The 1960s were a period of incredible growth at Ferrari but also a time of great change. Enzo Ferrari had built a brand based on competition success, and this was achieved early in the decade with six consecutive wins at Le Mans and World Championship titles in Formula One in 1961 and 1964. He recognised the importance of promoting his road cars to fund racing, with the 250 GT series marking a new era for Ferrari. Prominent models like the 250 Mille Miglia, 250 GT Tour de France, and 250 GT SWB were immensely successful, with the Tour de France winning multiple events including the 1956 Tour de France Automobile and the 1957 Targa Florio.

In 1961, internal tensions led to the walkout of eight senior staff including Bizzarrini, who had been developing the 250 GTO. Enzo Ferrari responded by appointing young engineer Mauro Forghieri, who would prove instrumental in future successes. Ferrari began shifting to mid-engine designs with the Dino 246 SP and the ‘Sharknose’ 156 F1, winning the Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles in 1961. Forghieri, inspired by the Dino, created the 250 P for 1963, using the powerful Colombo 3.0-litre V12. The 250 P achieved instant success, prompting Ferrari to evolve it into a closed coupé—the 250 Le Mans Berlinetta.

Unveiled in Paris in October 1963, the first 250 LM had a 3.0-litre V12, though production models used a 3.3-litre engine. Built on a 2,400 mm chassis with aluminium bodies by Scaglietti and designed by Pininfarina, the 250 LM featured a stronger chassis and advanced engineering, but failed to gain FIA GT homologation. The FIA rejected Ferrari’s claim it was part of the existing 250 line, restricting the model to the Prototype class. Though the Italian Automobile Club helped, full FIA homologation only came in 1966 for the Sports class.

Despite this, the 250 LM proved its worth. It won the 1964 Reims 12 Hours and took a fine third at the Paris 1000 km. In 1965, it triumphed at Spa and, most famously, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory claimed victory, with another 250 LM finishing second. Only 32 Ferrari 250 LMs were ever built, making them rarer than the 250 GTO, and their legacy continues today as one of the most sought-after competition Ferraris. The 250 LM’s 1965 Le Mans win marked Ferrari’s last overall victory at the event until their most recent triumph.

Chassis 6053 was the 22nd of the 32 Ferrari 250 LMs ever built and it was ordered by the official UK Ferrari importer, Maranello Concessionaires. The car first went into production in May 1964, when the chassis frame was sent to Scaglietti for the fitment of the body. While the body was being fitted, the engine assembly was being completed with dyno tests being carried out on the 26th June 1964, as documented by the copies of the original factory build sheets that accompany the car.

The car was built in right-hand drive, as per the majority of the 250 LMs. This was in keeping with the great Ferrari tradition of building their competition cars in right-hand drive configuration to suit clockwise race circuits. It was finished in Rosso Cina, which was a colour that Ferrari adopted in the 1960s, over Bleu cloth seats and a white leather cockpit surround, something which is believed to be unique on the model.

It was completed in early September 1964, with the certificate of origin being issued on the 10th September. The car was imported into the UK and the Ferrari factory invoice indicates that the car was destined for the Honourable Edward R. Portman but he would in fact purchase chassis 6051, while chassis 6053 was sold to George Drummond, with the two cars arriving at the same time. George Drummond was a British racing driver and descendant of the Drummond banking dynasty, which had been founded in 1717 and was incorporated into the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1924, operating from their 49 Charing Cross address in London, which George Drummond used for his correspondence with Maranello Concessionaires. Mr Drummond also owned a Series I 250 GTO, chassis 4399 GT, which had been rebodied to Series II style by the time of his purchase.

The Ferrari 250 LM is one of the most important competition models in Ferrari’s history and with only 32 examples built it is even rarer than a 250 GTO. However, out of the 32 LMs built, not many can compete with chassis 6053 for its originality, history, stunning restoration and its Best in Show and Best of the Best Award achievements. To put it simply, it is one of the finest 1960s competition Ferraris in existence and offers its next custodian a whole world of opportunity.