Developed to participate in the era’s GT class though it was eventually campaigned as a sports prototype, the Ferrari 250 LM was an incredibly high-performance track weapon that would ultimately go on to secure the last of Ferrari’s nine outright wins at Le Mans. In total, only 32 specimens were ever produced, making the 250 LM one of the rarest and most valuable Ferraris in history. As race-bred track-focused machines, the vast majority of these cars were extensively campaigned — a fact that makes this never-before-raced 1964 example that much more special.
Representing the tenth specimen to leave the factory, this 1964 Ferrari 250 LM was sent straight to Philadelphia from Maranello where it was purchased new by Italian-born race car driver Luigi Chinetti. Chinetti planned on utilizing the car as a NART racer at the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, albeit as a backup car that didn’t end up seeing any competition. Instead, the 250 LM remained in stellar original condition, never suffering the rigors and abuses that come from racing.
After trading hands on numerous occasions, the vehicle was sold once again in 1997, this time being shipped back to Europe where the ’64 specimen was treated to a meticulous two-year restoration courtesy of renowned UK-based specialist DK Engineering. Despite the fact that it underwent an extensive spare-no-expense restoration, the car is still in highly original condition, retaining its matching numbers gearbox, frame, and 320-hp rear-mid-mounted 3,286cc aluminum block V-12 engine. Having previously graced a myriad of exhibitions and high-profile car shows, the Ferrari also still sports its original Scaglietti-designed bodywork.
This 1964 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta (Chassis # 5901) is scheduled to take its turn crossing the auction block at Artcurial Motorcars’ upcoming 2023 Salon Rétromobile sale in Paris starting on February 3rd. And while no valuation has been given for the car, we expect the Ferrari to fetch a seven or eight-figure sum based on the fact that previous examples have sold for over $17.5M — making it one of the most expensive cars ever sold.
