Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 or Daytona was introduced as the replacement to the 275 GTB/4 with the intention of competing against Lamborghini's formidable Miura which had set the benchmark performance benchmark in the mid-60s. The Daytona was to be a front-mounted V12 with both a more spacious cabin and higher top speed than the Miura.
The early development of the Daytona was carried out by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti. Heavily influenced by the 330 GTC chassis, the main objective was to develop a highly aerodynamic, slender design capable of carrying the car’s engine mounted well back in the front in order to achieve optimum weight distribution., The car was unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968 where it took the world by storm.
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ('365' denoting the engines displacement in cubic centimetres per cylinder and '4' denoting its number of overhead camshafts) featured a dry sump lubricated engine developed from the earlier Colombo V12, with a 60° bank angle used in the 275 GTB/4, now bored out 4,390cc with 6 Weber carburettors. The car’s engine produced an impressive 347 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and could achieve 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and had a monstrous top speed of 174mph!
Featuring a 5-speed gearbox and a limited slip differential. The car sits upon independent double wishbone suspension on both the front and rear with the typical tubular shock absorbers, coil springs and anti-roll bars which provided superb stability in all driving situations. Early Daytona’s featured fixed headlights behind an acrylic headlight cover, also known as a ‘Plexiglass’ but due to US safety regulations banning the use of headlights behind glass, cars were then produced with retractable pop up twin headlights in 1971.
Only 158 Ferrari Daytona cars were delivered new to the UK and this Rosso Red / Pelle Beige car is one of the cars that remained in long term ownership for most of its life. First registered on 1/1/1972, this car remained in the same ownership from 1976 until 2022 – a period of over 45 years.
The paintwork finished in the iconic Ferrari Rosso red and interior of the car are in very good original condition while showing a light patina that reflects the 50 year age of the car. Likewise the engine bay and underneath of the car is in excellent condition reflecting the low 38,000 mile history.
While under the previous owner’s care, the car has been kept very well maintained predominantly by Ferrari Specialists Foskers, and the car benefits from recent service and Ferrari Classiche inspection which was undertaken at the end of 2022.
The history file for the car includes original instruction manual, books, various MOT tests dating back as far as 1978 and copies of bills for service and maintenance work carried out over the years, and the car will come complete with Ferrari Classiche certification.
Offered for sale for only the second time in over 45 years this is a fantastic example of the iconic Daytona.