Ferrari 365 GTS/4 'Daytona' Spider

In 1968, Ferrari saw it fit to replace the four-year-old 275 GTB/4. The 365 the GTB/4 was introduced and Ferrari enthusiasts took it upon themselves to dub it the Daytona in honour of Ferrari's 24 Hours of Daytona win. The nickname was so popular that the GTB/4 became almost more noticeable under its nickname than its given name.
The 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta, that replaced the earlier 275 GTB/4, differed dramatically in styling, though the tubular steel chassis bore many similarities to its predecessor and provided superior balance. Where the curvaceous 275 GTB/4 was clearly a traditional Pininfarina design, the 365 GTB/4 was at once modern, edgy, sleek and forward-looking. Penned by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, who continues to maintain an independent styling studio, Fioravanti Srl., outside of Turin, the 365 GTB/4 features a number of styling cues that continue to influence modern Ferrari design.

The outgoing 275 GTB/4 lent the basic design of its 60-degree V-12 engine to the 365 GTB/4, though it was enlarged from 3.3 to 4.4 litres or 4,390 cc. Power output rose accordingly. The new engine, designated Tipo 251, delivered 352 bhp and 315 foot-pounds of torque at 7,500 rpm through six Weber twin-choke carburettors. A five-speed manual transaxle was, of course, the only available transmission. Ferrari debuted the new model at the October 1968 Paris Salon. A handful of coupes were produced for customers in the 1968 model year. At the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September 1969, Ferrari unveiled a Spyder version of the car.

Unsurprisingly, the seductive drop-top enjoyed critical acclaim that continues unabated today. The Frankfurt prototype show car was the only Spyder to be fitted with Perspex headlamps; all subsequent production models utilised retractable headlamps. Production of the Spyder and Berlinetta continued through 1973 before being replaced with the mid-engine 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer.

There were several models of the GTS/4, including: European-spec RHD (Just 7!), US-spec LHD and European-spec LHD. Only 19 of the 122 Daytona Spyders built were Euro-spec LHD. The US-spec cars featured rather unappealing additional side lights and slightly less power due to the more complicated exhaust system to combat smog laws.

This example is 1 of just 7 RHD examples, all of which were built to the more desirable European-specification. Early correspondence between Maranello Concessionaires and the original owner, Mr Kevin Mcdonald of Doncaster shows the car to be originally supplied in Rosso Chiaro over Nero. Mike Salmon of Maranello Concessionaires even advised against fitting air-conditioning, in light of the Daytona being an open-top car!

First registered in August 1971, the car wore Mr Mcdonald’s personal registration, KMD 1 and would be retained by him until and serviced by Maranello Concessionaires until 1974. In May 1974, the car was offered for sale by renowned dealership, Duncan Hamilton & Co, selling two months later to its second keeper, Mr Robert Danny of Middlesex.
Early ownership is documented by a scan of the Buff logbook.

The car changed hands two more times subsequently before purchase by Anthony Bamford (now Lord Bamford), prolific car collector and managing director of JCB Excavators. At the time of his purchase, he had been in charge of the company for four years and was just 34 years old.
During Bamford’s ownership, he commissioned GrayPaul Motors to manufacture a fitted hardtop, to fit the Daytona’s existing mounting points. This project was carried out to considerable expense. From the invoice in the history file, we can see that by this time in 1981, the interior had been retrimmed to a Crema Connolly hide as the hardtop was completed to match.

From our research, it appears the car travelled to the USA in the late 1980s. It was offered for sale with famed Ferrari dealership Ron Spangler of Bel Air in a printed advert, without a photo in 1987. It is likely the car was not declared exported when it spent time in the USA as the DVLA records suggest the car remained in the care of Bamford until 1989.

This Daytona Spider has been in the care of the current owner, a notable car collector, for just shy of 32 years and has been used extremely sparingly since. As such, since 2011 the car has covered fewer than a thousand miles.

Today the car is on-site with us at DK Engineering, afford an exceedingly rare opportunity to acquire one of the rarest right-hand drive Ferrari drop-tops. Presented today with its original tool case, book pack including exceedingly rare chassis-numbered warranty card, history folio and Ferrari Red Book Classiche Certification.