1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta

   

    1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta 

 

The RM Auctions’ event in Arizona on January 20th-21st is already featuring an impressive line up of rare and exotic vehicles, including a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Dayton Spyder previously owned by Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson.

Recently, another rare bird – or shall we say, Prancing Horse – was added to the list of cars to be auctioned in Arizona and this one is by no means less rare and exotic as the 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder.

This car is a race-bred, chassis number 0024 M, 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, one of only 25 models in existence that features the “Barchetta” coachwork from Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. Asking price for the car is estimated around $1.9 - $2.4 million, which just goes to show how important this car is to the esteemed and well-documented racing history of the Prancing Horse.

Making its debut at the 1950 Mar de Plata in Argentina, the car shocked the racing world by winning the very first race it participated in. In 2004, the car was subjected to a complete and total restoration project to the look that it has now.

For around $2 million, you can own a piece of Ferrari racing history in January. If you’re interested in this particular gem, better start saving up as soon as you can.

Photo credit: Hugh Hamilton courtesy of RM Auctions

Press Release after the jump.

Press Release

With preparations well underway for the 2011 collector car auction season, RM announced today the consignment of a rare, race-bred 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, chassis number 0024 M, as the latest star attraction for its Arizona sale, returning January 20 – 21, 2011.

Originally commissioned for the 1949 Paris Motor Show, for which it was painted in the Argentinean racing colors of yellow and blue, 0024 M is considered one of the rarest and most historic early Ferraris, having been owned and raced by many notable individuals in the Ferrari world. The 10th of just 25 examples featuring striking “Barchetta” coachwork from Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, it made its racing debut at the 1950 Mar del Plata in Argentina, finishing an impressive first overall (pictured left). It was also raced in period in the 1951 Mille Miglia, where it was driven by well-known female driver Aprile Palmer, who purchased the car shortly afterwards.

The subject of a complete and total restoration, 0024 M is today finished in red and fitted with its original components, including chassis, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. As an original entrant in the famed Mille Miglia it is eligible for nearly any event open to historic Ferraris. (Estimate Available Upon Request).

“Over the years RM has earned the privilege of offering more important and historic Ferraris than any other auction house. We are thrilled to present another great series of Ferraris at our Arizona sale in January, including the rare 166MM, s/n 0024 M, arguably one of the most meticulously documented Ferraris we have ever had the pleasure of offering,” says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder RM Auctions.

Continuing RM’s reputation as the global leader in the presentation of historic Ferraris at auction, the 166 MM will be joined by no less than 10 other Ferraris at the company’s Arizona sale. Other notable entries include the previously-announced 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, s/n 16835, offered from the personal collection of Baseball Hall of Famer, Mr. Reggie Jackson (Est. $800,000 - $1,000,000); a stunning, fully-certified 1966 Ferrari Superfast Series I, s/n 5989 SF (Est. $900,000 - $1,100,000); a fully-restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter Berlinetta, s/n 043S, one of just 37 examples produced and displayed at the 1950 Turin Motor Show (Est. $400,000 - $600,000); the 1995 Ferrari F50 Show Car, s/n 99999, the Ferrari show car used to introduce the F50 to the world and the last Ferrari with a five-digit chassis number (Est. $700,000 - $800,000); and a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, s/n 10199 (Est. $220,000 - $250,000).