Step into the history of the Mille Miglia
The historic 1000 Miglia took place from 16 to 19 June this year. This endurance race, initially 1000 miles long, was held between 1927 and 1957. Today the 100 Miglia is not so much a race, but rather a rally for models that took part in period. There are many original cars in the Louwman Museum and we regularly take part in the modern version. Even our theatre is decorated in the style of the Teatro Grande in Brescia, the city where the Mille Miglia starts.
The history of the Mille Miglia
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The Mille Miglia race has always led through the same part of Italy. The route differed from year to year, but always had the start and finish in Brescia. Until 1938 Alfa Romeo won practically every edition. The race was not held between 1941 and the end of World War II. In 1947 the race was won by Alfa Romeo but from then on it was Ferrari’s turn to shine, until 1957 when a fatal accident meant the end of the Mille Miglia.
1929
Mercedes Benz SSK
This model is the most famous Mercedes of all time and this car is completely original. Only 30 SSKs were built – SSK stands for ‘Super Sport Kurz’. The SSK triumphed in many races, including the 1931 Mille Miglia. Our SSK has taken part in the historic Mille Miglia on nine occasions.
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1931
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Testa Fissa
In 1929, out of 26 6C 1750s that had been entered, 25 managed to finish the Mille Miglia. The Testa Fissa in our museum took part in the Mille Miglia in 1934, driven by the Nino Farina, the very first world champion Formula 1.
Read more1938
BMW 328
The BMW 328 was developed as a prestige project for the Third Reich. It is a true all-rounder, notching up more than 140 race and rally wins, including the Mille Miglia in 1940. It was not just sports car, but also a circuit-racer and endurance-racer all in one.
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1941
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider Corsa Sperimentale Balena
This Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider Corsa Sperimentale Balena (whale) was discovered in Argentina in the 1980s. The first eleven 8C 2900-series cars were used for racing by Scuderia Ferrari. 8C 2900s won the Mille Miglia four times!
Read more1949
Ferrari 166 Inter Coupé Touring
A Ferrari 166 won the Mille Miglia on three occasions. This car, with its aluminium coachwork and a plexiglass roof panel, is one of the earliest 166s built. The engine was designed by Gioacchino Colombo, formerly with Alfa Romeo.
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1952
Aston Martin DB3 Works Team Car
This works racer competed in the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix for sports cars. Peter Collins finished seventh with the DB3. 1953 Peter Collins drove it once again in the Mille Miglia, finishing in sixteenth place. Since then the car has taken part in the historic Mille Miglia 22 times.
Read more1953
Iso Isetta
Isetta means ‘small Iso’. In 1954 seven of these Isettas were entered in the Mille Miglia and won the economy class. BMW acquired a licence to manufacture the Isetta under their own name.
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2010
Louwman Museum Theatre
The theatre in the Louwman Museum is decorated in the style of the ‘Teatro Grande’ in Brescia, the city where the annual Mille Miglia starts. In the centre of the stage there is a lift for presenting cars.
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