What was the first road-legal Ferrari model?

The first road-legal Ferrari model was the Ferrari 166 Inter. It transformed Ferrari from a fledgling racing constructor into a maker of cars intended for customers to drive on public roads.

The 166 Inter evolved from Ferrari’s 125 S and 166 S competition cars, sharing their front-engine layout and Colombo V12 heritage. Unlike the more overtly competition-focused machines, the Inter was developed as a grand tourer, with coachbuilt coupé and convertible bodies supplied by firms including Carrozzeria Touring, Stabilimenti Farina, Vignale and Ghia.

The “Inter” name commemorated Scuderia Inter, a racing team associated with Ferrari’s early successes. Production ran from 1948 to 1950, with about 38 examples built. That tiny number reflects Ferrari’s hand-built beginnings: customers did not simply choose a mass-produced body, but often commissioned individual coachwork.

A common mix-up is the 125 S, which was Ferrari’s first car to carry the Ferrari name and was built in 1947. It was primarily a racing sports car, however, whereas the 166 Inter is the conventional answer when the question asks for Ferrari’s first road-going or customer road model.