Red may be Ferrari’s trademark, but these white Ferrari race cars tell a different story of protest, privateers, and unique expressions on the track (and dirt).
From Le Mans legends to iconic single seaters, rally cars and everything in between, these white Ferraris race cars left a mark in motorsport history.
1952 Ferrari 375 Indianapolis
Photo: Wouter Melissen
In 1952, Ferrari entered the Indianapolis 500 with a modified 375 F1. Prompted by the FIA's inclusion of the Indy 500 in the F1 World Championship, Ferrari built four 4.5-litre cars for the event. Three were sold privately. The factory entry, driven by Alberto Ascari, was the only one to qualify, starting 17th before retiring after 40 laps with a broken wheel hub. Among the private entries was the white-liveried Grant Piston Ring Special, intended for Johnnie Parsons, who quit over Ferrari’s lack of support. His replacement, Danny Oakes, failed to qualify in this car.
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza chassis 0510M
Photo: Wouter Melissen
In 1955, Ferrari campaigned the 750 Monza Spyder Scaglietti, chassis 0510M, notable for its white and blue livery. Built for American privateer racing, the car was delivered to the U.S. and driven by famed racer Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby under Allen Guiberson’s team. With its lightweight Scaglietti body and powerful four-cylinder engine, 0510M was very competitive across American road courses with 7 race victories in its first year. It became well known for its distinctive appearance and its role in launching Hill’s future Ferrari works career. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable 750 Monzas ever built.
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa chassis 0732TR
Photo: Justin Schmöller
In 1958, the 250 Testa Rossa chassis 0732 TR, nicknamed Lucybelle II, was entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Originally finished in red, it was repainted white with blue stripes to represent the North American Racing Team (NART). Driven by Ernie Erickson and Ed Hugus, the car stood out on the grid and finished 7th overall and 4th in class. Hugus named the car Lucybelle II after a close companion, continuing a personal tradition of naming his race cars. The car became one of the most recognizable white Ferraris race cars. Ferrari even included the 250 Testa Rossa 'Lucybelle' in their 70th anniversary liveries in 2017.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione chassis 2209GT
Photo: Talacrest
In October 1960, Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione chassis 2209GT left the factory and was built with an alloy body, left-hand drive, and a distinctive white finish with racing stripes. Its first race outing was on October 23, 1960, where it competed in the 1000 km of Paris at Montlhery and finished third in class and third overall with Jo Schlesser and André Simon behind the wheel. Today it's remembered as a rare, alloy 250 GT SWB Competizione featuring the striking white exterior colour.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Competizione Spyder chassis 2015GT
Photo: Wouter Melissen
In 1960, the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, chassis 2015GT, was entered by NART in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Though factory records list it as red over black, period photos confirm it raced in white. One of only three short-wheelbase Californias with an alloy body, it was the only one equipped with a full competition engine featuring big valves and high-compression heads. Driven by Bob Sturgis and Jo Schlesser during the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, it ran as high as 11th before retiring late in the race. After decades in red, the car was restored to its original white livery in 2006 and is a frequent visitor of historic events.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Prototype Sperimentale chassis 2643GT
Photo: Forza Mag
In 1961, Ferrari built the 250 GT SWB Prototype Sperimentale, chassis 2643GT, which rolled out of Maranello in blue as a testbed for what would become the Ferrari 250 GTO. Fitted with a lightweight Pininfarina aluminium body, a strengthened SWB frame, dry-sump Tipo 168/61 engine and competition gearbox, it raced at Le Mans driven by Fernand Tavano and Giancarlo Baghetti, running for 163 laps before retiring early due to engine failure. In 1962, the car was repainted white with twin blue stripes for its final Le Mans appearance, where it finished 9th overall and 4th in class.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis 3729GT
Photo: Spencer Modes
In 1962, Ferrari built the 250 GTO chassis 3729GT, finished in white and delivered to British privateer John Coombs. It made its debut at the Peco Trophy at Brands Hatch, driven by Roy Salvadori, finishing 2nd overall. Only 12 days later, Graham Hill piloted it to another 2nd place at the Goodwood Tourist Trophy. Though it never claimed an outright win, 3729GT consistently placed on the podium throughout the 1962–64 seasons, including a class victory and multiple second-place finishes. The Ferrari 250 GTO chassis 3729GT is most likely the most valuable white Ferrari race car in this list.
1964 Ferrari 158 F1
Photo: Ferrari
Perhaps one of the most famous white Ferraris race cars is the 1964 Ferrari 158 F1, which appeared in white and blue for the final two Grands Prix of the season. The colour change stemmed from a dispute between Enzo Ferrari and the Italian motorsport authority, the Automobile Club d’Italia, over homologation politics. In protest, Ferrari entered the races under the American NART banner. Driven by John Surtees, the white 158 finished second at the U.S. Grand Prix and won in Mexico, securing both the Constructors’ Championship for Ferrari and the Drivers’ title for Surtees. This was the only F1 title ever won in a non-red Ferrari.
1964 Ferrari 250 LM chassis 5845
Photo: The Marshall Pruett Podcast
In February 1964, Austrian owner Gotfrid Koechert took delivery of the Ferrari 250 LM chassis 5845. It debuted in regional events before suffering a crash and returning to the factory for repairs. Repaired, 5845 claimed victory at the 1965 Austrian Grand Prix hillclimb with Jochen Rindt behind the wheel. Later sold and repainted in the U.S. with a white-and-blue livery, it was raced by Arthur Swanson and Robert Ennis in events including the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours, Monza 1000 km, and 1967 Targa Florio, but had no further racing successes.
1965 Ferrari 330 P chassis 0820
Photo: Supercar Nostalgia
The Ferrari 275/330P chassis 0820 made its debut in April 1964, racing initially in traditional red. After its early factory competition career, it was sold into private ownership in the United States, where it was repainted in white with blue stripes. In this new livery, it continued to race in American events, reflecting the national colours often used by NART entries. Though its most significant races were contested in red, 0820 became closely associated with its later white-and-blue appearance, which it still wears today at historic events and concours displays.
1967 Ferrari 365 P chassis 0838
Source: Pinterest
The Ferrari 365 P chassis 0838 was a striking NART entry, finished in white with blue tail fins and marked by a prancing elephant emblem, earning it the nickname Elefante Bianco or white elephant. It debuted in this livery at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Bob Bondurant and Masten Gregory, but retired after 88 laps with a transmission failure. The car returned to Le Mans in 1967 with Chuck Parsons and Ricardo Rodríguez, retiring again after just 30 laps due to an accident. Later that year, it was rebodied by Piero Drogo, and the distinctive white livery was lost to history.
1967 Ferrari 412 P chassis 0844
Photo: Pedro Rodríguez de la Vega
The Ferrari 412 P chassis 0844 was originally built as a 330 P3 in 1966 and raced by the factory in red, it was converted to 412 P specification and repainted in American racing colours for the 1967 season. Entered by NART and driven by Pedro Rodríguez and Giancarlo Baghetti, it achieved a strong 3rd-place finish at the 24 Hours of Daytona (wearing a red livery). Later that year at Le Mans, the car wore white, but retired after 144 laps due to a piston failure.
1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 chassis 19051
Photo: Simon Kidston
The Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 chassis 19051 is a true rarity, one of only eleven Michelotto-built competition versions. Chassis 19051 originates from a 1976 Vetroresina-bodied road car. Finished in striking Pioneer livery, it compiled an impressive record before its initial retirement: seven victories and six second-place finishes, crowned by the 1982 Italian International Rallies Championship title. Campaigned by its original driver, Antonio “Tonino” Tognana, the car became a familiar sight on podiums across Europe’s rally and road-racing circuits.
1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Group B chassis 18971
Source: Rally 70 & 80
The Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 chassis 18971 is best known for being driven by rising Finnish rally star Henri Toivonen alongside co-driver Juha Piironen at the 1983 Rally Autodromo di Monza. Prepared by Michelotto, the car was one of the rare factory-supported 308 rally entries, built to full Group 4 specification with lightweight bodywork and competition upgrades, such as a rear wing and painted in white with the remaining colour coming from sponsor stickers. Though Toivonen’s appearance in the Ferrari was brief, the car stood out in a field dominated by more conventional rally machines.
1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Group B chassis 22409
1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM chassis 35523
Source: Ultimatecarpage.com
The Ferrari 512 BB LM chassis 35523 is a standout from the early 1980s, finished in white with blue‑white‑blue stripes on one side and Italian tricolore stripes on the other, earning it a bold and unmistakable presence. It was purchased new from the factory in 1981 by British driver Simon Phillips, a five-time Le Mans entrant. The car made its competition debut at the 6 Hours of Silverstone that year, driven by Phillips alongside Robin Hamilton and John Earle. The car also ran at Le Mans in 1981, though it ended in retirement due to mechanical issues. Fun fact: Phillips placed his wife Sheila Wong Chong’s name on the car, as she had financed its purchase.
2017 Ferrari FXX-K EVO
Photo: Ferrari
An honourable mention although not entered in competition racing is the 2017 Ferrari FXX-K EVO: a radical evolution of the LaFerrari, built exclusively for the track and developed with Formula 1 technology. While most FXX-K EVOs are finished in traditional colours like red, yellow or team-specific liveries, Ferrari themselves introduced the model to the public in a striking white paint scheme. This livery was accented with black and carbon fiber elements, designed to emphasize the car’s aggressive aerodynamic package, including the massive front splitter, vertical vortex generators, and distinctive fixed rear wing.
Which of these white Ferrari race cars is your favourite? Did we miss one you love? Drop us a comment below, we’d love to hear which white Prancing Horse gets your heart racing!
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