One to Buy: 1 of 1 ex-Kurt Zeller 1953 Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia Series 2
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For 1953, Ferrari released an updated second series version of the 166 Mille Miglia.
Newly equipped with an engine that featured six port cylinder heads, roller cam followers and a trio of Weber 36 IF/4C four-choke carburettors, these diminutive 160bhp machines took the fight to Maserati, Fiat and Frazer Nash in the fiercely contested under two-litre Sports car class.
Of the 13 units built, just a single second generation 166 Mille Miglia was completed with coachwork by Pinin Farina, chassis 0346 M, which is currently on offer at the DK Engineering showroom in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.
Following completion in July 1953, the unique Berlinetta was supplied to German iron and steel magnate, Kurt Zeller in Hammerau.
In order to avoid import taxes, Zeller had 0346 M assume the identity of his 212 Export (chassis 0146 E) which was returned to the factory in part-exchange. The brand new 166 Mille Miglia even carried the old 212 Export’s registration: AB-39 4060.
August 30th 1953 saw Kurt Zeller race chassis 0346 M at the Nurburgring 1000km World Sportscar Championship race alongside his brother, Walter. Unfortunately they failed to finish after running out of fuel.
The blue and silver Ferrari’s next outing came at the Tour de Belgique which took place between October 24th and 25th. Alongside German navigator R. Hofmann, Zeller finished third in Class 4.
Following one final outing on the 1954 Tulip Rally in Holland between April 25th and May 1st (where Zeller and Alois Willberger finished 13th overall), chassis 0346 M was sold to a US serviceman stationed in Germany who later took the car home with him.
Having been fitted with a 250 GT engine by a subsequent owner during the 1960s, the 166 then fell into a state of disrepair.
In the late 1990s, 0346 M was re-united with its original engine and headed back across the Atlantic where DK Engineering carried out a painstaking concours restoration of the remarkably complete car.
