Chassis No. 15369
Engine No. B 1538
"It might as well be said right now. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is the
best sports car in the world," wrote Road & Track magazine in the
opening line of their October 1970 test of Maranello's latest V12
Berlinetta. Upon its introduction, the 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" set the
benchmark for the segment with its record-breaking
170-mile-per-hour performance - a top speed that would not be
surpassed by another front-engined Ferrari until the 456 of 1992.
Its unrivaled blend of speed, refinement, and beautiful
Pininfarina-designed looks not only solidified it as the best
sports car of the period but granted it an immediate mythical
status as one of the last great Ferraris in a legendary lineage of
V12 Berlinettas.
In September 1969, what would become the final Scaglietti-bodied
Ferrari was unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show as
the 365 GTS/4 - an open Spider version of the 365 GTB/4 finished in
Giallo Fly over Nero leather. Scaglietti's surgery on the original
Berlinetta was exacting, perfectly harmonizing the rest of the
design with the Spider's flat rear deck and sharp rear fenders.
Apart from a neat folding soft top replacing the Berlinetta's
fastback, the exterior remained largely similar to its hard-topped
stable mate with a choice of five-spoke alloys or Borrani wire
wheels. Just 121 production Daytona Spiders were built, with 96 of
them finding their way to the United States where they were known
as 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spiders. The remaining 25 consisted of seven
U.K.-market examples and 18 European-market, left-hand drive cars,
making non-U.S.-delivery Spiders a true rarity.
Completed in May 1972 as a left-hand drive, European-market
example, this is the 48th factory-built Daytona Spider of the
121-car total production. According to the research conducted under
previous ownership, chassis number 15369 was originally finished in
the Spider's launch livery of Giallo Fly (20-Y-191) with Nero (VM
8500) Connolly leather upholstery and equipped with optional
factory-installed air conditioning. The Spider was originally
delivered to Elie Ayache, the authorized Ferrari dealer in Beirut,
Lebanon, and is thought to have originally belonged to a member of
the regional royal family.
In 1978, the car was imported to the United States where it was
owned by Carl Corzan of South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Under Corzan's
ownership, the Spider is known to have been involved in an accident
in 1994. Mike Sheehan's European Auto in Costa Mesa, California,
was responsible for the repairs completed by December 1995,
ensuring an exacting recommissioning to factory specifications. The
quality of the work performed is supported by the car's
accompanying Ferrari Classiche "Red Book," issued in 2016, which
confirms that the chassis and bodywork have been restored to their
original factory specifications.
In the mid-1990s, the Spider spent some time in the United Kingdom
before eventually returning to the United States where it was
acquired by a noted collector of rare Ferraris. Chassis number
15369 subsequently underwent a comprehensive service which is said
to have included rebuilding the ignition, carburetor, brakes, and
suspension, as well as the installation of a new clutch and exhaust
system. The interior was also professionally retrimmed with new
as-delivered Nero hides. Most recently, the freshly serviced
Ferrari entered the current owner's esteemed Southern
California-based collection, where its careful maintenance and
enjoyment have continued. Most recently, in July 2024, the Spider
visited Ferrari Beverly Hills for an annual service which
encompassed changing the fluids and filters and a thorough
inspection, as well as repairing the driver's door lock
assembly.
Authentic Daytona Spiders remain among the most exceptionally rare
and endlessly desirable models in Ferrari's history, with all 121
production examples being closely guarded in private collections
and seldom coming to market. This exceedingly rare European-market
example, recommissioned to factory specifications by marque experts
and retaining its matching-numbers engine as verified by Ferrari
Classiche, is made even rarer still. Furthermore, the Ferrari is
accompanied by many desirable original items such as its tool kit
(including its European-market-only lead mallet), 365 GTB/4 owner's
handbook, and 365 GTB/4 spare parts catalog. Presented in its
stunning original livery, this exceptionally rare Daytona Spider is
ideally suited to extensive top-down touring or presentation at the
world's finest concours.
Internet bidding is not available for this lot. Please contact
[email protected] for more information.
