A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM just fetched a staggering $36 million at RM Sotheby’s Paris auction.
Not just any Ferrari—this is chassis number 6, the exact machine that conquered the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Before hitting the auction block, this Italian thoroughbred made a rare public appearance cruising the streets of Maranello. After 54 years in museum captivity, seeing this Le Mans champion in motion feels almost sacrilegious.
The Ultimate Privateer Victory
This isn’t just Ferrari royalty. It’s the unicorn of motorsport history.
Piloted by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt for Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (NART), this 250 LM remains the only privateer-entered Ferrari to ever claim overall victory at Le Mans.
The car marked Ferrari’s sixth consecutive Le Mans triumph and stands as the last V12 Ferrari to win the legendary endurance race.
Its racing credentials are unmatched:
- Competed in six 24-hour endurance races during Enzo’s era
- Survived three Le Mans and three Daytona appearances
- Retains its original matching-numbers engine and gearbox
Museum Piece to Auction Superstar
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum kept this Ferrari preserved for over five decades.
Before commanding its astronomical price, Ferrari’s factory technicians gave the car a thorough inspection—a necessary formality when the price tag exceeds the GDP of small island nations.
One of just 32 examples built, this 250 LM’s provenance reads like automotive mythology. First displayed at the 1967 New York Auto Show by Chinetti Motors, it later found sanctuary in Indianapolis where generations of enthusiasts could worship—but never hear—this Italian masterpiece.
The Price of Racing Immortality
The $36 million transaction reflects more than market value. It represents the cost of owning arguably the most significant privateer race car in history.
Its new owner hasn’t just purchased a vehicle. They’ve acquired the automotive equivalent of the Holy Grail—complete with documentation proving its authenticity.
For a car that spent half a century behind museum glass, seeing it unleashed on Maranello’s streets before the sale provided a rare glimpse of what 3.3 liters of Ferrari V12 glory sounds like when properly exercised.
Some treasures deserve to be driven, not just displayed. Even when they’re worth $36 million.
