This is the last of the five built.
While Ferrari had already experienced success in sports car racing, it was the 166 Mille Miglia that would go on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Targa Florio, and the Mille Miglia. After the 166 MM swept these popular European races, the Berlinetta Le Mans was developed as a result between Ferrari and Touring, when they set out to develop a purpose-built competition car. This example, being presented by Gooding and Company, is the last of only five made of the 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta Le Mans cars.
The 166 MM Berlinetta Le Mans was unveiled at Geneva in 1950. Built from lightweight aluminum, the Berlinetta Le Mans version was a more aerodynamically intelligent vehicle than its predecessor. This car is made for speed and performance, specially in endurance racing, as seen with the cockpit, built with leather tie-down straps, large external fuel fillers, and lightweight Plexiglass windows.
This even-serial-number Ferrari competition car was raced at Trieste-Opicina Hillclimb and Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, and formerly owned by prestigious car collectors like Fred Leydorf, John Bond, and Chip Connor. Chassis 0066 M was completed in June of 1950, and was originally covered in light blue paint. The first owner was amateur race driver, Agostino Di Stefano of Milan, who bought the car from Ferrari in March of 1951. In May of the same year, he drove the car in the French Rallye d’Aix-en-Provence and in the Österreichische Alpenfahrt, or Austrian Alpine Rally, the following June.
Over the years, the Ferrari would change hands of various amateur racers, before entering the private collection of Ferrari collector Fred G. Leydorf of Birmingham, Michigan. Ferrari connoisseur, John R. Bond of Newport Beach, California would take possession of the car, which is one of two 166 MM cars he purchased. It would exchange hands of several collectors until it was sold through Gooding and Company in 2008 to a California-based collector, where it has been featured in several shows and tours. Learn more about this Ferrari and see more pictures here.
