One-of-25 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta was found uncovered gathering desert dust in Tucson, Arizona
Published on Oct 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An abandoned Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, technically the first road going-Ferrari ever built, was discovered in the desert of Tucson, Arizona.
This is a very rare car, with only 25 units ever created.
A car like this is worth seven figures today.
But you’ll never guess how much the owner originally paid for it.
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A vehicle with an unbelievable story
This car was originally bought new in Switzerland and imported in the US over half a century ago.
The owner apparently paid less than $10,000 for it, which is outstanding.
This rare beauty was later abandoned in the desert right outside Tucson, Arizona after a breakdown, and it then spent decades collecting dust and rusting away.
Today, a Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta is worth between $3 million and $5 million, or potentially even more if it’s in great condition and you’ve got all the paperwork.
Even in this terrible shape, this icon is easily still worth seven figures.
The first road-going Ferrari ever made
The 166 was the first road-going Ferrari ever made.
It was unveiled in 1948 as a street-legal evolution of the 125 S, pictured below, of which only two were built.
In 1948, Ferrari unveiled the 166 Inter, and a few months later the company launched the 166 MM, which stands for Mille Miglia.
Only 47 units were built in total.
And as for the ‘Barchetta’ variant – the convertible – it is estimated that only 25 units were ever produced.
Back then, the Italian supercar manufacturer was still building road cars just because it ‘had to’, as Enzo Ferrari was famously not interested in road cars at all.
He just wanted to win races.
A few years later, however, after several obscure track-focused models, the supercar maker struck gold with the 250, unveiled in 1952.
This was arguably the first ‘mass-produced’ Ferrari ever, with just over 1,000 vehicles built across several different variants, including the ultra-rare and ultra-expensive 250 GTO that regularly breaks auction records.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
