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The Ferrari 166 MM Vignale Coupé chassis 0036M.
The Ferrari 166 MM Vignale Coupé, chassis 0036M, holds a unique place in Ferrari history, beginning its life in 1950 as a Touring Barchetta and later being rebodied by Vignale in 1953. Originally configured as a right-hand-drive (RHD) car, this Ferrari was powered by the 166 MM’s signature 2.0L V12 engine, producing impressive performance for its era. Upon completion, the car was first seen in competition during the 1950 Giro di Sicilia, where Inico Bernabei and Tullio Pacini drove it to a 2nd overall finish and a 1st in the 2.0L class. The car’s competitive debut continued with a 34th place finish in the Targa Florio, but mechanical issues and accidents plagued its career. Notably, it DNF’d in the 1950 Mille Miglia and the Coppa Adriatica after suffering accidents. By 1953, the car underwent significant changes, with the body being replaced by Vignale, transforming it into a Berlinetta. In the years following, the car received extensive attention at the Ferrari factory, including multiple engine and suspension rebuilds. The engine was rebuilt again in 1957 and later swapped out for a 250 LWB California Spyder engine and transmission during 1965. In the 1980s, the car entered the hands of several owners, including John Geils in 1982 and Paolo Dabbeni in 1984, who entered the car in the Mille Miglia and the Oldtimer GP at Nürburgring. Despite continued restoration efforts, including a major overhaul in 1998, the car remained in various stages of restoration. The Vignale Berlinetta body was eventually sold in 2006 to Will Tomkins, who has stored it in a hangar as part of a long-term project. Meanwhile, the Touring Barchetta configuration was fully restored by Dino Cognolato in 2003, bringing the car back to its original form. As of 2021, the Ferrari 166 MM Vignale Coupé stands as a significant piece of Ferrari’s early history, with its unique rebodied form and extensive competitive pedigree making it a highly sought-after collector’s item. It has been offered at auction several times, with high bids reaching €1.3 million in 2004 and 2006.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
