1953 Ferrari-Abarth 166 MM/53 (Smontabile Spider)

The 1953 Ferrari-Abarth 166 MM/53, also known as the "Smontabile Spider," represents a rare and fascinating collaboration between three prominent names in automotive history: Ferrari, Abarth, and designer Franco Scaglione. It is the only recorded instance of Carlo Abarth reworking a Ferrari, and the result is a unique competition car built for privateer driver Giulio Musitelli. Based on the chassis of a Ferrari 166 MM—specifically chassis number 0262M—the vehicle was given a special lightweight, modular body designed by Scaglione, known for his flair in creating aerodynamic, elegant coachwork.

The car made its competition debut on May 14, 1953, at the XXXVII Targa Florio, where it wore number 28 and was entered by Guastalla Scuderia. Musitelli drove the car to a 21st-place finish out of 45 starters. Its most successful outing came just a few months later on July 26, 1953, during the 10-hour night race in Messina, where Musitelli, teamed with the young and talented Eugenio Castellotti, secured a first-place victory. This would stand as the high point of the car’s competitive record.

Continuing its career, the Ferrari-Abarth competed on January 3, 1954, in the XIII Grande Prêmio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro, where Musitelli achieved a commendable second-place finish. Its final race in Abarth bodywork came at the XXI Mille Miglia on May 2, 1954, though the car did not complete the event. After that, likely due to difficulties sourcing replacement parts, the Abarth-designed body was removed and replaced with a new body by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, reflecting a more traditional Ferrari aesthetic.

The car’s story didn’t end in Europe. In 1955, it was exported to the United States by Luigi Chinetti and sold to American racer Gary Laughlin, who competed with it in the Palm Springs Preliminaries, finishing fourth. In 1956, it changed hands to Lorin McMullen, who continued to race the vehicle on American soil. In 1979, the car was sold again, and by the 2000s, it underwent a significant restoration. During this process, the original Abarth-designed body was reinstalled, returning the car to its 1953 configuration.

In 2007, the restored Ferrari-Abarth 166 MM/53 was offered at auction by RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby’s), where it sold for $850,000. Today, it remains a celebrated collector’s item and is exhibited as a historical artifact of mid-century motorsport innovation. The car's combination of Ferrari engineering, Abarth performance tuning, and Scaglione's artistry makes it an exceptional example of automotive craftsmanship and a true one-of-a-kind vehicle.