VIN: 16913
First introduced to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968, the Ferrari 365GTB/4 "Daytona" replaced the 275 GTB/4. Although it was also a Pininfarina design, the Daytona was radically different. The signs and trends of the times were changing, and thus it resembled little of the traditional motif usually associated with a Pininfarina-designed Ferrari. While Daytona was initially used as a pre-production internal denomination, Ferrari still insists that this was never the model's official name and as such should not be used when referring to the car in any true manner. Road & Track magazine summed up the Daytona's attributes succinctly, subheading their October 1970 Road Test, "The fastest, and best, GT is not necessarily the most exotic." While still a front-engined, rear wheel drive Berlinetta or Spyder, in the case of the convertible cars, it was an exceptional car regardless.
The first production examples reached U.S. shores in 1970 and featured a slightly different nose treatment to their European counterparts. European Daytonas were originally fitted with headlights set back behind a transparent full-width plastic cover, whereas U.S. versions featured retractable headlights under two flush-fitting panels. Other differences included hexagonal-type wheel nuts on the U.S. version, versus three-eared knock-off wheel nuts on European models. Under the hood, the V12 engine was barely recognizable as being derived from Gioacchino Colombo's twenty-year old design, having been lengthened to accommodate the 81mm bore needed to achieve nearly 4.4 liters of displacement. Fitted with twin cam cylinder heads for high rpm, the freshly-redesigned engine breathed freely through a sextet of Weber 40 DCNF carburetors.
As originally shown at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1969, only 122 genuine 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Spiders were built in essentially GTS configuration as delivered new from Ferrari. Arguably the ultimate evolution of vintage Ferrari engineering and development, this Daytona features the aforementioned traditional Ferrari V12 and fully independent suspension that create the definitive Ferrari experience - summed up by some by the visceral thrill of hearing the exhaust note while shifting at the high RPMs Ferrari engines are known to love.
A multiple Ferrari Club of America Platinum level recipient, this particular example is one of the finest restored authentic Spyders ever presented as evidenced by the long history of world class awards. Notable accolades include many first in class awards at national Concours d' Elegance events from Newport, Los Angeles, Palos Verdes, Concorso Italiano and the Ferrari Nationals at Watkins Glen. For the Ferrari enthusiast who wants the absolute best in drivable, showable and rapidly-appreciating performance, this late Daytona Spyder may best fit the bill.
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