1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Convertible Coupe

Ferrari introduced the 365 GTB/4 in Paris in 1968, and it served as the successor to the 275 GTB/4. Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti penned the bold styling rendered in steel and aluminum by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. Beneath the bonnet was an enlarged version of the six-carburetor, four-cam dry sump, V-12 engine, now displacing 4.4 liters and offering 352 horsepower at 7,500 RPM. Unofficially known as the 'Daytona' in honor of Ferrari's podium sweep at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967, it had a top speed in excess of 170 mph, making it the fastest production sports car of its day.

Although designed as a top-of-the-line, two-seat gran turismo, the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' contested its namesake 24-hour race on eighteen occasions between 1970 and 1979, earning five Top 10 finishes and two second-place podiums. Additional accolades include class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1972, 1973, and 1974) and an outright victory at the 1972 Tour de France.

A prototype Spider version of the Daytona was introduced in 1969 at the International Motor Show Germany, and production at Scaglietti soon followed. Production remained exclusive, with just 121 examples built during its lifespan, with the vast majority destined for the all-important US market.

This particular Spider was the 84th of 121 cars built by the factory. It was completed in early 1973 and one of fourteen examples originally wearing Argento Metallizzato (Silver Metallic) over black. Destined for the United States market, the car was equipped with instrumentation in miles, Borletti air-conditioning, and Borrani wire wheels.

The Ferrari was imported into the United States by official West Coast distributor Modern Classic Motors in Reno, Nevada, and retailed via Newport Imports in Newport Beach, California, for $29,665. The car's first owner was Boyd Lavon Jefferies, and it was first registered in California as '607 KEM.' The Spider later passed through Ferrari of Houston, where it was repainted gray and sold to Tom Taham of Texas. Louis James and Barbara Hayes of Houston acquired the car around December 1980 and retained it through at least October 1982. Mr. Markham of Kentucky acquired it in 1993 and kept it until 2004, when it was sold through Motorcars International of Missouri to Steve Hill of Los Gatos, California. Ownership passed through another California-based owner before being sold to Charles Wegner. While in Mr. Wegner's care, the car received a complete restoration to its original specification by San Diego-area specialists Bobileff Motorcar Company and Chris Dugan Enterprises. Upon completion, the Daytona Spider earned a Platinum Award at the 2014 Cavallino Classic and subsequently received Ferrari Classiche certification. The current caretaker has owned the car since 2015. Since that time, the car has been given a concours-quality, bare-metal repaint by Motion Products Inc. of Neenah, Wisconsin. It then earned a third Platinum Award and 'La Miglior Daytona Award' at the 2018 FCA North American Field and Driving Concours in Corning, New York.

The Daytona Spider wears its factory-delivered color scheme and currently has 17,456 miles on its odometer (believed to represent the original mileage from new). The car has its factory-issued warranty card, owner's manual and handbooks, and tool roll. It has its Ferrari Classiche Red Book, original window sticker, and early California registration records.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023