1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Competizione Coupe

This Ferrari 365 GTB/4, a model known affectionately as the Daytona, started life as a European model street car burgundy in color with a black leather interior, air conditioning and alloy wheels. Exported to the United States in the mid 1970s, the car continued to be used on the street. In need of a paint job in 1980 a new owner and active Ferrari racing enthusiast in Tennessee began the process to convert the car for motor racing. This process was carried out at many Daytona's in the 1970s due to the limited number of full competitions cars built by Ferrari. With conversion to competition not completed the car was sold on to the Netherlands in the mid 1980's where further work was completed to bring the car to full competition specs. The car has spent the last 30 years racing in historic racing events in Europe and the United States.

The 365 GTB/4C with chassis number 12681 received modifications from Piet Roelof including a stronger roll cage, fire system, large fuel tank, improved oil cooler, suspension and brakes, and racing seats. It has been updated to meet modern safety requirements while receiving mechanical modifications that have kept it competitive. With the adoption of competition headers, improved cam profiles, lightweight pistons, and more, the engine was improved to produce over 450 horsepower. It retains the original Factory front fender air dams, spoiler, outside fuel filler, rear brake scoops, lightweight hood and doors, and trunk safety latches.

This Ferrari began life as a 365 GTB/4 finished with a Verde Pino (106-G-30) exterior over Beige (VM) Connolly leather. It was dispatched to Motor S.a.s. di Carla Allegretti e C., Bologna, Italy, and sold new to Dino Fabbri of Milan, Italy, in July 1969. In 1976, it was sent to the United States, where it was owned by Richard Ernest Watkins of Richmond, Virginia prior to trading it to Foreign Cars Italia (FCI), Greensboro, North Carolina, in December 1978. Carl Caskey of Augusta, Georgia, purchased it in March 1979. The following year, it was sent to FCI where it was disassembled, and a restoration was started. Intending to convert it to Competizione specification, the project remained uncompleted when it was offered for sale by FCI. An individual from Tennessee purchased the project but sold it a year later to the Netherlands. Still in project form with numerous competition parts, restoration work was commissioned to Piet Roelofs of Roelofs Engineering, concluding his work in 1985. The car had two additional Dutch owners before entering the long-term care of Rudolph Booker of Amsterdam, Holland.

In 2009, the car returned to the United States and entered the care of a Virginia-based collector. The current caretaker has competed with the Daytona at various historic motor events between 2014 and 2018, including the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Classic 12 Hour at Sebring, and Classic 24 Hour at Daytona.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2023