1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa #014 I
SPECIFICATIONS
- MakeFerrari
- Model166 Spyder Corsa
- Year1948
- Serial #014 I
- Engine #014 I, Block # 63
- Engine Type166
- Chassis Type166
- Build Sequence #7
- Number Built9
- Body TypeAnsaloni Then Scaglietti Spyder
- Body BuilderAnsaloni Then Scaglietti
- First OwnerBianchetti
- Current LocationUSA
We are pleased to offer 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I, a milestone in Ferrari’s early evolution. The 166 Spyder Corsa was the first series of race cars built by Ferrari for clients and exemplifies Ferrari’s continual evolution of existing designs. In May of 1948 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was built as one of only two “short chassis” 166 Spyder Corsas, those being s/n 008 I and 014 I. This new short chassis design was ultimately very successful and was next used for the famed 166 MM Touring Barchetta introduced at the Turin show in the fall of 1948 that went on to dominate the great races in 1949, putting Ferrari firmly on the motor racing map.
Tracing the race and ownership history of early Ferraris is an in-exact process, but it is relatively easy to spot the visual clues identifying the shorter chassis s/n 008 I and 014 I in period photos. Because of the short chassis, the rear tire is very close to the driver’s right elbow, the coachwork features a shorter rear end, the fuel filler is in the middle of the rear upper body and the spring shackle location under the rear axle level all point out the new short chassis. Additionally, in 1948 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was sold to Giampiero Bianchetti who almost certainly raced his own car.
S/n 014 I has an extensive race history with Farina, Bianchetti and Sommers in 1948, 1949, 1950 and was entered in six races as late as 1951 with Bianchetti behind the wheel. The Spyder Corsa body was continually evolved, and by 1951 s/n 014 I was fitted with a nose similar to the 125 GP cars. By 1952 the four-year-old Spyder Corsa was showing its age, and Bianchetti entered only one race, at Monza on 8 June at the 5th GP Autodromo Monza, but his outclassed Spyder Corsa retired on the first lap.
During its race career s/n 014 I was extensively updated in period with newer Houdaille shock absorbers, traction bars, lightening holes and extra bracing. The engine block was replaced with a later type 166 block # 63 with the timing window at 12 o′clock, while the spyder Corsa flywheel retains the timing marks that are read at 2 o′clock. The Weber carburetors are original 32 DCFs, but were fitted with more modern velocity stacks. The cam covers are the later type with ribs and Ferrari script. By late 1952 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was just another old race car and was pushed to the back of a garage somewhere in Italy.
In 1956 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was given a new life when it was rebodied by Scaglietti with a very attractive full-width Spyder body styled with the then-current 500 TR body style. It featured egg crate grilles in the square side vents, had a headrest fitted and the gas tank was cut down to fit under the low bodywork with the spare tire mounted on the cut-down original Spyder Corsa fuel tank. The instruments, steering wheel and concentric ring aluminum horn button are all original Spyder Corsa type. The round-top radiator and firewall clearance bumps for the magneto bases also date to 1948.
166 Spyder Corsa never raced with its new bodywork but instead was sold to Nico Gianella who immigrated to the US in 1957. Today, 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I is wonderfully original and almost exactly as imported in 1957. The engine has just been rebuilt by Patrick Ottis at a cost of $95,000 and dynos at 120 hp. Weighing in at a mere 1,575 pounds, the performance is competitive with any early Ferrari.
For those who want to do the show circuit, new paint, leather and the mother of all details would be simple on s/n 014 I. Fully sorted and ready to go, 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I is the perfect weapon for the Colorado Grand, Mille Miglia or any other prestigious event. Ferrari Classiche Attestation certification is now in process. Exhaustively researched and documented, comes with a photo and document album with dozens of period photos and information.
1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I. The 166 Spyder Corsa was the first series of race cars built by Ferrari for clients, and 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was one of only two “short chassis” 166 Spyder Corsas built. Because of the short chassis and because 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was sold to Giampiero Bianchetti who raced his own car, it is possible to document the race history of this Ferrari. S/n 014 I has an extensive race history in 1948, 1949, 1950 and six races as late as 1951 with a final race in 1952.
During its race career s/n 014 I was updated with Houdaille shocks, traction bars, lightening holes, extra bracing and a later type 166 block # 63. The Webers are original 32 DCFs while the cam covers are the later ribbed style with Ferrari script. In 1956 s/n 014 I was rebodied by Scaglietti with a full-width Spyder body in the 500 TR body style, with egg crate side grilles, a headrest fitted and a cut down fuel tank. The gauges, steering wheel and aluminum horn button are original Spyder Corsa type while the radiator and magneto clearance bumps date to 1948.
166 Spyder Corsa is wonderfully original as imported in 1957 but with the engine rebuilt by Patrick Ottis, at a cost of $95,000 with 120 hp. At a mere 1,575 pounds, performance is competitive with any early Ferrari. New paint, leather and the mother of all details would put the new owner on the show circuit. Fully sorted and ready to go, 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I is the perfect weapon for the Colorado Grand, Mille Miglia or any other prestigious event. Ferrari Classiche Attestation certification is now in process. Exhaustively researched and documented, comes with a photo and document album with dozens of period photos and information.
S/n 014 I, Ferrari 166 Spider Corsa with body by Ansaloni, May 1948 build date. engine # 014 I, block number 63. Probably the seventh Spider Corsa built and one of two short wheelbase built. Originally a cycle-fendered Spider Corsa with Ansaloni coachwork. Later rebodied by Scaglietti with a 500 TR style body.
1948, May, completed.
1948, 30 May, raced at the Gran Premio Formula 2 di Bari by Giuseppe Farina on race #8 but DNF, front damaged. (See page 59 of the Luigi Orsini-Franco Zagari-Corrado Millanta book “Ferrari Automonili 1947–1953”).
1948, 12–13 June, raced at the 2nd Circuito di Mantova by Franco Cortese, race #12, DNF.
1948, 01 Aug., raced at the 10th Aosta–Gran San Bernardo hillclimb by Bianchetti, race #16, placed 7th OA.
1948, 15 Aug., raced at the Circuito di Pescara by Giampiero Bianchetti, race #21, placed 9th OA. (See page 68 of the Luigi Orsini-Franco Zagari-Corrado Millanta book “Ferrari Automobili 1947–1953”).
1948, 19 Sept., raced at the Gran Premio Formula 2 di Napoli at Posillipo by Giampiero Bianchetti who placed 7th OA.
1948, 23 Oct., raced at the Formula Libre race on Lake Garda, Sal�–Como, by Bianchetti, race #38, DNFed.
1948, late, officially sold by the factory to Giampiero Bianchetti, Milan, Italy. (See page 51 of the 1949 Ferrari Yearbook).
1949, 20 Mar., raced at the Giro di Sicilia, Targa Florio, by Bianchetti and Righetti, DNF.
1949, 26 June, raced at the Gran Premio dell′Autodromo Formula 2 at Monza by Nianchetti, race #46, DNF.
1949, 10 July, entered for the Gran Premio di Garda at Sal�–Como, Italy, to be driven by Bianchetti on race #36 but DNS due to an accident in the second heat (see page 31 of Cavallino magazine, issue #101 of Oct.,–Nov., 1997).
1949, 27–28 Aug., raced at the 2nd Grand Prix of Lausanne, Switzerland, by Raymond Sommer, race #2, DNFed.
1949, 01 Sept., raced at Aosta–Gran San Bernado hill climb where Bianchetti had his only success of the season when he came in 2nd in the F2 class.
1950, 28 May, raced at 3rd GP Autodromo Monza. Bianchetti was 3rd in his heat and 5th in the final.
1951, 166 Spyder Corsa s/n 014 I was now fitted with a nose similar to the 125 GP cars.
1951, 12 May, raced at the 4th GP Autodromo Monza, by Bianchetti, 6th in heat 1 and 7th on aggregate.
1951, 20 May, raced at the 500th year celebration of Christopher Columbus at Genoa, Bianchetti wore race #36, finishing 6th.
1951, 3 June, raced at the Circuit du Lac at Aix les Bains. Bianchetti wore race #32, retired during heat 2.
1951, 10 June, raced at the 12th GP di Roma by Bianchetti, 2nd in heat.
1951, 24 June, raced at the 4th GP di Naples. Bianchetti wore race #32, retired after eight laps.
1951, 23 Sept., raced at the 2nd GP di Modena. Bianchetti wore race #20 and scored a 6th overall.
1952, 08 June, the four year old spyder Corsa was showing its age. Bianchetti made one last known race at Monza at the 5th GP Autodromo Monza, but his outclassed car retired on lap one.
1952, late–1956, there is no known record of 014 I racing, probably retired and just pushed to the back of a garage somewhere in Italy.
1955–1956, rebodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti with a new full-width 500 TR-type sports car body with a headrest (later removed) and large Parravano-type air outlets in the front fenders.
1956/1957, sold by Italian car dealer Michele Vernola of Milan.
1957, owned by Nico Gianella, Lausanne, Switzerland. Gianella worked in a garage in Lausanne, Switzerland (possibly with Pierre De Siebenthal?).
1957, brought to the US by Gianella when he emigrated to Santa Barbara, CA.
1962, sold to Michael Peake, Santa Barbara, CA.
1969, January, advertised for sale in Prancing Horse magazine by Peake, issue #21.
1969, sold by Peake to Norm Blank, Pasadena, CA. Painted red, registered on California license plates IKC 501.
1994, 24 Aug., shown by Blank during the Ferrari Club of America International Concours at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey, CA.
1997, 04 Nov., inspected by M. Sheehan while inspecting 250 TR engine s/n 0752 which was sold to McCaw.
2001, still owned by Norm Blank.
2001, 17–18 Aug., RM Monterey auction. Per catalog, this car has never been restored. Red paint. Original Ferrari oval radiator. Seats in immitation snakeskin. For sale for first time in 30 years. Not sold.
2002, 23–26 May, shown at the Ferrari Club of America National Meet, Los Angeles, CA, USA by Norman Blank.
2002, 16 Nov.–14 Dec., advertised for sale in Ferrari Market Letter, Volume 27 Numbers 23–25, by Brooke Betz of Betz & Peters, Orange, CA.
2005, September, sold to Tom Shaughnessy, San Clemente, CA, US.
2005, 02 Oct., shown at the Newport Concours d′Elegance, Strawberry Farms Golf Club, Irvine, CA by Tom Shaughnessy.
2005, 30 Oct., shown at the 10th annual Best of France & Italy car show and swap meet, Woodley Park in Van Nuys, CA by Tom Shaughnessy.
2006, 21 May, shown at the Los Angeles Concours d′Elegance, Brookside Golf Course, Pasadena, CA by Tom Shaughnessy.
2007, 27 Jan., shown at the Cavallino Classic, The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, FL, by Tom Shaughnessy.
2007, 14 Apr., shown at the FCA Arizona Region Concours d′Elegance, Concorso Arizona. Phoenix, AZ, by Tom Shaughnessy.
2007, 18 Aug., Lot #54 , Gooding & Company Auction, Monterey, CA, sold to current owner.
2008, 15 June, shown at the Rodeo Drive Ferrari Concours d′Elegance, Beverly Hills, CA, by current owner.
2008, 16–17 Aug., driven in the Monterey Historic Races, Laguna Seca, CA by current owner.
2010, August, engine rebuilt by Patrick Ottis of Patrick Ottis & Company, 1220 10th Street, Berkeley, CA, 94710. Dyno tested at 119.90 hp. Total cost: $95,000 plus new headers at $5,000. Total weight without driver: 1,575 pounds.
See Forza April 2009 for an article on 014 I.
See Cavallino issue 178 for an article on the 166 Spyder Corsas.
2010, August, on consignment with Michael Shhehan’s Ferraris-online.com.
