Mille Miglia

The Greatest Road Race 1927–1957

For thirty years, the Mille Miglia sent the fastest cars in the world across one thousand miles of open Italian roads, from Brescia to Rome and back. It was beautiful, dangerous, and utterly unrepeatable. These are the cars that defined the race — machines built for speed on roads lined with spectators, stone walls, and the ever-present threat of the unknown.

50 cars in this exhibition

Bentley 4.5 Litre (1927)

Bentley 4.5 Litre

Mercedes-Benz SSK (1928)

Mercedes-Benz SSK

Mercedes-Benz SSK (1928)

Mercedes-Benz SSK

Mercedes-Benz SSK (1928)

Mercedes-Benz SSK

Mercedes-Benz SSK (1928)

Mercedes-Benz SSK

Bentley Speed Six (1929)

Bentley Speed Six

Bentley 4.5 Litre (1929)

Bentley 4.5 Litre

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (1929)

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport

Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental (1929)

Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental

Maybach Zeppelin DS8 (1930)

Maybach Zeppelin DS8

Bentley 8 Litre (1930)

Bentley 8 Litre

Bentley 8 Litre (1931)

Bentley 8 Litre

Bugatti Type 41 (1931)

Bugatti Type 41

Maybach Zeppelin (1932)

Maybach Zeppelin

Alfa Romeo P3 (1932)

Bugatti Type 55 (1932)

Bugatti Type 55

Bugatti Type 59 (1934)

Bugatti Type 59

Voisin C25 (1934)

Voisin C27 (1934)

Aston Martin Ulster (1934)

Aston Martin Ulster

Mercedes-Benz 540K (1936)

Mercedes-Benz 540K

BMW 328 (1936)

Delage D8-120 (1936)

BMW 328 (1936)

Jaguar SS100 (1936)

Talbot-Lago T150 (1937)

Talbot-Lago T150

Jaguar SS100 (1938)

Horch 853A (1938)

Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione (1939)

Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione

Auto Union Type D (1939)

Auto Union Type D

Cisitalia 202 (1947)

Cisitalia 202 (1947)

Ferrari 125 S (1947)

Maserati A6GCS (1947)

Porsche 356 (1948)

Aston Martin DB1 (1949)

Aston Martin DB1

OSCA MT4 (1950)

Ferrari 212 Export (1952)

Ferrari 212 Export

Bentley R-Type Continental (1952)

Bentley R-Type Continental

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (1952)

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante

Aston Martin DB3S (1953)

Aston Martin DB3S

Porsche 550 Spyder (1953)

Porsche 550 Spyder

Jaguar C-Type (1953)

Lancia D24 (1954)

Mercedes-Benz 300SL (1954)

Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Jaguar D-Type (1954)

Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954)

Mercedes-Benz W196

Lancia D50 (1954)

History

1927

First Race

The inaugural Mille Miglia is run on March 26-27. Ferdinando Minoia and Giuseppe Morandi win in an OM 665 Superba.

1930

Alfa Romeo Dominance Begins

Tazio Nuvolari wins in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, beginning a decade of Alfa domination.

1938

The 8C 2900B

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider wins, averaging 135 km/h over open roads.

1940

BMW's Triumph

Run on a shortened Brescia circuit due to wartime. BMW 328 Mille Miglia Coupes dominate.

1948

Ferrari Enters

Clemente Biondetti wins in a Ferrari 166 S — the first of many Ferrari victories.

1955

Stirling Moss's Perfect Run

Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson win in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, averaging 157.65 km/h — a record that will never be broken.

1957

The Final Race

Alfonso de Portago's Ferrari 335 S crashes at Guidizzolo, killing de Portago, his co-driver, and nine spectators. The Mille Miglia is banned forever.

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