NYC EVENT: Register now
19th November 2015 5:00pm EST
A Fabulous Ferrari To Challenge the Miura
By 1968, Ferrari had a new and serious rival in the supercar sweepstakes, a tractor-maker whose factory was just east of Maranello, in Sant’Agata, Bolognese. Its name was Lamborghini and it set the automotive world afire with its mid-engined Miura in 1966. When Ferrari offered its mid-engined 206GT road car in early 1968, it also introduced a front-engine V-12 coupe, the 365GTB/4, quickly nicknamed the Daytona, at the Paris Auto Show. While it continued with the wonderful, elegant clean lines intrinsic in all Pininfarina designs, it was a radical departure from their previous Ferrari work. It married form and function cloaked in newly-aggressive styling. And, it could run with the Miura.
“I worked for seven days without taking a break and then showed my ideas to Sergio Pininfarina. He liked them, as did Enzo Ferrari, and that’s how it came about.”
As documented by Ferrari expert Marcel Massini, Chassis No. 14229 was sold new through West Coast Distributor Bill Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors to its first owner, Gary MacLeod. MacLoed’s uncle, Steve Clapp received the car on his behalf via European delivery. Clapp toured Italy and Europe with the car prior to having it flown from Italy to Seattle, Washington. The Daytona remained in MacLeod’s possession for the next 38 years until it was sold to a Mr. M. Diez in Los Angeles, California in March 2009. It was sold to its third and current owner in December 2010.
While Ferrari offered its mid-engined 206GT road car in early 1968, it also introduced a classic, front-engine V-12 coupe - the 365GTB/4 in early 1968 at the Paris Auto Show. It was the most expensive production model that Ferrari had offered to-date and it was cloaked in aggressive styling by Pininfarina.
The 365GTB/4 (365 for the individual cylinder capacity, GTB for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, and 4 denoting the number of camshafts) quickly became known as the Daytona. At its heart was a new version of the aging Ferrari V-12 with four chain-driven camshafts fed by six twin-choke downdraft Weber carburetors, and producing 352 hp. Unlike Lamborghinis of the day, the 365GTB/4 went racing as it was among the finest handling of the conventional supercars. Production continued through 1974 with 1,285 coupes and 127 spyders built.
Following the purchase by its second owner in 2009, the decision was made to restore the car to its original condition. The matching-numbers, U.S.-spec car has been painted the color as delivered – Rosso Nearco – over a black leather interior with red carpets. It is equipped with factory air conditioning, a period-correct Becker Mexico AM/FM radio, and Borrani wire wheels. All mechanicals have been rebuilt by a well-known West Coast Ferrari specialist. The interior benefits from new carpeting, correct “mouse fur” on the dash, an original leather-covered steering wheel, refurbished instruments, and reconditioned original leather. It is offered with its original owner’s manual, factory parts and service manuals, along with a detailed ownership and maintenance history.
As the last front engine, V-12 Berlinetta created under the gaze of Enzo Ferrari himself, there can be no better way to experience the incomparable Ferrari tradition than by driving this clean and well-documented 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
This prancing horse, in excellent condition with impeccable provenance, is one of the last, proud examples of the long, inspired design leadership of Enzo. That fact, and its thunderous exhaust roar will gain it entry into the finest Ferrari events, anywhere in the world.
“The best sportscar in the world”