The 1963 24 Heures du Mans marked a turning point in Ferrari's prototype racing history. Three 250P Spiders entered by the official Scuderia Ferrari SEFAC factory organisation crossed the line first, second and third, with car No. 21 — driven by Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini — heading the result sheet. IXO Models captures that moment in die-cast metal at 1:43, reproducing the Rosso Corsa livery with yellow nose band as raced on the Sarthe circuit that June.
Ferrari 250P: the mid-engined prototype that changed the factory's direction
Introduced in 1963, the Ferrari 250P was Ferrari's first purpose-built mid-engined open sports prototype. Its 3.0-litre V12 — a twin-cam-per-bank unit derived from the 250 GTO's engine architecture — sat behind the driver in a Fantuzzi-bodied spaceframe chassis. The open Spider configuration kept weight low. The 250P went on to win at Sebring, the Nürburgring and Le Mans during 1963, securing Ferrari the World Sportscar Championship that season.
Le Mans 1963: Scarfiotti, Bandini, and a Ferrari clean sweep
SEFAC entered three 250Ps at the 1963 24 Heures du Mans, and all three finished on the overall podium — a result that underlined how completely the mid-engined Ferrari had outclassed the opposition. No. 21, assigned to Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini, led the trio home in first place. Scarfiotti, a nephew of Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli, was a central Ferrari works driver of the early 1960s; Bandini would go on to become one of the most prominent Italian drivers of the decade before his fatal accident at Monaco in 1967. Scarfiotti himself was killed in a hillclimb in 1968. The Rosso Corsa with yellow nose band livery, carrying race number 21, remains one of the most recognisable Ferrari racing identities of the era.
IXO Models at 1:43: die-cast metal, Le Mans livery
IXO Models produces this 1:43 scale model car in die-cast metal as part of their series commemorating 24 Heures du Mans overall winners. The model reproduces car No. 21 in its race-correct Rosso Corsa livery with the yellow nose band and Prancing Horse shield, faithful to the SEFAC entry as it appeared in June 1963. Die-cast construction at this scale allows for precise exterior detailing while maintaining the durability expected of a collector piece representing one of the most significant prototype victories in Le Mans history.
Frequently asked questions
Who drove the Ferrari 250P No. 21 at the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans?
Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini drove No. 21 for the official Scuderia Ferrari SEFAC factory team, taking the overall win.
What was Ferrari's overall result at Le Mans in 1963?
Ferrari achieved a 1-2-3 finish with three 250P prototypes. Car No. 21 (Scarfiotti/Bandini) won overall, with the two other SEFAC entries completing the podium sweep.
What material is the IXO Models 1:43 Ferrari 250P made from?
The model is constructed in die-cast metal at 1:43 scale.
What livery does the model represent?
The classic Scuderia Ferrari Rosso Corsa (Italian Racing Red) with a yellow nose band and Prancing Horse shield, as raced at Le Mans in 1963 carrying race number 21.
