1953 FERRARI 166 mm    


 

      Specifications    

Car type    Race Body design    
Year    1953 Engine design    Gioachino Colombo
Make     Engine type    
Model    166 MM Series II Abarth Spyder Built by    
Colour ext/int    silver/black Total built    1
Serial number    0262M Built in period    xx/xxx/1953

till

  xx/xxx/1953
Launch date  
and place   		 xx/xxx/xxxx at .......... Price    
Building date    xx/xxx/xxxx Version    Europe
 Engine  Dimensions
Nr. of cylinders    12 Length    3620 mm
Arrangement    V in 60 degrees Width    mm
Bore    60 mm Height    mm
Stroke    58.8 mm Wheelbase    2250 mm
Unitary and  
total capacity   		 166 cc
 1995 cc		 Track front  
Track rear   		 1270 mm
 1250 mm
Position    front longitudinally mounted Wheels make  
and type   		 wire (Rudge-type knock-off
 hub)
Cilinder block   and head    light alloy Wheel size front  
Wheel size rear   		 15"
 15"
Compression   ratio    8.5 : 1 Tyres make  
and type   		 
Max power   output    140 bhp at 7000 rpm Tyre size front  
Tyre size rear   		 5.50 x 15
 5.50 x 15
Spec. power  
per liter   		 70.2 bhp/liter Empty weight  
Kerb weight   		 680 kg
 kg
Spec. weight  
per bhp   		 4.8 kg/bhp Maximum  
weight   		 kg
Max torque    Nm at ... rpm Engine weight    kg
Max revs  
(red  line)   		 ... rpm Fuel tank    90 liters
Timing gear    2 valves per cilinder
 SOHC		 Fuel tank   placement    behind rear axle
Fuel feed    3 vertical double barrel Weber 32
 carburetors		 Weight distr.  
front / rear   		 ... % / ... %
Lubrication    pressurized, wet sump    
Ignition        
 Electrical   system        
Cooling system        
Sparkplugs        
Transmission Body and chassis
Wheeldrive    rear Body frame    side-and cross-member-frame,
 steel sheet
Clutch    dry single plate Chassis type    aluminium sheet body
Gearbox    5 speed manual plus reverse floor
 mounted gear lever		 Number of seats    2
Differential     Suspension front    independent wheels, transverse
 arms one single transverse leaf
 spring, hydraulic lever type
 shock absorbers
1st gear ratio    ... : 1 Suspension rear    rigid axle, trailing beam,
 longitudinal leaf spring, anti-roll
 bar, hydraulic lever type
 shock absorbers
2nd gear ratio    ... : 1 Brakes front    hydraulic circuit, drums
3rd gear ratio    ... : 1 Brake size front    mm
4th gear ratio    ... : 1 Brakes rear    hydraulic circuit, drums
5th gear ratio    ... : 1 Brake size rear    mm
6th gear ratio    ... : 1 Steering    worm and roller
7th gear ratio    ... : 1 Hand drive    l
Reverse gear   ratio    ... : 1    
Final drive  
ratio   		 ... : 1 bevel gear    
     Performance    
0-60 mph    ... seconds 0-100 kph    ... seconds
0-100 mph    ... seconds 0-200 kph    ... seconds
1/4 mile    ... seconds 0-1000m    ... seconds
1 mile    ... seconds Fuel   consumption   overall    ... liters/100km
top speed    240 kph    
     Features    

Car features  

 

Options  

 
     Car history    

 Date

 Occurance

 1953

 Messina 10 hours. Winner.
     Race history    
1953 Targa Florio


 
Type of   championship     Driver(s)    Musitelli
Event    Targa Florio Car number    28
Date(s) event    14/May/1953

till

   Previous races  
& results   		 
Circuit    Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie Sponsors    
Race result    1st in his Class (IC), 21st overall
 (in 8 hours,31 minutes, 26
 seconds)		 Other suppliers    
     Comments    

Weight is arguably the most important factor when it comes to outright racing performance as it affects acceleration, braking and cornering. Since the dawn of motor racing, engineers have tried to achieve the perfect balance between saving weight and chassis rigidity. To keep up with the manufacturers, the Italian coachbuilders offered specially designed light weight bodies. Most famous of these was the 'Supperleggera' construction offered by Touring, which consisted of aluminum panels fitted on a steel frame.

After the Second World War the 'smaller' racing classes were extremely popular in Italy. One of the dominant chassis of the day, was the newly designed Ferrari 166 MM. Powered by a two litre V12 engine, it took on the competition from Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Fiat. Both Touring and Vignale offered coachworks designed to be fitted on Ferrari's two-litre racer. In 1953 Scuderia Guastalla's driver Giulio Musitella took delivery of a 166 MM (s/n 0262M), set to receive a Vignale body. Not satisfied with the weight of his new racer, Musitella commisioned Carlo Abarth to design and fit a new body.

Austrian born Carlo Abarth had just formed 'Abarth' from the remains of the defunct Cistitalia. He was best known for his exhaust systems and his unconventional approach. Abarth's cars used the Fiat 1.1 litre engine, which made weight saving essential to get competitive performance. Cisitalia and Abarth's racing successes proved that Carlo was well up to the task. Musitella's request was the first of that kind, but certainly not the last. Today Abarth is best known for their modified road and racing cars.

Abarth's approach to lightening the 166 MM was far from conventional. He not only shaved off a lot of weight, but also constructed a body ideally suited for racing. He fitted the chassis with removable aluminum body panels bolted together on a support frame. The intallation method allowed damaged panels to be replaced quickly. All panels were beaten by hand by Giuseppe Manera from metal sheets. In total the body and frame weigh a mere 55 kg (121 lb). With its central headlight, the Abarth bodied 166 MM was one the most uniquely bodied Ferrari's of its day.

With its streamlined body and weighing almost 275 kg (600 lb) less than the Vignale bodied 166 MMs, the Abarth Spyder was set to be a big success. The conversion payed off; at its competition debut in the 1953 Targa Florio, as Musitella took a class victory. He campaigned the car throughout the season, with an overall victory in the 10 hours of Messina race as his best result. At the end of the season, the original engine was replaced by the three-litre V12 also found in the 250 MM.

For reasons unknown, the Abarth body was removed and a Scaglietti body fitted. The complexity of the body and the lack of replacement panels might have forced Musitella to abandon the Abarth coachwork. After an unsuccessful outing in the 1954 Mille Miglia, 166 MM s/n 0262M disapeared. Nearly fifty years later the Scaglietti bodied Ferrari resurfaced and was painstakingly restored to its original Abarth shape. It is shown here on display at the 2004 Eyes on Design exhibition held at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.
 
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