1000 Miglia 1948

About the Event

The 1948 Mille Miglia, held on 2 3 May, entered history as the longest edition ever run, covering 1,830 km—a slight increase from the previous year due to minor course adjustments. The route maintained the postwar format introduced in 1947, looping through Rome, Florence, Milan, and Turin, with iconic passes like the Furlo, Scheggia, Futa, and Raticosa, reinforcing the Mille Miglia’s reputation as both a test of endurance and a celebration of Italian geography.

strong data-start='560' data-end='582' style='box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bold;'>Clemente Biondetti secured his third Mille Miglia victory, this time driving for the newly established Ferrari marque. Alongside Giuseppe Navone, Biondetti piloted a Ferrari 166 S Coupé Allemano, powered by a 2.0-litre V12 designed by Gioachino Colombo. Despite being in only its second year as a constructor, Ferrari claimed its first Mille Miglia win, completing the race in 15h 05m 44s at an average speed of 121.227 km/h, setting a new benchmark for naturally aspirated engines.

In a remarkable feat, Alberto Comirato and Lia Comirato Dumas finished second in their Fiat-Comirato 1100 Sport, a heavily modified Fiat 1100 fitted with a streamlined open body. Averaging 110.559 km/h, they outperformed several higher-displacement competitors. Third place went to Francesco and Angelo Apruzzi in a Fiat 1100 S Coupé, confirming the continued competitiveness of the 1.1-litre class.

The 1948 edition underscored the growing role of small-displacement sports cars, aerodynamic design, and rising independent constructors. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s breakthrough victory heralded a new era in postwar motorsport, affirming Enzo Ferrari’s vision of producing road and racing cars under his own name. The Mille Miglia had resumed its prewar grandeur, now underpinned by a generation of innovators shaping Italy’s automotive renaissance.

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