Ferrari 365 GTB 4 Daytona

History

1970 FERRARI 365 GTB/4 DAYTONA VRY 506H Euzo Ferrari developed a range of front engined rear wheel drive V12 road going Berlinettas starting with the250 GT Lusso, through the fabulous 275 GTB to his final incarnation, the 365 gtb/4, announced to enormous acclaim at the 1968 Paris Salon. This final masterpiece of the traditional layout was styled by Leonard Fioravanti of Pininfarina, and was a masterful blending of very long shark-like bonnet into a compact cabin and a short tail, giving a wonderfully aggressive muscular stance which has never been bettered. Ferraris Fioravanti has said that it was the favourite of all his Ferraris. The car was designed to be a response to rival who had abandoned the front-engine-rear-drive layout, and to hugely increase the available power from the four camshaft engine inherited from the 275 GTB by increasing the displacement to 365cc per cylindered giving 4,370cc overall. This gave 352b.h.p. at 7,500 r.p.m. with 318lb/ft of torque available at 5,500 r.p.m.; magnificent figures even today, but outstanding for 1968, making the car easily the fastest production car in the world, with a top speed well in excess of 170m.p.h. on standard gearing. Even the Boxer which replaced the 365 TGB/4 was unable to match this performance, and the mid-engined rival such as the Ford GT40 and Lamborghini Muira were trounced. The car was soon given the name ?Daytona? in honour of the Ferrari 1,2,3 victory in 1967 at the Florida track with two 330 P4s and a 412P. The Daytona soon proved itself a magnificent drivers car, with brute power available combined with the strength and reliability required for endurance racing, and the car took first and second in the 1972 Tour de France, finished fifth at Le mans and elsewhere, right into the late 1970s. The Daytona chassis was a typical Ferrari design, being constructed round and of oval tubes, with independent supervision by wishbone and coil, the dry sump allowing a very low mounting in the frame, and 50:50 weight distribution being achieved by the use of a 5 speed transaxle. The magnificent alloy berlinetta bodies were constructed by Scaglietti, and the most desirable cars are those with the plexiglass headlamp covers which were superceded by retractable units when the plexiglass design was not homolagated for use in North America. This car is fitted with the optional five-spoke alloy wheels inspired by the then current Formula 1 racing cars, and the two seat cockpit is trimmed in black leather and has a magnificent and fully stocked dashboard, with the traditional Ferrari ?gate? on the gear lever. Chassis 13593 was first registered on 17 July 1970, and the indicated mileage of 64,452 is believed to be correct. The car was a right hand drive UK specification vehicle and was supplied by Maranello to the chairman of the Brook Street Bureau, who covered 37,000 miles in the first four years of his ownership, the car being extensively serviced and well cared for. In 1987 the car was restored by Italian Motors in Hong Kong, the work apparently copsting some ?50,000 and including a body renovation and major overhaul of the suspension gearbox and engine. A photographic record of the work is available with the car. In early 1990, Greypaul Motors purchased the Daytona and after some small cosmetic work offered the car for sale at ?330,000. They were particularly impressed by ?the superb fit of the doors, sills etc and the perfect shape of the wheel arches? The present owner acquired the car in 1997, he has greatly enjoyed using the car and has recently completed an engine rebuild by Terry Keys Motorsport of Silverstone to ensure total reliability for a long time to come. This is a very genuine original example of Maranello?s Landmark Car, finished in the desireable Rosso Corsa and in truly wonderful condition on every respect. The car has of course a current MOT certificate, is taxed and ready to enjoy. This must be one of the very best examples of truly the last of the proper V12 front engined road going Ferraris . Estimate ?80,000 ? 85,000