- The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti is one of the rarest racing Ferraris ever.
- This is the only privately entered Ferrari to beat factory teams and win Le Mans.
- The RM Sotheby’s auction listing expects it could sell for more than $26.5 million.
In early February, deep-pocketed car enthusiasts will have the chance to battle it out for one of the most storied Ferraris ever to grace a race track. A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti, the very car that clinched victory at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, is heading to auction. After spending 54 years tucked away in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, this automotive legend could fetch over $26.5 million (€25 million) at RM Sotheby’s Paris event.
Read: Bernie Ecclestone Selling His Extraordinary F1 Racing Car Collection
This particular 250 LM, known as chassis 5893, was the sixth example ever produced. Initially sold to Luigi Chinetti Motors, it briefly passed through the hands of a Connecticut collector before making its way back to Chinetti, who had a far grander plan for it. He entered it into the ranks of his North American Racing Team, better known to racing fans as NART, setting the stage for its legendary run.
A Historic Le Mans Triumph
The 250 LM entered into the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside no less than 11 other Ferraris and qualified 11th. With drivers Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt behind the wheel, the 250 LM had a slow and steady start to the race, falling to 18th position after just four hours. However, mechanical issues started to plague the Ford GT40s in the race, and numerous other competitors were forced to retire. Chassis 5893 ascended to 3rd place before claiming 2nd place at the 18th hour. After the then-leading car suffered a puncture, the 250 LM took over and held on to the lead, claiming the win.
Making the win all the more impressive is the fact it is the only privateer-entered Ferrari to take a Le Mans victory over a works car entered by the Italian carmaker directly.
Over the following years, this 250 LM competed two additional times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also made three starts at the 24 Hours of Daytona. It was retired in 1970 and sold to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The historic Ferrari has been well-maintained over the decades and is one of the most desirable and collectible Ferrari race cars ever.
Whether you’re a collector, a historian, or someone who just enjoys gawking at expensive things, this 250 LM is worth a look. If you’ve got $26.5 million lying around—or you’re just curious—check out the RM Sotheby’s listing here for all the details. Who knows? It could be yours, provided your bank account has more horsepower than most of us can dream of.
