A once-in-a-blue-moon Ferrari has come up for sale, offering some of the world’s richest car collectors the opportunity to buy what may be its most original model in existence.
The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa has never been offered for public sale before and comes with an eye-watering estimate for the exclusive auction on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como of €5.5million to €7.5million, which equates to between £4.6million and £6.33million, or $5.65million to $7.7million.
Barney Ruprecht, VP of Auctions, Broad Arrow Auctions told This is Money and MailOnline: ‘The 166 Spyder Corsa is quite literally the earliest and most important Ferrari in existence today. While it is chassis no. 4, anything built prior to this car doesn’t exist in any intact or original form.’
The 166 Spyder Corsa is a rarity ‘that stands the test of time as a watershed example for the marque’, according to the auction house.
It features coachwork by Carrozzeria Ansaloni and is one of just two models purchased by the Besana brothers, Ferrari’s earliest customers, who would have had the car built to order.
Adding even more clout to this collector’s dream car is its racing pedigree: the Spyder Corsa, chassis number 004 C, finished sixth overall at the 1948 Targa Florio, is a veteran of the 1948 and 1949 Mille Miglia races, and also has period Formula Two competition and hill climbs added to its race tally.
This is Money can exclusively reveal the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa which has never been offered for public sale before will go up for auction at the end of May – estimated at over £6m
Unsurprisingly, the Spyder Corsa will be the centrepiece of auction house Broad Arrows’ inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction in May, where it expects it to ‘draw significant interest.’
The multi-million-pound Spyder Corsa comes complete with coveted Ferrari Classiche White Book certification with its original body, chassis, 2.0-litre V12 engine and five-speed racing gearbox.
Ruprecht told us: ‘It would be an immediate world-class acquisition to own the first Ferrari.
‘Any enthusiast of the Ferrari brand, including both older, established collectors and the rising generation now in the market, will feel drawn to the DNA of such a legendary marque.’
This is the first time the rare Ferrari has been put up for public sale, with the car only previously having changed hands privately – and at one point remaining in the same family ownership for 50 years.
The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa has been described by Broad Arrows Auctioneers as ‘the earliest and most important Ferrari in existence today’
This example features coachwork by Carrozzeria Ansaloni and is one of just two models purchased by the Besana brothers, Ferraris earliest customers
The 2.0-litre V12 elusive two-seater is further complemented by 50-year family ownership
The car finished sixth overall at the 1948 Targa Florio, is a veteran of the 1948 and 1949 Mille Miglia races, while also adding period Formula Two competition and hill climbs to its tally
The multi-million-pound Spyder Corsa comes complete with coveted Ferrari Classiche White Book certification, original 2.0-litre V12 engine and is chassis number 004 C
Due to its DNA and exemplary form, the Spyder Corsa has won numerous awards.
The car’s trophies include a 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class award, a Best of Show at the 2003 FCA National Meet, and Cavallino and FCA Platinum Awards.
Additionally, it’s been displayed at Pebble Beach within Casa Ferrari in 2019 and 2022, and displayed as a feature car at the 2006 Cavallino Classic.
The 2.0-litre V12 two-seater is further complemented by a stint of 50-year family ownership – from 1965 to 2015 it remained in the same caring hands whilst garnering the attention of editorial publications.
The car’s continuous one-family ownership from 1965 to 2015 has helped keep the car in pristine condition
The car has its original five-speed racing gearbox with the Ferrari red gearstick and elegant seats
The car’s trophies include a 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class award, a Best of Show at the 2003 FCA National Meet, and Cavallino and FCA Platinum Awards
The Spyder Corsa is the headline lot at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held 24 to 25th May by Lake Como
Barney Ruprecht explained to This is Money that ‘returning the Ferrari to its roots on Italian soul’ for the inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este auction ‘makes perfect sense’.
He said: ‘It has significant period racing history at some of the most renowned events in Italy and throughout Europe, so it feels only natural to sell the car at the most prestigious concours event on the continent.’
Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty company, in partnership with BMW AG is the official auction partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held 24 to 25th May.
The Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa will headline the sale, and will be the crown jewel of the 70 cars Broad Arrows is presenting.
So, high rollers should buckle up for a potentially historic bidding war on the shores of Lake Como in late spring.
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