Ferrari 250 LM - The Last Ferrari To Ever Win Le Mans

[jakebarrell]

The number 21 Ferrari 250 LM had all odds against it at the 1965 Le Mans race. The first of the many was with FIA regulations. The Ferrari 250 LM wanted to compete in the Group 3 GT class of Le Mans, but the FIA wasn’t convinced with Enzo Ferrari being able to sell at least 100 examples of 250 LM to customers. As a result it had to compete above its weight class in the Le Mans Prototype category. In what can be best described as a splendid display of grit and sheer perseverance, the Ferrari 250 LM won the 1965 season of Le Mans against the likes of proper LMP1 cars. It’s one thing to punch above your weight class, but to bring home the victory doing it is something extraordinary. This would also be Ferrari’s last victory at the legendary Le Mans.

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More Details here

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[matthewb0051]

Just wow. That is stunning.

I need a cigarette now.

[masraum]

Beautiful car. I think I'll buy it. It should be pretty cheap, let me check my weekly petty cash fund.

[Jeff Higgins]

Pretty car for sure, but it has been my understanding that there was "more to the story". Apparently, Ferrari attempted to race this as a "GT" class car under homologation of the road-going 250 GT. Problem was, the 250 GT was a front-engine car. Ferrari tried to convince the ACO that putting the engine in the middle of the car was simply a "racing modification", perfectly within the homologation rules. You know, like flaring fenders or something. Of course the ACO called "BS" and made them run it as what it truly was - a purpose built prototype race car. None of this romantic nonsense or "punching above its weight class" - Ferrari tried to cheat, was denied, and made to run it where it belonged - with the other purpose-built prototypes.

[Aerkuld]

The Ferrari 250LM is my favorite car of all time. Maybe because my Dad had a model of one? Maybe because I remember seeing them race at historic meets? I don't know, it just speaks to me for some reason.

They're amazingly compact cars up-close, much smaller than you'd imagine. It's quite incredible that there's a V12 stuffed in the back.

I have sat in one, and unfortunately that's probably as close as I'll ever get.

Thanks for posting.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

The Ferrari 250LM is my favorite car of all time. Maybe because my Dad had a model of one? Maybe because I remember seeing them race at historic meets? I don't know, it just speaks to me for some reason.

They're amazingly compact cars up-close, much smaller than you'd imagine. It's quite incredible that there's a V12 stuffed in the back.

I have sat in one, and unfortunately that's probably as close as I'll ever get.

Thanks for posting.

When I compare it to some of the other mid engine closed bodied cars at the time, it is amazing what they did with the styling. Most stylists just put a big box behind the car for the engine, it is like they did not know what to do.

I have two 1/18th 250LM's, one in plain red, the other in NART colors. Definitely little jewels of the racing world.

[HardDrive]

Amazing how beautiful a car can be without 20 inch wheels running razor thin tires.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Amazing how beautiful a car can be without 20 inch wheels running razor thin tires.

Good observation.

[rcooled]

This last Ferrari to win overall at Le Mans is currently on display at Canepa Design's facility in Scotts Valley, CA. It's still in as-raced condition, stone chips and all.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Pretty car for sure, but it has been my understanding that there was "more to the story". Apparently, Ferrari attempted to race this as a "GT" class car under homologation of the road-going 250 GT. Problem was, the 250 GT was a front-engine car. Ferrari tried to convince the ACO that putting the engine in the middle of the car was simply a "racing modification", perfectly within the homologation rules. You know, like flaring fenders or something. Of course the ACO called "BS" and made them run it as what it truly was - a purpose built prototype race car. None of this romantic nonsense or "punching above its weight class" - Ferrari tried to cheat, was denied, and made to run it where it belonged - with the other purpose-built prototypes.

Canepa's in-house vehicle & motorsports historian once told the same story about this 250LM during a shop tour. He also went on to say that during the last hours of the '65 race, the Ferrari was experiencing excessive brake rotor wear and had to be called in for replacements. No spares were on hand, so rotors were scavenged from Ferrari road cars in the team's parking corral and fitted to the race car so it could continue on to the finish.

[legion]

That thing has a spare tire over the transmission!? Would a driver seriously change a tire during the race?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by legion

That thing has a spare tire over the transmission!? Would a driver seriously change a tire during the race?

Part of the rules, including room for an ACO spec piece of "luggage" in the "trunk". There was supposed to be room for a "passenger" as well.

Even the "prototype" class back then had an emphasis on real, road going car development. That was the whole thrust of the race in those days - to serve as a proving ground for things we would someday enjoy on our production cars.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by legion

That thing has a spare tire over the transmission!? Would a driver seriously change a tire during the race?

Yes, because the rules were such that if you had a mechanical issue on the course, the driver was required to do whatever he could to address it if he wanted to get back to the pits. So if you got a flat or blowout and the car was OK, you changed the tire and either went back on your way or went to the pits.