The 166 won its MM nametag from Ferrari’s first win in the 1948 Mille Miglia in the hands of Clemente Biondetti, who repeated the feat in 1949. And heaping coals on the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” theory was Luigi Chinetti’s stirring victory in the 1949 Le Mans 24-hour endurance race, which was almost a solo achievement, since he drove 23.5 hours himself. In all, 25 Barchettas were built by Touring, and the car on offer is number 10. Its history is extremely interesting – not to mention nail-biting at times – just like the race for which it was named. Its survival can be attributed to determination and luck. The story is also remarkably well documented, and numerous period photos and documents accompany the car. With matching numbers, 0024 M is unusual in that it combines both the “Lusso” creature comforts with the competition package. The engine, 0022 M, which is original to this car, was fitted with three Weber 32-mm DCF carburetors, instead of the street version’s single Zenith, and “MM” pistons, which raised the compression ratio from 8:1 to 10:1. Gauges included a large tachometer, fuel pressure gauge, oil pressure gauge and oil and water temperature gauges. No odometer was fitted, as the car was intended primarily for competition. Estimated horsepower was 140, with 0-100 mph coming up in 27 seconds.

Records indicate that 0024 M was fitted with Houdaille lever shocks, which it still has, a riveted 100-liter competition fuel tank with central filler and twin exhausts with minimal resonators. The five-speed gearbox was for competition, with no synchronizers. First, second and third gears were “short” for good acceleration, while fourth and fifth gears were “tall” for better top speed. A short final drive gear of 4.88 was specified, although this would be revised to 4.01 for the 1951 Mille Miglia.

0024 M was commissioned as the 1949 Paris Motor Show car and finished in Argentine racing colors – two tones of bright blue with yellow sides. The buyer of record was the Automobile Club of Argentina, and while rumors persist that it was intended as a gift to Eva Perón, it seems more likely that race driver Carlos Menditeguy was hoping to curry favor with the Peronistas and avoid the country’s ruinous import duties.

In any case, Menditeguy was quite clear about why he wanted 0024 M in Argentina, and he entered the January 15th, 1950 Mar del Plata open road race. Menditeguy entered as #14, and there are numerous photos before, during and after the race, which he won easily. Unfortunately, this success softened no official hearts; the temporary importation papers were not made permanent, and 0024 M was shipped back to Italy in June 1950.