1963 Ferrari 250 LM Coupe by Scaglietti


Ferrari and Pininfarina revealed the 250LM at the 1963 Paris Motor Show. Aside from the generous appointments added by Pininfarina just before the show, the 250LM was very much like the Ferrari 250 P with a roof.1 Both cars shared the same lengthened Dino sports prototype (SP) chassis and the well tested 250 GT V12. Since this engine fit well within the three liter limit for racing cars, it was an easy choice.

Chassis detail was quite complex and robust. It included four tubes that carried oil and water to the front-mounted radiators. This helped maintain a better weight balance, but did make both systems venerable to accident damage while also increasing cockpit heat. To further balance weight, two 65 liter fuel tanks were located in front of the rear wheels. Fully independent suspension was fitted, as was inboard rear brakes which demanded very strong half shafts to cope with the load. In the end, Ferrari had a small car that weighed only 850 kg when dry.


Unfortunate for Ferrari, the FIA and was not convinced that the rear engine 250LM was a version of the front-engine 250 GT which had the necessary production figures for homologation. While both the cars shared the same engine, they were radically different in concept. Ferrari’s attempt to bully the FIA by threatening to boycott several events, including F1 entries, did not sway the officials; the 250LM would race as a prototype instead of a road car.

Since Ferrari had much faster prototypes available for the 1964 season, the 250LM seemed classless and the 250GTO didn’t have a proper replacement. The whole ordeal would have looked like one of Enzo’s big mistakes had he not prepared a couple very potent versions of his 275 GTB called the Competizione Speciale.


In May 1963, Ferrari increased displacement from the prototype’s 3.0 liter engine to 3.3 liters and started selling copies to private teams like NART, Maranello Concessionaires, Scuderia Filipenetti and Ecurie Francorchamps. These teams drove the LM home to many overall victories in support races and hill climbs. By 1965, Ferrari was desperate, and a luxurious road car was made by Pininfarina on chassis #6025 complete with red leather interior and electric windows. This become the only 250LM that never raced.