The Life and Rebirth of 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter 0049/S

In addition to chronicling the life of one of the first-ever batch of road cars to come from Enzo Ferrari’s workshops in Maranello, this article covers the often-fickle nature of the collector-car market. In particular, how the efforts of a noted Ferrari savior to save the remains of this worthy car have been grossly misunderstood by so-called “purists” and by “collectors” more interested in making a buck instead of enjoying this wonderful car for its excellent restoration/reconstruction and many merits. If you can handle the truth, read on.

First, let’s discuss what it is: a beautifully restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter with recently built (late-1990s) and racy Barchetta coachwork in the style of Carrozzeria Touring’s work, with several key differences to avoid claims of plagiarism. Numbered 0049/S, it was originally one of the 166 Inter coupes that formed part of Ferrari’s very first, limited-production, road-car series. According to Hilary A. Raab’s “Ferrari Serial Numbers: Part I,” 37 examples of the 166 Inter were built; the excellent Barchetta website lists 38. Marcel Massini’s Ferrari production figures state 37. So, it’s safe to assume they were, and remain, quite rare. This car, 0049/S, was in fact, the sole car of the run built new as a sophisticated Ghia Berlinetta.

All were built in bare-chassis form by Ferrari and then cloaked in custom bodywork in a wide variety of Barchetta, Cabriolet, and Coupe body styles designed by Italy’s top custom coachbuilders including Allemano, Bertone, Ghia, Stabilimenti Farina, Touring, and Vignale. Derived from the competition 125 and 166 Sport models, the 166 Inter was in essence a thinly disguised racing car in GT form as Enzo Ferrari was not yet fully committed to road-car production. However, the time was ripe for a road model from Ferrari, given the rising excitement and demand generated by the Scuderia’s stellar victory record it amassed since it was established in 1940.

In typical Ferrari practice, the 166 Inter’s “166” model designation denoted the swept volume of each of the Gioacchino Colombo-designed SOHC 2.0-liter engine’s 12 cylinders. Rated power output ranged from 100 to 140 bhp with single to triple carburetors. The “Inter” moniker was in tribute to the high-profile racing victories earned by Scuderia Inter for Ferrari at the Targa Florio in 1948 (Troubetzkoy/Biondetti) and repeated for 1949 (Biondetti/Benedetti). While the “Inter” name was also given to some Ferrari racing cars during this era, it most often is applied to the 2.0-litre, 166 Inter road-car series. Nonetheless, several 166 Inters were indeed used in competition.

The story of this car, numbered 0049/S, is nearly as fascinating and enigmatic as that of Enzo Ferrari himself. According to the car’s listing in Barchetta, “Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari crashed this car in a factory wall.” If true, Dino was about age 18 at the time in 1950. I checked with noted Ferrari marque historian Marcel Massini about the reported crash with Dino at the wheel, but this is unfortunately not something that can be confirmed.

Regardless, The origin of Chassis 0049/S is very well-documented in a number of reference books on Ferrari road cars by respected marque historians. Its original data is listed in Ferrari Serial Numbers: Part I, compiled by Hilary A. Raab, Jr., an essential Ferrari resource. There, 0049/S is listed as an original right-hand drive, Ghia-bodied car. In Antoine Prunet’s Ferrari: the Road Cars, a very nice ¾-rear photograph and an image of the driver’s side interior compartment of 0049/S appear on page 39 of the book. Featuring very pleasing lines and a gently rounded fastback roofline, the Ghia berlinetta’s other highlights included horizontal front-fender vents, striking two-tone upholstery, restrained yet effective brightwork, finely detailed body hardware and fittings, and chrome Borrani wire-spoke wheels. While somewhat conservative, the overall effect of Ghia’s work on 0049/S was most pleasing and I understand that this design was essentially the prototype for the coachbuilder’s subsequent bodies – numbering at least 25 – on the 195 and 212 Ferrari lines.

Following completion during 1950, 0049/S was delivered that year through official Ferrari dealer Inico Bernabei in Rome. According to known history, the first owner of 0049/S was Signore Jazzetta of Naples. A possible qualifying attempt in 1951’s Giro di Sicilia rally was credited in Barchetta to 0049/S, but no further racing history is attached to the car.

Subsequently, 0049/S was sold to the United States and it is likely that a second number was stamped onto the chassis (0070), likely to expedite its importation. Circa 1975, 0049/S was owned by R. Costa of San Diego, who is reported to have sold the 2.0-liter engine to Dave Selway of Danville, California, who installed it into 0079/S, a 166 Inter coupe. The engineless 0049/S was next sold to the Northeast, passing through Ferrari dealer and marque authority Stanley Nowak of New York City, then Ed Bond of Connecticut, and then Ralph C. Welch. By 1975, 0049/S was owned by Ronald Walden of Downey, California, and fitted with the 3.0-liter engine from a 250 GT Boano Coupe. A fire broke out in the garage where 0049/S was being stored and damaged much of the trim, glass and interior of the coupe body. The car had been partly dismantled prior to the fire and parts were stored in different sections throughout the garage. Thankfully, the body and some trim survived. Prior to the fire, the Ghia body was stock from the cowl back, while the nose was reconfigured to a Pinin Farina-style configuration with an oval egg-crate grille and the hood mounting a scoop.

During the mid-1980s, 0049/S was acquired by Charles Betz and Fred Peters of the Orange, California area. Thanks to these longstanding and well-known collectors and restorers, a number of very rare and significant Ferrari models once deemed beyond repair were brought back to life for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. During the 1990s, the original 2.0-liter V-12 engine of 0049/S was reunited by Messrs. Betz and Peters with the chassis and the vehicle was restored with Brooke Betz, Charles’ son, heavily involved in the project. While the original steel Ghia body survived the 1970s garage fire, the decision was made to instead restore 0049/S with a new open body in the style of the racing 166 MM Barchettas by Carrozzeria Touring with their Superleggera (superlight) process replicated using a network of small-diameter tubular framing underneath the alloy outer panelwork. As related to me in 2016 by Charles Betz, the basic body panels were shaped by an experienced craftsman who learned his art in England and the body was assembled and finished at noted Ferrari expert Michael Sheehan’s European Auto Sales and Restoration in Costa Mesa, California. A correct-type five-speed gearbox and differential were mounted to the rebuilt V-12 engine.  

Handsomely restored, the reborn 0049/S debuted at the May/June Ferrari Club of America (FCA) annual meeting and Concours in Dallas, Texas. Next, 0049/S was displayed at the August 2001 edition of Concorso Italiano. In May 2002, the Ferrari as displayed in Class 1 at the Los Angeles FCA National Concours. The most recent showing of 0049/S was at the August 2008 Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue, where it was awarded the Continental Cup.

In August 2010, 0049/S was acquired via auction by the current owner, who placed it into his private collection. While these accolades are certainly nice, Mr. Betz related to me by telephone that his work in bringing this historic early Ferrari back from the dead was met with so much disapproval from Ferrari collectors and enthusiasts that he was initially not in favor of speaking about the car with me. In fact, he summed up his experience with the adage, “No good deed goes unpunished.” More on that in the next post. Stay tuned!