In the year 1948 the evolution of the Ferrari 12-cylinder engine planned by Colombo proceeded with fine-tuning by Busso while the cylinder capacity was raised, creating a two-litre-engine with a capacity of 166 cc per cylinder. Thus one of the most famous engines was born.

Just like the previous models 125 C and 159 C also the 166 was fitted with mudguards as a motorbike for the four wheels and lights. The 166 was presented in the early catalogues of the brand as a car for international motorsport competitions in two versions -Corsa and Sport – according to the field of use with either mudguards and lights or without.

This happened in the year 1948 with the first models, because the bodyworks were definitely different with the first 166 F2 models, the first real single-seaters with a central steering wheel. The two-seater version Sport and the four-seater Granturismo were built in several different versions by almost all coachbuilders of this era.