Although these cars shared their numerical designations (based on engine displacement) with road models, they were almost entirely different.

Ferrari produced the 250 P in 1963 in response to the FIA introducing a prototype class for the upcoming season of the World Sportscar Championship.

Designed by Mauro Forghieri, the 250 P was an open cockpit mid-engined rear wheel drive design, utilizing a tubular space-frame chassis, double wishbone suspension, rack and pinion steering, four wheel disc brakes and a longitudinally-mounted V12 engine with a 5-speed gearbox and transaxle.

The 250 Testa Rossa-type single-cam 3.0-litre engine was supplied by six Weber 38 DCN carburetors and produced 310 bhp at 7,500 rpm.

Notable drivers included John Surtees, Ludovico Scarfioitti, Willy Mairesse, Lorenzo Bandini and Pedro Rodriguez.

[1][6][7][8][9] For the 1964 season, Ferrari developed the 275 P and 330 P. These were improved versions of the 250 P with larger displacement engines and slightly modified bodywork.

Some drivers preferred the extra power of the 330 P while others appreciated the more nimble feel of the 275 P and the two models were raced concurrently.

[13] 275 P and 330 P cars were actively and successfully raced by Scuderia Ferrari, NART and Maranello Concessionaires during 1964 and 1965 seasons.

It was developed as a coupé version of the 250 P and was ostensibly a new production car intended to meet FIA homologation requirements for the Group 3 GT class.

However, in April 1964 the FIA refused to homologate the model, as Ferrari had built considerably fewer than the required 100 units.

The 250 LM shared fully independent double wishbone suspension, rack and pinion steering, four wheel disc brakes and 5-speed transaxle with the 250 P, however the tubular space frame chassis was significantly strengthened with the roof structure, additional cross-bracing and heavier gauge tubing.

The interior was trimmed out as a nod to the ostensible production status of the car, but ultimately it was little different from a prototype racer.

[23][20][24] Notably, a 250 LM (chassis 5893) entered by the North American Racing Team won the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans driven by Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory.

250 LMs typically sell for more than US$10 million and auction records for this model have been repeatedly broken in the past 10 years.

As practiced from 1963 with the Ferrari Formula 1 monoposto racing car, a self-supporting body made of riveted aluminium sheets was manufactured by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi.

[34] At the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring, Parkes and Guichet were beaten only by teammates John Surtees and Ludovico Scarfiotti in the more powerful 330 P2.

As practiced from 1963 with the Ferrari Formula 1 monoposto racing car, a self-supporting body made of riveted aluminium sheets was developed.

Since increasing displacement was not part of Ferrari's philosophy - some Ford GT40s had 7-liter V8 engines - better performance could only be achieved through reduced weight and improved aerodynamics.

[36] The 330 P3 made its racing debut at the 1966 Sebring 12 Hour, with Mike Parkes and Bob Bondurant behind the wheel.

In a superior position in the lead, Bandini lost control of the P3 in a narrow passage and damaged the front of the car so badly in the accident that it was unthinkable to continue.

[38] In the 1966 1000 km race on the Nürburgring, the two Brits retired prematurely after taking pole position due to clutch damage.

Enzo Ferrari also made an exception to the usual vehicle policy at the Sarthe and ceded a P3 to Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team.

The second works car, starting number 21 and driven by Jean Guichet and Lorenzo Bandini, had an engine failure.

The Ferrari 412 P was a "customer version" of the famous 330 P3 race car, built for independent teams like NART (0844), Scuderia Filipinetti (0848), Francorchamps (0850), and Maranello Concessionaires (0854).

Surviving 412 P cars are worth approximately $35–45 million USD according to Cavallino Magazines' current Buyers Guide.

At the end of the 1973 season, Ferrari was forced by chief investor FIAT to abandon sports car racing, instead focusing on F1.

The project cost Glickenhaus US$4 million and was officially presented to the public in August 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elégance.

The Ferrari 499P belonging to the Le Mans Hypercar class, was unveiled to the public on the evening of 29 October 2022 at Finali Mondiali in Imola.

[68][69][70] On its first outing at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 499P driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado won the race.

51 499P driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, winner of the last edition, came in third place.