When talking about Ferrari models that have established the Prancing Horse and made it the coveted supercar brand it is today, few cars come close to what the Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa has done. As one of the first two Ferrari cars ever sold to customers, this 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa is literally one of the oldest Ferrari models to ever come up for public sale.
Naturally, that also makes the 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni one of the most important Ferraris ever. Listed with Broad Arrow auctions, this particular example, wearing chassis number 004C, is one of two cars sold to brothers Soave and Gabriele Besanza, who had commissioned these cars from coach builder Carozzeria Ansaloni.
What makes the 166 Spyder Corsa special is its featherweight tubular steel chassis, coupled with Ferrari’s legendary Tipo 166, 2.0-liter V12 Colombo engine.
It’s the car that set the tone for Ferraris to come, proving that the Prancing Horse deserved to be at the forefront of motorsports. This 166 Sypder Corsa competed in some of the most demanding road races, such as the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia, with commendable finishes.
After its racing career came to a halt in 1957, this car has enjoyed single ownership with the Clark family in the United States for over 50 years before it was sold in 2015. It also won the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class award, and was further displayed at Pebble Beach in 2019 and 2022
Chassis 004C has been meticulously preserved in its originality and represents the genesis of Ferrari as we know it. For Ferrari enthusiasts and collectors, this 166 Spyder Corsa is arguably the most significant Ferrari in existence today. The collector who snagged it for $8.5 million can be proud of the deal of the century.
