Chassis Number: 5901
They had won! The Ferrari 250 LM was the first over the line at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, defying the predictions of another win for Ford. This model came to symbolize the victory of David over Goliath, the resistance that Ferrari put up against Ford’s mighty armada in a confrontation which would be one of the most keenly followed in the history of motorsport.
The 250 LM is often compared to the 250 GTO, that other legendary Ferrari. But the layout of the GTO, of which 36 examples were built, is completely different, with its engine mounted at the front. The Ferrari 250 LM is in a different league altogether: For the first time in the history of the marque, the engine was mid-rear mounted, using the chassis of the 250 P with its 3.3-liter V12 engine producing 320 horsepower. The 250 LM’s design by Pininfarina drew on the styling of the 250 P, with the addition of a roof extending over the rear section of the car, as if sculpted by aerodynamics. The air intakes mark the start of the curved lines of its wings and bonnet. It is simply exquisite.
