1948 - 1950 Ferrari 166/195 S Vignale Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information

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After Ferrari produced a number of competition cars around the Gioacchino Colombo designed V12 engine, two slightly different production cars were introduced in 1948. Both cars shared a lot of parts with the racers successfully campaigned by the works in the 1947 and 1948 seasons. Victories in the Mille Miglia and the Coppa Intereuropa at Monza provided the names for the 166 MM and 166 Inter. The MM was mainly intended for the customers to race and received even chassis numbers, whereas the Inter was the marque's first road car and received odd chassis numbers.

Installed in the 166 Inter, the 2 litre V12 engine produced around 115 bhp, which was 25 bhp shy of the competition engine found in the 166 MM. The chassis was a very basic steel tubular frame, which was suspended by wishbones at the front and a live-axle at the rear. Most Inters with fitted with Berlinetta and Coupe bodies designed by Touring, but the chassis quickly caught the interest of other Italian coachbuilders like Stablimenti Farina, Vignale and Ghia.

After nearly forty 166 Inters were produced, a replacement was launched in 1950. The alloy V12 was increased to just over 2.3 litres, bringing the unitary displacement up to 195 cc and the 195 Inter was born. A third and final Inter was introduced in 1951, which was powered by an even larger engine and was dubbed 212 Inter. Production ceased in 1952 when just 142 examples were produced. In fifty years time the annual output of Ferrari's road cars would increase to 5000 units, which is quite a difference compared to the 30 cars the Italian manufacturer produced in its early days.

Featured is one of the very last 166 Inters produced and one of ten bodied by Alfredo Vignale using a Giovanni Michelotti design. A particularly interesting cue is the air intake created by an indentation in the nose. Chassis 0071 S was delivered to the Cerana Brothers in the spring of 1950. They did not race the car in any major events, but they were active in local events. Little over a year after receiving their Vignale Coupe, the brothers sent the car back to the Ferrari factory. Here the engine was enlarged to 2.3 litre and equipped with triple Weber carburetors to bring it up to the 170 bhp of the 195 S competition car.

After receiving its engine upgrades, the 166 / 195 S was sold to a Eduardo Lualdi, who was from the same town as the Cerana Brothers. He did not own the car long as he sold it Argentinian racing driver Carlos �Charlie� Menditeguy. Driving a Works entered Maserati 250 F, he scored a third place finish in his home Grand Prix at Buenos Aires in 1957. Like the Italian owners before him, Menditeguy, who was also a talented polo player, raced the Vignale Coupe in several minor events. He eventually sold the car to his compatriot Pablo Napoli. Painted blue and in original condition, the car was sold to the United States in the late 1970s.

It changed hands several times and finally ended up in the possession of historic racer Stephen Dudley. He added safety features like a fire extinguisher, carefully preserving the patina of the car. Even the windshield was still completely original. In this lovely condition, he raced the car for many years in all the major North American and European events ranging from the Cavallino Classic to the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. After owning the Vignale Coupe for over ten years he decided to part with it and it will be offered during RM Auctions' second Ferrari auction in Maranello in May of 2008.