1948 Ferrari 166 Inter - The First Ferrari - Model Portfolio

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FROM FERRARI.COM:

An accurate selection of the key images of the 166 Inter. The photo gallery, with details and the most important parts, shows the distinctive features of this Ferrari model from 1948.

This was Ferrari's first 12-cylinder engine to reach 2-litre capacity. As in the case of the 159 S, bore sizes and strokes were both increased, and as usual both open-wheel and full bodywork models were produced. This model proved successful and was one of the first to do well outside Italy, helping to build a reputation for Ferrari in the all-important American market.

The 166 Inter models were the road versions of the 166 sports racing models like the 166 MM barchettas, hence they carried chassis numbers in the odd series range, and were produced between 1948 and 1950. They normally had coupe bodywork, although Stabilimenti Farina produced three examples in cabriolet form and Bertone also produced a single cabriolet body for the model. Various coachbuilders’ bodywork was fitted to the series, all with their own interpretation of how they felt a Ferrari should be coutured. Apart from Stabilimenti Farina, Bertone, and Carrozzeria Touring, the latter having bodied the first 166 Sport coupe for the 1948 Turin Salon, there were also examples of coachwork from the design houses of Ghia and Finale.

The Carrozzeria Touring examples were the most numerous, and bore a strong family resemblance to the style of their 166 MM barchettas, albeit on a longer wheelbase chassis, and with a smoothly curved three box coupe body. The examples from Stabilimenti Farina and Ghia were very similar in overall shape, featuring fastback coupe bodies that appear slightly heavier in comparison to the Touring interpretation, whilst the Stabilimenti Farina cabriolets were virtually identical to the coupe from the waist down, and featured a folding canvas soft top, as did the Bertone bodied car. The Finale styling offering was also a fastback coupe but of a much lighter design than those from Farina and Ghia, providing a stronger sporting image, which made them second in popularity, in terms of numbers produced, to the Touring version.

Although any two models from one coachbuilder might appear identical, each body was hand-built, and the client had the opportunity to indulge in his or her personal styling whim, so that virtually every car was an individual, and there would often be numerous detail differences, perhaps in the radiator grille design or lighting layout, between one car and another from the same source. Although the Inter series were built as road cars, many owners used them frequently in competition, and they acquitted themselves well, despite the heavier bodies and full interior trim, relative to their sports racing peers. As the Inter series were road cars, front and rear bumpers were part of their apparel, the Touring-bodied cars having vestigial appendages normally faced with rubber strips, whilst those on the Ghia, Farina, and Finale-bodied examples were much heavier chrome-plated adornments.

The mechanical layout on a 2420 mm wheelbase tubular steel chassis was very similar to the 166 competition models, with a 2-litre V12 aluminium engine coupled with a 5-speed gearbox driving through a rigid rear axle. The engines on these models had a twin distributor and coil ignition system, and were fitted with a single twin choke carburettor as standard although a triple twin choke carburettor set-up could be specified as an option to obtain extra performance. These were the only road production Ferrari models of the period available with disc type road wheels, as an alternative to the more popular and sporting wire wheels. In either instance they had Ridge type splined hubs, sometimes under a chrome hub cap on the disc wheels.

Engine
Type
front, longitudinal 60° V12
Bore/stroke
60 x 58.8 mm
Unitary displacement
166.25 cc
Total displacement
1995.02 cc
Compression ratio
6.8 : 1
Maximum power
66 kW (90 hp) at 5,600 rpm
Power per litre
45 hp/l
Maximum torque
-
Valve actuation
single overhead camshaft per bank, two valves per cylinder
Fuel feed
single Weber 32 DCF carburettor
Ignition
single spark plug per cylinder, two coils
Lubrication
wet sump
Clutch
single-plate
Chassis
Frame
tubular steel
Front suspension
independent, unequal-length wishbones, transverse leaf spring, hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear suspension
live axle, semi-elliptic springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Brakes
drums
Transmission
5-speed + reverse
Steering
worm and sector
Fuel tank
72 litres
Front tyres
5.50 x 15
Rear tyres
5.50 x 15
Bodywork
Type
coupe, cabriolet, 2+2 or two-seater
Length
-
Width
-
Height
-
Wheelbase
2620 mm
Front track
1250 mm
Rear track
1200 mm
Weight
900 kg (dry, coupe)
Performance
Top speed
150 km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km/h
-
0-400 m
-
0-1000 m
-
Note to the Technical Details

The listed details are those published by Ferrari at the model’s presentation. For the models produced in the participating in these two categories) and Gran Turismo. (the road-going cars, many of which also took part in various international races).

First years no external measures of the body were given, because those could vary from car to car. All models from Ferrari have been divided into three categories: single-seater, Sport/Prototype. The year of all the models’ introductions is the debut in competitions for the single-seaters and Sport /Prototypes and the official presentation as far as the Gran Turismo are concerned.

SOURCE: FERRARI.COM