1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 NART

During the mid-1970s Giovanni Michelotti created a series of five open cars based on the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. These hand-built vehicles wore similar body designs that were angular and wedge-shaped with a single unwavering beltline that traveled the entire length of the vehicle. Since they were individually built, each example was unique with many distinguishing details and features.

The first example was commissioned by NART principal and U.S. importer Luigi Chinetti in 1974 for the Turin Motor Show. Chinetti understood the American market and the allure of the drop-top. His influence spawned the 250 GT California dual-purpose road car of the late 1950s that could be driven along the California coast with the top down or at the race track. Chinetti used the same formula on the 275 GTB Coupe, where he commissioned 10 drop-top examples for road-and-track use. Unlike the 275 GTS Spyder, the 275 GTB 'NART Spyder' followed the design of the 275 GTB Coupe. These examples may have used the California designation, but it was already in use on a different model - the Ferrari 365 California.

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 (known as the Daytona) was produced from 1968 through 1973 with over 1,280 examples built. The Colombo-designed V12 engine had a dual overhead camshaft design with 2 valves per cylinder, a 4,390cc displacement, and a bore of 81mm and a stroke of 71 mm. The 6X2 barrel 40 DCN/20 Weber carburetors helped the engine deliver 350 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and maximum torque of 318 lb-feet at 5500 RPM. The top speed was in the neighborhood of 174 mph and zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in 5.4 seconds.

The Michelotti-built 365 GTB/4 Daytona NART Spider had molded bumpers, a Targa top, and cut-down doors. A second example was commissioned by Chinetti (chassis number 15965) for the 1975 24 Hours of LeMans but later withdrew all NART entries after a disagreement with race officials.

The final three examples were ordered by Chinetti in 1976 to be configuration to road-going specification. The total number of 365 GTB/4 Daytona NART Spiders built by Michelotti was five, with one being configuration for competition use. The other cars, often retained the factory-installed air conditioning system, power windows, and various other amenities common to the North American market.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020