Ferrari was barely a year old as a racing concern when its 166 MM Barchetta appeared on the international stage in 1948. Designed by Gioacchino Colombo around a tubular ladder frame, the car wore a lightweight open body by Touring Superleggera — the Barchetta — that became one of the most referenced automotive shapes of the twentieth century. The 1949 running at Le Mans would turn the fledgling Maranello marque into a name the endurance-racing world could not ignore.
Colombo's 2.0-Litre V12 in a Featherweight Shell
The 166 MM — MM for Mille Miglia — was built around a 1995 cc, 60-degree V12 developed by Colombo, with a single overhead camshaft per bank and three Weber carburettors. The Touring Superleggera Barchetta body kept the overall package notably compact and nimble, meaning the car was as agile as it was mechanically sophisticated. It was the right tool for a 24-hour race that demanded reliability above outright speed.
Ferrari's First Le Mans Win: Chinetti, Selsdon, Race No. 22
The 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans is remembered as much for one man's stamina as for any mechanical achievement. Luigi Chinetti drove approximately 23 of the 24 hours, leaving Lord Peter Selsdon — Peter Mitchell-Thomson, 2nd Baron Selsdon, who entered the car under his own name — to cover only a brief stint. The No. 22 Ferrari 166 MM crossed the line first overall, handing Ferrari its inaugural Le Mans victory. The significance extended beyond the trophy: the result accelerated Chinetti's path to becoming Ferrari's North American importer, shaping the marque's commercial expansion for decades.
IXO Models and the 1:43 Scale Model
IXO Models issues this 1:43 scale model as part of their Le Mans Collection series. The construction is die-cast metal, a medium well suited to reproducing the precise panel geometry of the Barchetta body at this scale. The livery replicates the unadorned rosso finish and race number 22 carried at the Circuit de la Sarthe in June 1949. At 1:43, the model sits comfortably in a standard collector display without demanding shelf depth, while preserving the long, low proportions that make the 166 MM silhouette instantly recognisable.
Frequently asked questions
What was Ferrari's result at the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The No. 22 Ferrari 166 MM, entered by Lord Peter Selsdon and driven primarily by Luigi Chinetti, finished first overall — Ferrari's first-ever Le Mans victory.
How much of the race did Luigi Chinetti actually drive?
Chinetti drove approximately 23 of the 24 hours, with Lord Selsdon completing only a brief stint. It remains one of the most celebrated individual drives in Le Mans history.
What engine did the Ferrari 166 MM use?
A 1995 cc, 60-degree Colombo V12 with a single overhead camshaft per bank and three Weber carburettors.
Who makes this 1:43 scale model and what material is it?
It is produced by IXO Models in die-cast metal as part of their Le Mans Collection series.
