Double Le Mans Winner Ferrari 275 P Comes to the Market

Ferrari is a name synonymous with road and race cars. Few marques have as rich a racing history to boast about than the Maranello firm, and it is a rare occasion when a race-winning Ferrari of repute comes on to the market.

That’s why the collectors are in a frenzy about a Ferrari that is to be sold by RM Sotheby’s as a private sale. What is so special about it? It’s a Ferrari 275P, chassis #0816, and it’s the only Ferrari to have won the prestigious Le Mans 24hrs race twice. It’s been in the same family ownership for 50 years, has never been restored, and has a history that is unrivalled.

Mystery Solved

This very car won Le Mans in 1963 and in 1964, but until recently it was thought that a different chassis won in the latter year. In fact, #0816 was sent in place of a sister car that had been damaged, but Ferrari didn’t bother to alter the paperwork! It can also boast the Sebring 12hrs – another great race back then – in 1964 on its victory spoils.

The drivers for the 1963 Le Mans victory were Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini, with Nino Vaccarella and Jean Guichet taking the spoils the following year. The Sebring victory came in the hands of Mike Parkes and Umberto Maglioli, and this chassis has also been raced by the likes of John Surtees, who also won the Formula One World Championship for Ferrari.

Significant Example

There is no doubt that this is one of the most significant Ferraris to hit the market for some time, and one that the world’s top collectors will be desperate to get their hands on. With original engine, gearbox and an unrestored chassis – and its unrivalled racing provenance – the price has not been revealed, but we expect it to be in the tens of millions when the sale is finally announced.