To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$400,000 - $450,000
- Single ownership for the past seventeen years
- High-quality spider conversion by Michael Sheehan's European
Auto
- Factory Borletti air-conditioning and radio
- Retains its matching-numbers engine and gearbox
- Showing only 20,375 miles at time of cataloguing
- A favorite of the Elkhart Collection to drive and enjoy
Without a doubt, the 365 GTS/4 spider holds a unique cachet among
Ferrari's vintage front-engined V-12 convertibles, combining rarity
and beautiful design with an important perch in the manufacturer's
genealogy.
Ferrari announced the 365 GTB/4 berlinetta in 1968, introducing
Leonardo Fioravanti's famed shark-nose design in a stopgap effort
while the forthcoming rear-engined flat-12 remained a work in
progress. That the model was nicknamed "Daytona" in honor of the
company's dominating 1-2-3 finish at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona
has become a point of legend, even if the name was not officially
sanctioned by Enzo Ferrari.
The Daytona, the marque's first 4.3-liter dual-overhead-cam road
car, took on a particularly handsome visage when the top was
removed. The striking GTS/4 spider was introduced at the 1969
Frankfurt Salon. Endowed with a purity of line and stance, the new
spider's collectability was instantly assured when only 121
examples were produced. As the final front-engined open Ferrari to
feature a derivation of Gioacchino Colombo's classic short-block
V-12, the Daytona spider was the ultimate evolution of 20 years of
development, the final hereditary successor of a generation of
vintage Ferraris.
This Daytona, chassis number 14849, was originally delivered by
Carl A. Haas Automobile Imports of Highland Park, Illinois, in the
spring of 1972. It is believed to have been originally finished in
Grigio Argento over Nero VM 8500 leather interior, with factory
air-conditioning and a radio. In 1986 its original owner sent the
car to Michael Sheehan's European Auto of Costa Mesa, California,
where it was converted to a spider. It was a very professional and
competently executed job, one of the best of the many performed on
Daytonas in this period. At this time, the car was also finished in
a champagne color and fitted with a tan interior.
The car next passed in 1988 to Howard W. Diechen of San Antonio,
Texas, from whom it was offered by European Auto in 1994, now with
17,200 miles. It was sold that May to Don Coggiola of Columbia,
South Carolina, and following a reported "engine out" major service
in 1996, the car was refinished in the current shade of Rosso Corsa
in 2001. The Ferrari was acquired by the current collection in
2002-where it has been well maintained and regularly driven for the
last 18 years.
The spider remains in fine driver-quality condition throughout,
with its refinish in classic Rosso Corsa remaining quite
presentable. The tan leather interior is believed to be that
installed at the time of the spider conversion and is nicely broken
in and delightfully comfortable, though the "mouse hair" dashboard
shows some significant fading. Underneath, the car shows the patina
of enjoyable use but not neglect. Both the engine and gearbox
numbers appear to be the original units for this car. Further, the
car retains the original air-conditioning system, though the radio
has been upgraded with an aftermarket unit at some point.
A wonderful and economical alternative to an original 365 GTS/4
spider, this expert conversion, now with 20,375 miles, would be
ideal for driving enjoyment in warmer climes, the kind of locale
for which a beautiful open-top Ferrari was meant!To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.