Introduced in 1963 at the Paris Motor Show, the 250 LM was envisioned as a successor to the front-engine 250 GTO and a competitive force in endurance racing. It was designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, featuring a mid-engine layout—a major shift from Ferrari’s previous GT cars.
Ferrari originally intended for the 250 LM to be homologated as a GT-class race car, essentially a closed-top version of the 250 P prototype. However, Ferrari had not built the required 100 road-going examples for homologation. Instead the 250 LM raced against the most advanced, purpose-built prototype race cars of its time.
Only 32 examples of the Ferrari 250 LM were produced between 1963 and 1965, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after Ferraris. Each car was hand-built by Scaglietti, known for its expertise in crafting lightweight aluminum race cars. The 250 LM’s curvaceous body, teardrop-shaped cockpit, and aggressive stance make it one of the most visually striking Ferraris ever made.
Le Mans-Winning Ferrari 250 LM
The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti offered by RM Sotheby’s in Paris took the overall win at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans at the hands of Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt. It also holds the distinction of being the Ferrari built during Enzo Ferrari’s reign that competed in six different 24 hour races.
Remarkably, this 250 LM is a numbers-matching example. It spent the last 54 years in the care of the IMS Museum after it competed in the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona. It’s due to this remarkable history and originality that a bidding war erupted with a final selling price of €34,880,000, continuing the stunning results achieved by the IMS Museum Collection.