The Berlinetta Le Mans was developed as an improvement over earlier iterations of the Ferrari 166 series. While the "Berlinetta" fastback coupe design resulted in a vehicle slightly heavier than its predecessors, the aerodynamic profile was engineered to better suit the sustained high speeds required for French endurance racing. The car utilized a chassis design originally created by Anderloni in 1937, featuring a steel skeleton of small-diameter tubing that was gas-welded and fastened to the vehicle. The bodies were crafted by Superleggera using entirely aluminum construction.
The vehicle was powered by a spark-ignition four-stroke V-12 engine. Standard configurations utilized a three-carburetor setup and a manual 5-speed transmission, delivering power to the rear wheels. The mechanical layout featured an independent front suspension with a transverse leaf spring, while the rear utilized a live axle with leaf springs. To ensure sufficient stopping power, Ferrari equipped the car with large drum brakes, a technical preference the manufacturer maintained for several years.
In its standard trim, the 166 MM Berlinetta produced 140 horsepower, though at least one example updated to 195 S-spec reached 170 horsepower. The car was capable of a top speed of 189 km/h (117 mph) and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds.
The model's primary competitive focus was the 1950 Le Mans race, where two units were entered. However, neither of the cars finished the event. Despite the difficulties at Le Mans, individual chassis saw varied success in other European competitions.
Chassis 0066M, completed on June 14, 1949, was originally purchased by Anteo Allazetta of Trieste. Though it began with a single carburetor, it was converted to the standard three-carburetor racing specification in 1950. Allazetta campaigned the car in several events, including the 1953 Trieste-Opicina Hill climb, where it achieved 1st in class and 4th overall. That same year, the car placed 2nd in class and 5th overall at the Coppa d’Oro Dolomiti.
The history of the 166 series is marked by significant reconfigurations and identity shifts. Chassis 020I, constructed by chief engineer Colombo, was among the first vehicles to carry the Ferrari name. Driven by Cortese Franco, the car proved highly effective on circuit layouts with numerous corners, securing victories at the Rome Grand Prix and in Vercelli.
Following damage sustained at the Terme di Caracalla, the car was repaired and driven by Tazio Nuvolari, who piloted it to wins at the Forlio Circuit and the Coppa Luigi Arcangeli in Parma. After a subsequent testing accident, 020I received a new body and a replacement engine. The serial number itself was the result of a clerical evolution; originally designated "02C," the "C" was misread as an "O," and an "I" was later appended to form "020I."
The 166 MM Berlinetta Le Mans remains a rare artifact of Ferrari's early racing efforts, with its value increasing significantly in the collector market. Chassis 0066M passed through several American owners, including David Francis Leopold, George Smith, Donald Williams, and Fred Leydorf, the latter of whom performed a complete restoration and engine rebuild.
In 1972, the car was acquired by John R. Bond and appeared on the cover of Road & Track magazine. After a period in Japan under the ownership of Tohru Horinouchi, who conducted a four-year restoration, the car returned to the United States. In 2008, it was sold at the Gooding and Company auction in Pebble Beach for $2,200,000.