Chassis No. 15369

Engine No. B 1538

"It might as well be said right now. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is the best sports car in the world," wrote Road & Track magazine in the opening line of their October 1970 test of Maranello's latest V12 Berlinetta. Upon its introduction, the 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" set the benchmark for the segment with its record-breaking 170-mile-per-hour performance – a top speed that would not be surpassed by another front-engined Ferrari until the 456 of 1992. Its unrivaled blend of speed, refinement, and beautiful Pininfarina-designed looks not only solidified it as the best sports car of the period but granted it an immediate mythical status as one of the last great Ferraris in a legendary lineage of V12 Berlinettas.

In September 1969, what would become the final Scaglietti-bodied Ferrari was unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the 365 GTS/4 – an open Spider version of the 365 GTB/4 finished in Giallo Fly over Nero leather. Scaglietti's surgery on the original Berlinetta was exacting, perfectly harmonizing the rest of the design with the Spider's flat rear deck and sharp rear fenders. Apart from a neat folding soft top replacing the Berlinetta's fastback, the exterior remained largely similar to its hard-topped stable mate with a choice of five-spoke alloys or Borrani wire wheels. Just 121 production Daytona Spiders were built, with 96 of them finding their way to the United States where they were known as 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spiders. The remaining 25 consisted of seven U.K.-market examples and 18 European-market, left-hand drive cars, making non-U.S.-delivery Spiders a true rarity.

Completed in May 1972 as a left-hand drive, European-market example, this is the 48th factory-built Daytona Spider of the 121-car total production. According to the research conducted under previous ownership, chassis number 15369 was originally finished in the Spider's launch livery of Giallo Fly (20-Y-191) with Nero (VM 8500) Connolly leather upholstery and equipped with optional factory-installed air conditioning. The Spider was originally delivered to Elie Ayache, the authorized Ferrari dealer in Beirut, Lebanon, and is thought to have originally belonged to a member of the regional royal family.

In 1978, the car was imported to the United States where it was owned by Carl Corzan of South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Under Corzan's ownership, the Spider is known to have been involved in an accident in 1994. Mike Sheehan's European Auto in Costa Mesa, California, was responsible for the repairs completed by December 1995, ensuring an exacting recommissioning to factory specifications. The quality of the work performed is supported by the car's accompanying Ferrari Classiche "Red Book," issued in 2016, which confirms that the chassis and bodywork have been restored to their original factory specifications.

In the mid-1990s, the Spider spent some time in the United Kingdom before eventually returning to the United States where it was acquired by a noted collector of rare Ferraris. Chassis number 15369 subsequently underwent a comprehensive service which is said to have included rebuilding the ignition, carburetor, brakes, and suspension, as well as the installation of a new clutch and exhaust system. The interior was also professionally retrimmed with new as-delivered Nero hides. Most recently, the freshly serviced Ferrari entered the current owner's esteemed Southern California-based collection, where its careful maintenance and enjoyment have continued. Most recently, in July 2024, the Spider visited Ferrari Beverly Hills for an annual service which encompassed changing the fluids and filters and a thorough inspection, as well as repairing the driver's door lock assembly.

Authentic Daytona Spiders remain among the most exceptionally rare and endlessly desirable models in Ferrari's history, with all 121 production examples being closely guarded in private collections and seldom coming to market. This exceedingly rare European-market example, recommissioned to factory specifications by marque experts and retaining its matching-numbers engine as verified by Ferrari Classiche, is made even rarer still. Furthermore, the Ferrari is accompanied by many desirable original items such as its tool kit (including its European-market-only lead mallet), 365 GTB/4 owner's handbook, and 365 GTB/4 spare parts catalog. Presented in its stunning original livery, this exceptionally rare Daytona Spider is ideally suited to extensive top-down touring or presentation at the world's finest concours.

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