Ferraris are meant to be many things to those
fortunate enough to drive (much less own) one: fast, of course, and exotic but also beautiful. This one, though, is something else.
Dubbed the “Uovo” (from the Italian word for “egg”),
this 1950 Ferrari shares its underpinnings with the 166 MM and 212 Export, but
as you can see, it wears entirely different sheetmetal.
The car was commissioned by one Giannino Marzotto
from Carrozzeria Fontanta in Padua, Italy – up near Venice – in collaboration
with the famed sculptor Franco Reggani. The result came out, well rather
odd-looking. Beautifully executed, we're sure, but not what we'd typically
think of as a "beautiful" car.
The Uovo was also noted for having held the lead at
the Mille Miglia and then the Giro di Sicilia (similar event to the Targa
Florio) in 1951 before tragically breaking down at both. We doubt that
either its strange bodywork or almost-but-not-quite racing history will prevent
the Ferrari Uovo from fetching a very high price when it crosses the auction
block at RM Sotheby's sale in Monterey this August.
The auction house isn't saying just how much it
estimates it will sell for, but considering a) the US$ 3 million it got for a
“standard” 166 at the same event in 2013, and b) the US$ 3.4-4.5 million it did
disclose for the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS it simultaneously announced for
Lake Como in May, we won't be surprised to see this one-of-a-kind Prancing
Horse sell for several million.
