Nicknamed the ‘Daytona’ in deference to Ferrari’s success at the famed 24-hour race at the Floridian circuit with the 330 P3/4, the 365 GTB/4 would prove to be both a beginning and an end for the famed marque. Whilst the body was clothed in an extraordinary design by Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina, the 365 GTB/4 would prove to be the last of a line of two seat front-engined V-12 Ferraris with a lineage going back to the beginning of the company.
Fioravanti’s design was a remarkable departure from soft undulating lines of earlier Ferraris. Whilst producing something to counter Lamborghini’s futuristic Miura, the 365 GTB/4’s design tread the fine line between staying true to Ferrari’s design ethos and breaking convention with something truly original. Today, the Pininfarina body is unmistakeably Ferrari and belies its true age of 55 years.
Despite looking quite unlike its predecessor, the 365 GTB/4 was directly developed from the 275 GTB/4. Two prototypes left the factory showing the evolution between the two models but underneath the skin was a similar chassis. Despite the engine increasing in capacity by over a litre, the quad-cam timing, six twin-choke Weber carburettors and dry-sump lubrication remained, all features derived from Ferrari’s dominant success at the race circuit. The 275’s outstanding weight distribution remained with the continued use of the transaxle.
When the 365 GTB/4 was launched it was one of the most powerful cars ever produced, designed to easily cross continents at outrageous speeds. This was typified by Dan Gurney and Brock Yates claiming the first Cannonball Run victory in a 365 GTB/4, charging from New York City to Los Angeles in just under 36 hours. Away from illegal road racing, the 365 GTB/4 was developed by Ferrari for Group IV GT racing. Results were tremendous, as the race-prepared berlinettas captured 4th overall at the 1971 Tour de France, 5th overall and 1st in class at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1st and 2nd overall in the 1972 Tour de France, two further class wins at Le Mans in 1973 and 1974, and at the 24 Hours of Daytona a 2nd overall and class win in the 1973 running and a further class win there in 1975. So potent was the Daytona Competizione that one even achieved 2nd overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979, over a decade after the model was introduced. This extraordinary race record secured the 365 GTB/4’s reputation amongst the greatest GT competition cars ever to compete on track, reminding the motorsport world of Ferrari’s dominance in endurance racing with the 250 SWB, 250 GTO, and 250 LM.
This 365 GTB/4, chassis number 16331, is one of only 158 Daytonas produced in RHD. Delivered in February 1973 the car was originally ordered by Mr. Heryet through Maranello Concessionaires but he cancelled his order, so the Daytona went to its first owner the Honorable John Dawnay, known by his title as Viscount Downe. Dawnay was a fascinating character who entered cars like Aston Martin DP214, Nimrod, a Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 into major sportscar races. This 365 GTB/4 was ordered in the stunning colour combination of Argento Auteuil over a Nuvola leather interior, with several desirable options including Cromodora wheels, a bumper bar and air conditioning.
Shortly after registering the car, Dawnay sold this Daytona through Maranello Concessionairs to Sir Raymond Johnstone CBE, a well-known Scottish businessman. Johnstone kept his Daytona until 1980 when it passed into the hands of another well-known car enthusiast, David Lomas. During Lomas’ ownership, this Daytona shared garage space with a 250 SWB, 275 GTB/4, a Jaguar C-type and D-type, and an Aston Martin DB4GT. Such was Lomas’ care for this Daytona that he kept a logbook of every journey, mileage and notes. Along with the logbook is a significant amount of invoices from workshops such as Graypaul and DK Engineering, whilst the outstanding bare metal respray by RS Panels carried out in 1993 is fully documented as well. Lomas passed away in 1998 and his last note in the logbook clearly shows how much he enjoyed this Ferrari, ‘Back at Moss Cottage, car perfect.’.
This Daytona formed part of a private collection until 2007 and it only covered 900 miles during this ownership. Between 2007 and 2010 it was owned by Gareth Richardson before passing to Ian Tandy and then Chris Evans before moving into the ownership of Neil Ewin. Between 2011 and 2017 it was maintained by Italia Autosport of West Yorkshire, with prior invoices from SMDG Performance Cars and DK Engineering.
Since 2017, this 365 GTB/4 has been part of a significant collection and is offered with its original books and pouch, along with an original jack roll. This Ferrari would be attractive enough simply for its stunning colour combination, but further to this it is accompanied by a remarkable history file, detailing its excellent provenance from new. Presenting as a fully matching-numbers example, this outstanding RHD 365 GTB/4 Daytona with a genuine 66,449 miles on its odometer at the time of cataloguing, this would make a wonderful addition to any collection.
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