1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4

The Ferrari Daytona was introduced in 1968 at the Paris Salon, originally wearing a Berlinetta Coupe body. A Spyder version followed in 1969, introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Berlinetta was the third Daytona designed by Pininfarina and the first to use Ferrari's new V-12.

The prototype was created by Pininfarina, but the production versions were produced by Scaglietti. More than 1412 Daytona's were sold between 1968 and 1974, of which 127 were 365 GTS/4 Spyders. The new 365 GTB/4 was quickly lauded by Ferrari enthusiasts as the 'Daytona' after Ferrari's 1-2-3 win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967. The company's Colombo-designed V-12 engine gained four overhead camshafts and a displacement size of 4,390 cubic centimeters. The dry-sump lubrication allowed the engine to be installed low within the chassis, and with the five-speed transaxle, had a 50/50 weight distribution. The chassis was a traditional Ferrari setup with oval-section tubing, and the recently developed all-wheel independent suspension allowed for better handling and tire contact. The superb stopping was provided by four-wheel disc brakes. With 352 horsepower, the Daytona dethroned the Miura as the fastest production car.

Ferrari had not originally planned on an open-top version of the 365 GTB/4, but when the 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider arrived, it was intended for both the European and American markets, meeting an inundation of requests for an open-top model of the new Gran Turismo.

It is believed that 1,406 examples of the Ferrari Daytona were built including 122 factory-made Spyders (Ferrari 365 GTS/4) and 15 competition cars.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007