One to Buy: ex-Besana brothers 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa
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After a successful debut season for his new company in 1947, Enzo Ferrari commissioned an enlarged two-litre version of the Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 for 1948 which would find itself into the firm’s first car offered to customers: the 166 Spyder Corsa.
Created as a dual purpose model, in standard trim the Spyder Corsa could race as a road-going Sports car but by simply removing the mudguards and headlights it became eligible to run Formula-type Monoposto events. Seven new cars were built up to 166 Spyder Corsa trim for the ‘48 season and all three chassis used the previous year also got uprated to the latest specification.
During 1948, Ferrari’s dual purpose flyer went on to win the Paris 12 Hours at Montlhery (Luigi Chinetti / Peter Mitchell-Thompson in Chinetti’s privately owned car), the Coupes des Petites Cylindrees Formula 2 race at Reims (Raymond Sommer for Scuderia Ferrari) and the Bari Formula 2 Grand Prix (Chico Landi driving for the Besana brothers).
On May 25th, one of these rarely seen cars will be going under the hammer during Broad Arrow Auctions’ sale at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
Chassis 004 C was supplied new to the Besana brothers, Soave and Gabriele, who also purchased 002 C. Together, the Lombardy-based siblings embarked on a full season of racing during 1948. Chassis 004 C went on to finish sixth overall and second in class on its debut at the Giro di Sicilia (the forerunner to the Targa Florio). Other notable results included third overall at the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti and sixth in the Coppa Nuvolari Formula 2 race at Mantova.
The Besana brothers sold 004 C to S.r.l E. Vallarani & Co. mid way through 1949 and it was sporadically raced by Frenchman Victor Polledry until 1957.
Remarkably, 004 C retains its original chassis, body, engine and gearbox, as confirmed by the accompanying Ferrari Classiche Certification. Having never before been offered for public sale, it represents a unique opportunity to acquire perhaps the most authentic Ferrari of the 1947-1948 period to exist.
