Replacing the vaunted 275 GTB/4 would be no easy feat for Ferrari, and with stiff competition arriving in the form of Lamborghini’s Miura, Maranello was faced with the dilemma to either reinvent itself by launching a line of mid-engined supercars, or stick to what it did best; continue to build the very best 12-cylinder, front-engined grand touring cars the world had ever seen. They chose the latter, and the 365 GTB/4 Daytona was introduced to the world in 1968. Fitted with a 4.4-litre V-12 engine capable of producing 352 horsepower and boasting a 280 km/h top speed, this was one of the fastest production automobiles to ever put rubber to road. Le Mans-winning Ferrari driver and well-known automotive journalist Paul Frère claimed to hit 176 mph in autostrada traffic in 1969. ‘It’s the engine that makes the music,’ he noted, ‘the finest music of all to the ears of the enthusiast, and the music he can enjoy in a well-sprung car, fitted with such amenities as electric window lifters, air conditioning…and a really capacious luggage locker—a Grand Touring car par excellence.’
Built as a late-specification Daytona in 1973, the model’s final year of production, chassis number 16437 was originally finished in Rosso Chiaro Ferrari (20-R-190 Salchi) over a Pelle Nera (VM 8500) interior. It was originally imported to Spain through the country’s official Ferrari importer, T.A.Y.R.E of Madrid. According to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the Daytona was displayed at the 1973 Barcelona Motor Show; a photo of the car on the stand can be seen in Autopista magazine’s report of the show, with chassis number 16437 seen sitting alongside a 365 GT4 2+2 and a 246 Dino GT. First registered in Spain in May of 1973, little is known of the car’s early history, although it did remain in Spain throughout the 1990s and was featured on the cover of the Spanish classic car magazine Motor Clásico in its June 1993 issue. Invoices on file from the car’s time in Spain in the 1990s show numerous parts purchases from official Ferrari distributors in the UK, suggesting that the car was likely undergoing a restoration at this time.
The Daytona remained in Spain until 2000, when it was purchased by a well-known Ferrari collector in Bordeaux and exported to France. A number of invoices from his ownership are available to view on file. In 2018, the Ferrari was acquired by the current owner, who immediately commissioned a raft of restoration work. A full repaint was carried out in its original Rosso Chiaro, upholstery work was carried out on the interior, perished rubber components including weatherstripping and engine hoses were replaced, while four new Michelin XWX tyres, fresh spark plugs, and new engine mounts were fitted; accompanying invoices amount to approximately €60,000.
In 2022, the Daytona was issued Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it is presented today as it was when it departed the factory in 1973. Importantly, the car’s certification documents confirm that it retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox, and bodywork. In addition to the Classiche certification, the Daytona is accompanied by numerous invoices from its time in both France and Spain.
Unquestionably one of Ferrari’s most iconic automobiles, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona remains a bucket-list purchase for many enthusiasts. Its grand-touring credentials are unparalleled and the model remains more than capable of outpacing modern traffic—the perfect tool for long-distance tours across continental Europe. Considering its recent restoration work and Classiche certification, this particular example would be an ideal purchase for the individual looking to experience a truly incredible automobile.
