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The last classic-era, front engine, V12 Ferrari was the 365 GTB/4. The press nicknamed it the Dayonta much to the disdain of Enzo Ferrari. It first appeared at the 1968 Paris Motor Show and its 170 mph top speed became a supercar benchmark.

The 365 took off from where the 275 GTB/4 left off. It used a similar V12 upfront, but with one more liter of displacement. Both cars had four-wheel disc brakes, independent suspension and a rear-mounted transaxle balance out the front/rear weight ratio.

The car’s styling came from design Lionardi Fioavanti. He describes the process: “I worked for seven days without taking a break and then showed my ideas to Sergio Pininfarina. He liked them, as did Enzo Ferrari, and that’s how it came about.” ¹ In 2008, Fioravanti describes the car as “the best I ever done and the one I am most proudest of.” Continuing, “there isn’t much I would change.” ¹

Pininfarina was careful adapting Fioravanti's lines to avoid the earlier aerodynamic mishaps of the short-nose 275. The overall design traits included a long hood, cutoff tail and steeply angled nose. At first this nose featured four lights under a Plexiglas shroud which were later replaced by pop-up units.

Under the hood was a 4.4–-liter V12 that could power the 365 up to 170 mph if any owner had the tenacity to explore the full range of fifth gear. This tremendous speed was emphasized in the first ever Cannonball run when Brock Yates and Dan Gurney piloted their Daytona during the 36–-hour road race. Afterward, Road & Track called it “the best sports car in the world”.

Ferrari was up against rival Ferruccio Lamborghini who triggered the dawn of the modern supercar era with the Miura. With its quad-cam, transversely mounted V12 engine sitting in the center of the car, the Miura made the Daytona look outdated. However, where the Ferrari lacked in outrageousness, it excelled in driveability and performance.

To take advantage of the growing convertible market, Ferrari had Pininfarina design a drop-top version which was executed by Scaglietti. Only around 120 of these were originally made with equally as many being chopped for the added experience of open air driving.

Still today the Daytona stands out as one of the best Ferraris made. During its time, it was the fastest road-going car and it took many years for the supposed 180mph top speed to be challenged. Over 1200 Daytonas were constructed and they became Ferrari’s best produced two-seater.

Sources & Further Reading

1. Hestline, Richard. 'Leonardi Fioravanti Interview'. Octane 59, May 2008.

Chassis & Sales

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 14345 - did not sell for €280,000 Chassis number 16941, the car presented here was supplied new to George Glass of Midland, Texas from Grand Touring Cars of Phoenix, Arizona. This is a true time warp car. It still remains completely original and has been owned by the same family since new. The car has been described as being “one of the nicest, original, unmolested, ‘time capsule’ 365 GTB/4s on the planet” and comes with all its original keys, tools and a complete set of books... more
Gallery: 2008 Leggenda e Passione

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 14345 - sold for €275,000 14345’s current owner purchased the car in 2006 before having it professionally restored by the marque experts at Piet Roelofs Engineering in Holland. Over the next year, the body, paint, and chassis were all restored by a well-known specialist and to a very high standard. While the suspension, brakes, and exhaust system are all completely new, the engine and gearbox were rebuilt as well. As for the beautiful interior, it was refurbished by Lu... more
Gallery: 2008 Leggenda e Passione

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - sold for $231,000 Garry Roberts and Company of Costa Mesa, California offered 14083 in the Ferrari Market Letter in 1998, and it was snapped up by Jose Hernandez of Fremont, California, who owned it until the current owner bought it in 2005. At that time it showed 58,000 miles. Since then, it has been enjoyed and conscientiously maintained in his highly respected private collection. Although the Daytona was initially conceived as an interim model for the lon... more
Gallery: RM Auctions' 2010 Sports & Classics of Monterey

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta 14795 - sold for €147,231 The 1972 365 GTB/4 offered here, chassis 14795, is a right-hand drive example originally finished in Argento Auteuil Metallizzato (silver-grey metallic) with a Nuvola interior and delivered new to Maranello Concessionaires Ltd., in the UK, the official Ferrari importers. In fact, the car was originally delivered with a wooden steering wheel and without headrests – an interesting request from the first owner. Maranello Concessionaires delivered... more
Gallery: 2010 Automobiles of London by RM Auctions

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta 16767 - sold for €276,000 The Daytona berlinetta we offer was first registered in Switzerland in 1976 to one Claude Mollet (see cancelled Swiss permis on file) and possesses a continuous chain of ownership. The car was totally restored a few years ago by Autoconstruzioni SD, Nichelino (Turin) and boasts the desirable Borrani wire wheels option and a special air conditioning system. There are sundry service invoices on file issued by Ferrari Satzer in Hamburg during the... more
Gallery: 2011 Automobiles d'exception au Grand Palais by Bonhams

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 15729 - sold for $324,500 Original US Delivery Daytona with Air-Conditioning. Just Under 9,200 Documented Miles from New.Previous FCA Platinum Award Winner. Recent Cosmetic Restoration Work. Authentic Example with Tremendous Integrity. Complete with Optional Borrani Wire Wheels and Factory Books. * Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini
Gallery: 2011 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 5-Speed - sold for $265,000 nrestored with one repaint. 26,393 actual miles. Rosso Barchetta with Saddle leather interior. Tool kit and jack bag. Ferrari assembly and repair manuals. 365 GTB/4 service handbook. 365 GTB/4 parts catalog. Ferrari owners survival manual. 2006 Tom Tjaarda Award.
Gallery: 2011 Mecum Indy Spring Classic

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - sold for $393,250 Extraordinary Time-Warp Example. Delivered New to Harrah’s MCM in Reno. Spectacular Original Color Combination. One-Owner Car for Almost 30 Years. Just Over 9,300 Miles from New. FCA Platinum Award Winner. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini.
Gallery: 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta - did not sell for $270,000 The Daytona we have the pleasure of offering here, chassis 14343, was sold new to Signor Benedetti in Italy with an assembly sequence no. 518 and as body no. 521. It was later exported to the USA, into the ownership of Durrell Corry of Villa Park, California. In 1986 FCA member Larry H. Miller of Woodland Hills was the proud owner. According to advertisements in 1989/1990, the car had evidently benefited from a complete restoration and was “as... more
Gallery: 2011 Monterey Auction by RM

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Barn Find with 9,752 miles - did not sell for $325,000 At 9,700 miles, this 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupe is the most “experienced” of the three barn-find Italian exotics, and yet it too needed very little to make it roadworthy after over thirty years in storage. The Daytona’s legendary 4.4 liter 4-cam V-12 engine is as tight as new, needing little more than replacement of the vital fluids and an overhaul of its 6 Weber twin-choke carburetors; even the engine drive belts are original and as... more
Gallery: 2011 Monterey Daytime Auction by Mecum

1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupé 12943 - sold for €274,013 The Ferrari Daytona from the Bajol Collection sold new in Italy in 1969. It is a first series car, and one of the first examples produced commercially, with aluminium doors and short axle. It was originally presented in metallic " azzuro ", with black leather interior. The car left Italy for the US, selling to Jerry Moore from Texas, and was displayed in his personal museum. He had the engine overhauled by Ferrari in Houston during the 1980s, ... more
Gallery: 2012 Artcurial Motorcars à Rétromobile

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 16447 - sold for $330,000 2010 Repaint in Original Livery. Low-Mileage Example. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Legendary Pininfarina Design. Exquisite Scaglietti Craftsmanship. Offered with Manuals and Tool Kit.
Gallery: The Amelia Island Auction 2012 by Gooding & Company

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - sold for $324,500 The Last of the Classic Front-Engine V-12 Berlinettas. Original US Specification Car with Factory Air-Conditioning. Striking Period Color Combination. Recent Cosmetic Attention Including a Complete Detailing by Canepa Design. Ideal Entrant For Tours, Concours and Marque Gatherings. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini.
Gallery: 2012 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 15117 - sold for $396,000 Fully-documented history and photographic record of restoration. Engine-out major service; rebuilt transaxle, brakes, and suspension. New Fly Yellow paint, tan leather interior, air-conditioner, and power windows. One of 1,273 Daytona berlinettas built by Scaglietti from 1968–1973.
Gallery: Monterey 2012 by RM Auctions

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 16339 - sold for $363,000 Rare Type A chassis; left-hand drive. The world’s fastest production car upon introduction. Today, this Daytona presents especially well, having been lovingly cared for by the current steward. It retains the black on black colors with grey carpets, and stylish Borrani wheels wrapped in Pirelli P4000 tires grace all four corners. The books, tools, and jack equipment have been retained. Ferrari expert mechanic Patrick Ottis, as well as the owner... more
Gallery: Monterey 2012 by RM Auctions

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 14453 - sold for $423,500 The Last of the Classic Front-Engine V-12 Berlinettas. Original US-Specifications with Factory Air-Conditioning Matching-Numbers Example. People’s Choice at the 2003 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Offered with Tool Roll and Owners Handbooks. Perfect for Open-Road Driving Events and Concours. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini.
Gallery: The 2013 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 15105 - did not sell for $360,000 Euro-spec Daytona. One of 1,273 Daytona Berlinettas built by Scaglietti from 1968–1973. Wonderfully drivable with a fascinating transatlantic history. Full service history since 1992 and the EPA/DOT releases from the original importer. Numbers-matching with recent cosmetic and mechanical attention.
Gallery: 2013 Amelia Island by Rm Auctions

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta 16415 - sold for €380,800 Ferrari Classiche certified. Matching-numbers example. Factory air conditioning. Long-term original ownership by renowned French racer and Ferrari importer Charles Pozzi.
Gallery: 2013 Villa d'Erba Auction by RM

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