One of the most significant aspects of early Ferrari production was the factory’s chassis-numbering convention – odd serial numbers for road cars and even numbers for competition machines.

While Enzo Ferrari never formally codified this practice, its roots can be traced to the marque’s earliest days, when the distinction between racing car and road car was both philosophical and material.


This precedent was established with Ferrari’s first production model, the Tipo 166.

Beginning in late 1947, Ferrari produced the road-going 166 Inter and, for competition, the 166 Spider Corsa.

These cycle-fendered racing machines, powered by Gioacchino Colombo’s two-liter V-12, began with chassis numbers 002C and 004C and continued in even-numbered sequence as production expanded to include the now iconic 166 Mille Miglia model.


As Ferrari’s original sports car grew in displacement and ambition, the lineage progressed from the 166 to the 195 and ultimately to the 212 series.

With the 212, Fer...