To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Fort Lauderdale event, 29
- 30 March 2019.
Estimate:
$600,000 - $640,000
- 4.4-liter V-12 engine; five-speed manual transmission
- Sold new through Harrah's Modern Classic Motors in Reno,
Nevada
- One of 1,284 Berlinettas built from 1968-1973
- Accompanied by Massini Report
The 365 GTB/4 that debuted at the Paris Motor Show in the fall of
1968 marked a great departure from the 275 GTB that preceded it.
Its hidden headlights, truncated tail without a spoiler, and
five-spoke alloy wheels brought the brand into the modern era to
compete against Lamborghini's dramatic Miura.
With its long hood and hidden headlights covered initially by
Perspex and later reworked as retractable units to satisfy U.S.
federal requirements, the GTB/4 became the quintessential Italian
long-distance grand-touring car design. Underneath, it utilized a
welded tubular steel frame, an independent suspension, and a new
version of the V-12 complete with four chain-driven camshafts and
six downdraft Weber carburetors. At 352 hp, the 365 GTB/4 boasted
two more horses than the Miura, a point hardly lost on engineers in
Sant'Agata.
The motoring press dubbed the supercar Daytona, a nickname that
stuck with engineers and designers but not marketers in Maranello;
Ferrari rarely refers to the car as anything other than the 365
GTB/4. The Scaglietti-bodied 365 GTB/4 Daytona went into production
in 1969 and spawned a convertible Spider the next year at the
Frankfurt salon.
Journalist Ken Bachelor said at the time that its "excellent
horsepower and torque give the Daytona performance to match its
looks." Contemporary Road & Track testing found a 0-60-mph sprint
of just 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. The Daytona
excelled at long-distance, high-speed traveling thanks to its plush
interior, but this archetypal supercar was just as at home on a
race track. Lightweight versions finished 5th and 9th overall at Le
Mans in 1972.
Chassis 15419, completed on 27 July 1972, left the factory finished
in Rosso Chiaro over Nero. A U.S.-delivery example, the car was
completed in left-hand drive and featured power windows and
instrumentation in kilometers. It was delivered to Harrah's Modern
Classic Motors in Reno, Nevada. Sold new to its first owner from
Los Angeles. In 1978, Arthur Rice purchased the car and owned it
through the mid-1980s. Gerald Schwallbach of Minnesota purchased
the car in 1985, owning it until 2016. It was subsequently
purchased by the current owner, who is proud to offer it today.
Some five decades after it was built, this Daytona is presented in
excellent condition, an ideal example for high-speed driving,
touring, or other enjoyment on the open road. It has been recently
serviced by Ferrari technicians, invoices included, and offers the
ultra-smooth performance and crisp shifting for which Ferrari is
known. Currently equipped with power steering upgrade and
four-wheel disc brakes, the car offers roadholding and stopping
performance truly befitting of a car with such a legendary racing
heritage.
Sure to turn heads anywhere it goes, this GTB/4 provides a driving
experience unlike anything else on the road. It is truly a must-own
for any committed sports car aficionado.To view this car and others
currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/fl19.
