Ferrari had no idea at the time that when this dazzling 250 LM rolled across the finish line at Le Mans in 1965, it would signal the closing of an era. Nine victories in the grueling 24-hour race—five of them back-to-back in the early ’60s—had painted the prancing horse as untouchable. Then, for 58 long years, silence followed. When Ferrari finally returned to claim the top spot, its victorious machine sported an engine with merely half the cylinders of this vintage beauty.
The car in question? A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, designed by Scaglietti. It’ll be up for grabs next year, thanks to RM Sotheby’s. Rich enthusiasts should probably mark their calendars. Officially labeled chassis 5893, this masterpiece was the sixth 250 LM to be assembled. Initially delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors, it found its way to the North American Racing Team (NART), which Chinetti also spearheaded. Their campaign culminated in a historic victory at Le Mans in 1965, making this the only private Ferrari team to win the legendary race outright.
The auction listing proudly notes it’s the sole Ferrari built under Enzo Ferrari himself to participate in six full 24-hour endurance events. It raced its final race at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970, after which it retired to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. It’s lived there ever since, with minimal restoration—just enough to keep it running. The Tipo V-12 engine remains numbers-matching, meaning the same heart that roared in triumph at Le Mans still beats beneath the hood. The gearbox? Original too.
For collectors, this car is already irresistible, but knowing it’s the last V-12 Ferrari to conquer Le Mans before the GT40 dominance started makes it even sweeter. RM Sotheby’s anticipates bids around $26 million, but who knows what it might fetch come February in Paris? It’s the centerpiece of their 2025 lineup.
