reclassifying the car's status as a "vehiculo historico" in the name of its current owner from 1976, the second purchase invoice by the current owner in 1994, as well as photocopies of the following documents: the italian registration document issued on 19 April 1951 to Paolo Marzotto; a letter addressed to Cuppelini by Ferrari in 1968, with a factory document noting that the engine was modified to "competizione" with three carburetors in 1951, and the 1962 registration card.
An illustrious model, this Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Touring is a strong contender to join the collection of a Ferrari enthusiast eager to participate in the most prestigious classic competitions or concours d'élégance. Offered without reserve, it will change hands on February 6th... perhaps to yours?
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact us at using the button below or call +44 20 7447 7447 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
