Fresh off the record-breaking $53 million sale of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz Streamliner last week from the collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, another one of the museum’s top vehicles has crossed the auction block to the tune of $36.3 million, breaking into the top five most expensive cars ever sold at public auction.
The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM exceeded its $26 million estimate by more than $10 million.
Watch the moment the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti, outright winner of Le Mans in 1965, sells for €34,880,000 EUR ($36,344,960 USD) at RM Sotheby's Paris sale. https://t.co/80Y14Ia627 pic.twitter.com/DgNk0GKbX6
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) February 5, 2025
The sixth of 32 examples of the 250 LM built, the car claims the title as the only Ferrari built during the Enzo Ferrari era to compete in six 24-hour races (Le Mans and Daytona).
Intended to replace the famed 250 GTO, the 250 LM failed to pass FIA approval due to its upgraded engine, and the small production was sold to private customers, the first rear-engine Ferrari to be made available in such fashion.
“Just 32 examples of the 250 LM were built up to mid-1966, and it remains one of the most desirable Ferraris of all time, encapsulating advanced engineering, sensuous coachwork design, and a successful competition resume,” reads RM Sotheby’s lot description.
The $36 million car, chassis 5893, was distributed to Luigi Chinetti Motors, which drove it to victory at Le Mans in 1965, making it the only overall Ferrari win in Le Mans history by a private team, according to Motor1.
Its final race came at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970, after which it was purchased by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where it remained well-preserved for 55 years until Wednesday’s sale.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.