VIN: Riding High in Paris - the ex-Porfirio Rubirosa Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia chassis 0050 M
History of chassis 0050 M
Of the 33 cars ostensibly built to 166 Mille Miglia specification by Ferrari (three of which were converted straight away to 195 Sport trim while one car was re-numbered from an existing 166 Spyder Corsa), 25 were completed with Spyder coachwork by Touring of Milan.
One such example was chassis 0050 M which Ferrari sold new to Paris-based Dominican Republic diplomat and international man of mystery, Porfirio Rubirosa.
At the time of acquisition, Rubirosa had recently divorced his third wife, the American Tobacco heiress Doris Duke who was worth a reputed $100m.
Rubirosa had married Duke in September 1947; she bought him a stable of polo horses, a three-storey 17th century hotel in Paris and a converted B-25 bomber that he crashed within a year. However, the marriage was over by October 1948 and, as part of the divorce settlement, Duke gave Rubirosa the Paris hotel and $25,000 per year until he re-married.
While living a comfortable life chasing women, playing polo and doing little in the way of official work for the Trujillo regime he represented, Rubirosa decided to embark upon his first taste of competitive driving.
Wanting the best machinery available, he purchased chassis 0050 M and entered the little red Touring-bodied Spyder for the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The car appeared under a Luigi Chinetti entry and Rubirosa was co-driven by Pierre Leygonie. The pair were a fixture in the top ten until clutch problems forced 0050 M’s retirement during the sixth hour.
Although he didn’t race again until 1953, Rubirosa kept the Ferrari and frequently used it around Paris.
In early 1953, Rubirosa upgraded to the latest Series 2 version (the 166 MM/53) and part-exchanged 0050 M back to Ferrari. The trade took place in May 1953 and Rubirosa had Ferrari re-number his new car 0050 M to avoid purchase tax while the original 0050 M was re-numbered 0328 M.
In July 1953, Ferrari sold Rubirosa’s old 166 Mille Miglia to Bill Devin who had gone into partnership with Ernie McAfee selling exotic cars in California.
Devin in turn sold 0050 M / 0328 M on to local resident Dennis Fargher but the car is not believed to have raced again. It remained in California until the mid 1970s.
Notable History
Sold to Porfirio Rubirosa, Paris
25/06/1950 Le Mans 24 Hours (P. Rubirosa / P. Leygonie) DNF (#26)
05/1953 part-exchanged for a new 166 Mille Miglia Series 2 (chassis 0328 M)
As part of the deal (so as to avoid taxes), 0050 M was re-numbered 0328 M
07/1953 sold to Bill Devin, California
Sold to Dennis Fargher, California
Sold again
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
