Debuted at the October 1968 Paris Salon, the 365 GTB/4 succeeded the 275 GTB/4 as Ferrari’s new two-seat grand touring flagship. Almost immediately, the 365 GTB/4 became unofficially known as the “Daytona” in honor of Ferrari’s 1-2-3 podium sweep at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. Boldly styled by Leonardo Fioravanti, the Daytona’s sleek body was produced by longstanding Ferrari coachbuilding partner, Carrozzeria Scaglietti. Powering the 365 GTB/4 was an enlarged version of the 60-degree V-12 engine of the outgoing 275 GTB/4, now displacing 4.4 liters. Designated Tipo 251, the V-12 delivered 352 HP with six Weber twin-choke carburetors, paired with a 5-speed manual rear transaxle. In addition to a factory-claimed 174 MPH top speed, the Daytona also delivered 0-60 MPH acceleration in just 5.9 seconds and a 13.8-second quarter-mile time with a 107.5 MPH trap speed. While intended purely as a fast road car, several 365 GTB/4s were successfully raced, and it remained competitive long after other adversaries retired. In fact, between 1970 and 1979, 18 Daytonas contested their namesake 24-hour race, resulting in five top-10 finishes and two second-place podiums, including the GTO class win scored by John Morton and Tony Adamowicz in 1979. Everlasting fame came when Dan Gurney and Brock Yates won the second New York-to-Los Angeles “Cannonball Baker Memorial Trophy Dash,” commonly known later as the “Cannonball Run.” The Daytona was an important model for Ferrari, with experts citing 1,383 examples built 1968-74, plus 121 Daytona Spyders. The Daytona marks the end of an era as the last front-engine, V-12, two-seat Ferrari road model until the 1996 debut of the 550 Maranello. Carrying exceptional integrity and numbered S/N 16961, this example is offered with the odometer reading 15,776 miles at the time of writing. In addition to being particularly rare as one of only 30 originally finished in Nero (black), this specimen is accented by the original interior, featuring black Daytona seats with red and black inserts and red carpeting. Powering S/N 16961 is its matching-numbers 4.4L V-12 engine, with the drivetrain never having been removed from the car, only serviced and detailed. Other choice highlights include factory air conditioning, power windows and Cromodora wheels. Accompanying items include a tool roll, factory jack and a rare wiping cloth. Documenting this collector-grade Daytona are the original owner’s manuals, ownership and service history, a Marcel Massini report documenting the vehicle’s history, and Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification, documenting the original drivetrain.
