The Ferrari 250 LM ranks among the greatest vintage Ferrari models ever made. Not as famous as the 250 GTO or Testa Rossa, the 250 LM or Le Mans shared those cars’ Colombo V12 engines and curvaceous aluminum bodies atop a steel tube chassis. But how the 250 LM differs from the playbook is its use of a mid-engine layout, which is what Ferrari intends to dominate GT class competition.
Overall, Ferrari built 32 examples of the 250 LM. Chassis number 6053 is the 22nd car in the line and has a well-documented and detailed history. It was displayed at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the 2021 Ferrari Finals at Mugello, and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena. But prior to his life on the show circuit, he had an active racing history.
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Photo Credit: RM Sotheby’s / Patrick Ernzen
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The car was first purchased by George Drummond, who campaigned for it in England, taking a class win at Wiscombe Park and overall wins at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, and Silverstone in 1965. In February 1966, he entered the Ferrari 250 LM in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Co-piloted by Drummond, Innes Ireland, and Mike Hailwood, suffered a gearbox failure which forced him to retire after 90 laps.
Over the next two years, the Ferrari 250 LM made at least eight more starts, including the 1966 Austrian Grand Prix, where factory driver Michael Parkes finished 3rd in class and 8th overall. It continued racing in England before appearing at the 1967 Kyalami 9 Hours and placing 5th overall at the Lourenco Marques 3 Hours in Mozambique that same year.
Drummond sold the car to Paul Vestey in May 1968, who was looking for a Ferrari 250 LM for entry in the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans. Vestey’s car was one of six entries for the Ferrari 250 LM and impressed, climbing from 32nd to 26th place within the first hour. Unfortunately, it suffered minor damage after turning around and finally stopped due to gearbox failure.
After the 1968 Le Mans, the 6053 never raced competitively again but continued to participate in vintage racing. It went through several hands until it was acquired by the current owner in 2018, who turned it over to the Ferrari factory for a full restoration and certification by Ferrari Classiche. Completed in 2021, the renovation is documented in an impressive booklet produced by Ferrari that authenticates its history.
