1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Prototype

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 was the final development of the long-running front-engine 'Colombo' short-block V-12 and is considered a stopgap model before the forthcoming rear-mounted flat-12 model. The coachwork was designed by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti and built by Scaglietti. The styling was a departure from the company's traditional rounded design, and instead, embraced a more contemporary, sharp-edged appearance.

Resting on a 94.5-inch wheelbase and standing 49 inches tall, the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was powered by a Tipo 251 engine with a 60-degree cylinder bank, dual overhead camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder, and breathing through 40 DCN/20 Weber carburetors. With a compression ratio of 9.3:1, the engine delivered 350 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 318 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 RPM. The five-speed manual transmission was mounted in the back for optimal weight distribution.

Ferrari never officially used the 'Daytona' moniker, instead, it is believed to have been first applied by the media commemorating Ferrari's 1-2-3 finish in the February 1967 24 Hours of Daytona with a 330 P3/4, a 330 P4 and a 412 P.

The production version of the 365 GTB/4 was preceded by three prototypes built on 275 GTB/4 chassis, equipped with the 275's 3.3-liter four-cam Type 226 engine, and wore styling that explored the future model's design. The first production 'Daytona' Berlinetta was chassis number 11929 which was publicly introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1968.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022