The Ferrari 166 Inter

Table of Contents:

Ferrari 166 Inter – Key Details

The Ultimate Guide to the Ferrari 166 Inter

FERRARI 166 INTER – FERRARI MAKES ITS GRAND GT DEBUT

While Ferrari had been busily building its reputation on the track with its 159 S and 125 S models, there was no proper roadgoing car in the stable by the time the 166 Inter debuted in 1948. Incorporating many of the mechanical elements of those race cars into the design, this new model was Ferrari’s first GT car, setting the stage for many iconic designs like the current 812 Superfast, 599, and the Testarossa. This car’s importance is impossible to underestimate.

SPORTING POTENTIAL

Like the 125 S, the 166 sported a 2420 mm wheelbase. It also used the same suspension setup: double wishbones up front with a live rear axle. Of course, unlike the track-only 125, this new model also featured a larger, heavier body as well as a complete interior. Adding those elements significantly increased the weight of the car, so help was needed in the power department. For the first time, a Ferrari was produced with an engine cresting the 2000 cc mark. At 2.0 litres even, the V12 was still the same Colombo design that had been used in the previous models, only bored and stroked to give it a larger displacement. Output ranged from 110 to 140 bhp, depending on it state of tune. Because of these race car underpinnings, some owners even decided to put their new GT car on the track.

BODYWORK

Multiple coachbuilders were given an opportunity to design and build a body for the 166 Inter, including Bertone, Carrozzeria Touring, and Ghia. As such, a wide range of designs were implemented on this model, with both coupe and cabriolet versions manufactured. As these coachbuilders gave customers a chance to incorporate bespoke elements onto each car, each 166 Inter is truly a unique design. Carrozzeria’s coupe bodies would prove the most popular, followed by another, sportier-looking coupe design produced by Finale.

CONCLUSION

As the car that started a grand tradition at Ferrari, this is clearly an important car, starting Ferrari down a path that it still treads on today. Like the 166 Inter, modern Ferraris still integrate oodles of technology that was first used and tested on a track. It is impressive, to say the least, to find a company with such a steadfast adherence to a design philosophy.

Ferrari 166 Inter – Photo Gallery

Ferrari 166 Inter – Technical Specifications

Ferrari 166 Inter – Registry & Videos

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