Ferrari has recently released a video showcasing a 1948 Tipo 166 Inter which is owned by a lovely lady residing in New Zealand. Its a wonderful thing and we are glad that it is being driven an appreciated still. Ferrari has had a rich history with racing, it is one of the most recognizable brands around the world and there have been a lot of cars which have been lost through time.
Old Ferraris are spectacles of art and hold a lot of value. Ferrari recently released a video showcasing the oldest road going Ferrari ever made. Its a 1948 Tipo 166 Inter which is owned by a lovely lady named Amanda who lives in rural New Zealand.
This car was found only recently, and has a serial number 007-S. The car was built in the second year of Ferraris factory’s existence and was bought by Amanda and Philip some 30 years ago. They have restored the car to its former glory adding their own personal touches to the vehicle.
The car in question has a very rich history in particular as many Ferrari enthusiasts would recognize that this vehicle is not adorning the original shell and has a different body. The 007-S was the first one to carry the “Inter” name, and old Ferrari serial numbers were divided into odd and even where even numbers were reserved for cars that went racing and the odd numbered cars were road cars. The 001-S and 003-S are lost forever while the 005-S is situated in the Ferrari Museum in Modena which means that this is the fourth ever road car that Ferrari ever built and the oldest road going Ferrari to ever exist.
It featured a 2.0L V12 engine with each cylinder bank being 166cc, and hence the name. The car found its first owner in 1949, the second in 1951, the third owner took it racing in the legendary Mille Miglia even though it was an odd numbered car.
The fourth owner, a retired US Army captain stationed in Italy acquired the vehicle and crashed it during a hill climb. The car could not be completed and Bob McKinsey bought in 1954 and brought it to the USA and got the notchback shell separated from the body for the repairs to continue. The body sat in a field for another two years when Thomas Wiggins found it and ditched the touring body altogether.
It took another 15 years for Wiggins to find a suitable body, a coupe body, one of only five made. The project was stalled again as the newly founded body also needed a lot of restoration and Wiggins let go of the vehicle in 1994, 23 years later after acquiring it. (Image Credits: Ferrari) Amanda and Philip found the vehicle for sale in a magazine and after six months of negotiations brought the vehicle to New Zealand.
They got in touch with a restorer and brought the vehicle to a driving state, and even though it is not original, its still a beautiful thing. The couple has driven the vehicle for more than 50,000 kms since acquiring it and the 166 still is being used in all its glory. We love to see a classic car driven to its full potential and Amanda and Philip have immense passion and love for their vehicle which love to enjoy by driving.
The vehicle is a piece of art and a vital part of the automotive history of Ferrari and is timepiece to showcase to the future generations..
