Beschreibung
DESCRIPTION
Ferrari’s 250 LM was a direct replacement for the legendary front-engined GTO, aimed squarely at the factory supported concessionaire teams and gentleman drivers who competed alongside the works sports-racers at events like the Le Mans 24-Hours. Based on the mid-engined 1963 250P but with the tubular space frame chassis modified for the roof structure, the LM was ostensibly built for the GT category but the FIA refused homologation on the basis as the required 100 units hadn’t been made, forcing owners to race the car in the prototype class. Although the first 250 LM was powered by a development of the classic Colombo-designed 3-litre V12 engine, subsequent production cars all used the same 3. 3-litre version found in the 1964 275P, mated to a five-speed transaxle along with disc brakes on all four wheels, rack and pinion steering and fully independent double wishbone suspension. Ferrari built only 32 examples and the 250 LM’s crowning achievement was winning the 1965 Le Mans 24-Hours when co-drivers Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory unexpectedly took out the French endurance classic after the works cars all fell by the wayside. Entered by Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team, other 250 LMs were campaigned by Maranello Concessionaires, Ecurie Francorchamps and the Scuderia Filipinetti while David McKay and Spencer Martin famously raced the Scuderia Veloce LM (chassis 6321) here in Australia, a car now part of Ralph Lauren’s incredible collection in North America. The 250 GTO may be the most valuable Ferrari on the planet today but the 250 LM still commands a serious price tag, routinely selling for seven figures. Needless to say there have been many attempts at building replicas of the LM, ranging from exacting ‘tool room’ copies to ‘tribute’ cars like the example offered here, a car that evokes the spirit of the real thing without any pretensions of being the real thing.
HISTORY
- Fantastic Ferrari 250 LM replica
- Major mechanical work recently carried out
- Offered with No Reserve
The exact provenance of this replica Ferrari 250 LM remains a mystery but it has been around for many years and is relatively well-known to enthusiasts here in Australia. Purchased by the current Sydney owner from a Bonhams & Goodmans auction in May 2009, the car had previously been a part of Peter Briggs’ York Motor Museum in West Australia for many years – according to the catalogue description, he bought the car back in April 1981. Apparently the car had been advertised in the United States that year by a German named Rehm and was kept at Trend Imports in Los Angeles. Mike Rodsted reportedly did some mechanical work on the car in 1986 and it participated in the York Flying Fifty that year but, by the time our vendor bought it twelve years ago, the car required a lot of work. Lachlan Cook Automotive were entrusted with the task of recommissioning the LM, fixing the brakes, cooling system and general sorting out. A long-time Ferrari Club member, the owner (who owned a 512 BB and 400i amongst other cars) enjoyed taking the LM to various club events over the years. More recently Shaun Atkinson of Classic Automobile carried out a complete rebuild of the rear end, including overhauling the V6 engine (which Shaun notes is a rare German-built Cologne 2-litre unit) and Renault transaxle (including gear linkage mechanism) and suspension. All engine components and the entire rear frame were soda blasted and every surface cleaned and repainted as required. As a result, the LM replica drives very well indeed, sounding fabulous and – with the fibreglass bodywork and interior suitably scruffy – is ready for the next owner to either enjoy as is or further improve it. With the real deal priced in the millions, this fantastic replica is the closest most of us will come to driving an original LM and is a great car in its own right. The car will therefore be sold unregistered and is offered with No Reserve.
Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.
