The Ferrari 166 Inter was Ferrari’s first true grand tourer and Ferrari’s first 12-cylinder engine to reach 2-liter capacity. The 166 Inter was an evolution of the 125 S and 166 S racing cars, essentially it was a sports car for the street. Styled by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, it was a pivotal model for Ferrari because it was the first Ferrari to do well in the United States. Although usually clothed in coupé bodywork, Stabilimenti Farina produced three examples in cabriolet form and Bertone also produced a single cabriolet body for the model.
Having the distinction of being Ferrari’s first road car, the 166 Inter set a high standard of engineering and style for every subsequent model that followed it. Powered by a V12 engine and bodied by the best Italian Carrozzerias, the 166 Inter sold alongside Ferrari race cars which featured similar engineering.
Around 38 166s were produced during its entire production run from 1948 to 1950.