STORY OF THE DAY: The Barchetta Earns Its Mille Miglia Name

Clemente Biondetti and Ettore Salani won the 1949 Mille Miglia in Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta number 624. They completed the Brescia–Rome–Brescia course in 12 hours, 7 minutes and 5 seconds, leading a Ferrari one-two and securing the marque’s second consecutive victory.

Biondetti’s command of Italian open-road racing defined the contest. Rather than depending upon a single dramatic sprint, the crew maintained competitive speed across mountain roads, towns and long exposed sections, allowing the compact Ferrari to demonstrate both performance and endurance over more than 1,600 kilometres.

The 166 MM combined a tubular chassis with a two-litre Colombo V12 and lightweight open coachwork by Touring. Touring’s Superleggera construction produced the small, flowing body soon known as the barchetta, while the flexible twelve-cylinder engine made the car particularly effective in long races over varied roads.

Biondetti was an Italian endurance master whose 1949 success became his fourth and final Mille Miglia victory, still the event record. Salani, also Italian, was an accomplished co-driver and mechanic. His contribution helped translate Biondetti’s speed into a disciplined, mechanically secure victory.