I inadvertently picked up a copy of last week's Metro newspaper and upon opening it I was drawn to black classic car on page two. It was a very brief piece but it certainly caught my interest.
It may not look like the familiar kind of shape or style we have become accustomed to but this car is a Ferrari. Well you probably guess that by the title but you get what I mean. It's called the Ferrari 166 and it's set to sell for £1.5 million. That may seem rather expensive but it's not quite as expensive as the 250 GTO which sold for a bank busting £26.2million. Gulp.
Not your typical Ferrari by that is by no means a bad thing. Source: SWNS
Also read: The worlds most expensive cars at auction
The 166 is one of the oldest Ferrari's money - albeit a lot of it - can buy - it's the 11th road car built by the Italian firm. Despite its 2.0 litre V12 engine, the 166 has a modest top speed - 110mph give or take. Slow by today's standards but I'm sure that were plenty back in 1949 when it was produced.
It may have a V12, but don't expect a lot from it - top speed is around just 110mph. Source: SWNS
The 166 is a rare car in its own right but to make it even rare it's one of just 10 Ferrari models that had bodywork fitted Stabilimenti Farina and boy, what a body it is. The car is being offered by John Collins who runs Talacrest, a classic Ferrari dealership in Ascot, Berkshire. It's not the first time he has had the car in his possession, Collins bought the car for £64,000 20 years ago but then sold it shortly after.
At least the inside looks like it's in good knick
Collins said: “There were very few Ferraris built in the 1940s and this is one of the oldest in existence – I think it’s probably the oldest Ferrari for sale anywhere in the world.
“It is the 11th built and if you are a collector you really should have a 1940s Ferrari in your collection.”