Ferrari 166 Spider Vignale

Vehicle Overview

The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spider Vignale, chassis 006 I, is a significant early Ferrari race car that underwent a dramatic transformation during its lifetime. Originally built as a 166 Spider Corsa, this car was among the first competition models produced by Ferrari, featuring a lightweight open-top design tailored for endurance racing. Powered by a 2.0-liter Colombo V12 engine, it delivered approximately 140 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, making it a formidable competitor in post-war motorsport. After its initial racing career, 006 I was rebodied by Vignale in 1951, following a design by Giovanni Michelotti, for Antonio Faselli of Rome. This redesign marked a shift from its original utilitarian race car form to a more refined and stylish coachbuilt Spider, incorporating Vignale’s distinctive flowing lines and elegant proportions. Michelotti’s influence is evident in the car’s sculpted fenders, pronounced grille, and streamlined profile, enhancing both aerodynamics and visual appeal. This transformation reflected Ferrari’s growing focus on combining racing pedigree with high-end coachbuilding, a philosophy that would define many of the marque’s later grand touring models. While many early Ferraris were scrapped, modified, or lost to history, 006 I stands as a rare survivor, illustrating the evolution of Ferrari’s design language from pure competition cars to beautifully crafted road-going machines. Today, this one-off Ferrari 166 Spider Vignale remains a highly valuable and historically significant piece of the brand’s early legacy. Its unique status as a rebodied competition car, combined with the craftsmanship of Vignale and Michelotti, makes it an extraordinary example of Ferrari’s first decade of innovation, bridging the gap between racing performance and bespoke Italian artistry.