See also Ferrari 365 for the round-bodied 365 California, GT 2+2, GTC and GTS

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4, better known by the unofficial name Ferrari Daytona, is a Gran Turismo automobile produced from 1968 to 1973. It was first introduced to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968 and replaced the 275 GTB/4 but, although it was also a Pininfarina design (by Leonardo Fioravanti), the Daytona was radically different. Its sharp-edged styling resembled a Lamborghini more than a traditional Pininfarina Ferrari. The Daytona name commemorates Ferrari's triple success in the February 1967 24 Hours of Daytona with the 330P4. While it was initially used as a pre-production internal denomination, Ferrari still insists that this was never the model's official name and should not be applied to it.

Unlike Lamborghini's new Miura, the Daytona was a traditional front-engined, rear-drive car. Customers were disappointed that Ferrari stuck with this layout unlike with the race cars, and the Daytona was replaced by the mid-engined 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer in 1973.

Vehicle specifications

The engine, known as a Tipo 251 and developed from the earlier Lampredi V12 used in the 275 GTB/4, was a 4.4 L (4390 cc, 267.9 cid) DOHC V12 with a 60° bank angle, 365 cc per cylinder, bore and stroke, featuring six Weber twin carburettors (40 mm Solex twin carburettors were used alternatively). At a compression ratio of 9.3:1, it produced and could reach . 0- acceleration was just 5.4 seconds.For the American version, slight modifications were made - the compression ratio was reduced to 8.8:1 and the exhaust system was equipped with a large central silencer, necessitating visible alterations to the primary pipes.

The 5-speed manual transmission (transaxle concept) was mounted in the rear for optimal weight distribution, and a 4-wheel independent suspension featured wishbones and coil springs.

Early Daytonas featured fixed headlights behind an acrylic glass cover. This particular setup was completely abandoned in favor of pop-up twin headlights when lobbying efforts by the Center for Auto Safety led to a variety of new safety regulations for U.S. road traffic in 1970, one of which concerned minimum ride height.

Model variations

365 GTB/4 and GTS/4

The generally accepted total number of Daytonas from the Ferrari club historians is 1,406 over the life of the model. This figure includes 158 right-hand-drive coupes, 122 factory-made Spiders (of which 7 are right hand drive) converted by Scaglietti — the Daytona body builder — from the Coupe to the Spider for the factory and 15 competition cars in three series with modified lightweight bodies and in various degrees of engine tune. A reference book discussing this is titled The Ferrari 365GTB/4 DAYTONA by Pat Braden and Gerald Roush, and published by Osprey in 1982.

Historically, and especially since the mid-80s and early 90s, there has mostly been a considerable market price difference between a real Berlinetta and a real Spider. In hope for higher value and prospective sale revenue — or even due to the fact that not too many factory Spiders were ever built — many Berlinettas were turned into convertibles. They are usually distinguishable from a factory-made GTS/4 by a more slanted windshield.

365 GTC/4

Although not generally recognized as a true "Daytona", the 1971 365 GTC/4 used the same chassis. Its coupe bodywork by Pininfarina enclosed four seats, making it a successor to the 2+2 330 GT and 365 GT. However, the rear seats are small and the rear window slanted, so it can also be seen as the successor to the 2-seat 365 GTC. 500 GTC/4s were produced in two years.

The GTC/4 rode on the same wheelbase and suspension as the Daytona, though the engine was down in power a bit to 340 bhp DIN (250 kW), as well as it having an engine-mounted gearbox instead of the axle-mounted (transaxle) gearbox in the Daytona.

This car was seen in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo. It was painted a very dark shade of green with a black numeral 70 against an off-white square background.

365 GT4 2+2

In 1972, just a year after the debut of the GTC/4, a new 2+2 debuted in Paris. The 365 GT4 2+2 featured all-new bodywork with just a resemblance to the Daytona. Its angular look would go on to be used by many 1980s Ferraris, especially the Mondial. The wheelbase was longer at , but most of the mechanicals, including the engine, were carried over. The GT4 was replaced in 1976 by the new, almost identical looking 400 Automatic.

Model history

Achievements and notoriety

In 1971, the Daytona gained notoriety when a Sunoco Blue example was driven by racing legend Dan Gurney and former Car and Driver editor Brock Yates from New York to L.A. in 35 hours 54 minutes ( ) at an average speed of to win the inaugural Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. The two claim to have driven the car to on the back roads of Arizona.

This 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4, serial number 14271, belonged to exotic car dealer Kirk F. White, who loaned it to Yates and Gurney for the race. White afterwards offered to sell the car to Gurney at a bargain price of $15,000, but Gurney regrettably could not afford it at the time. It is currently a prized vintage piece in the collection of Bruce McCaw, restored to its historic racing livery: midnight blue with yellow pin striping.

It was also dedicated in song metaphorically by Chris Rea, titled Daytona for his 1989 album, The Road to Hell. One example of this reference is "twelve wild horses in silver chains", a reference to the V12 engine, other references includes "She ain't easy, so you take good care or she will scream down your lust", referring to its handling prowess.

In 2004, the Daytona was voted top sports car of the 1970s by Sports Car International magazine. Similarly, Motor Trend Classic named the 365 GTB/4 and GTS/4 as number two in their list of the ten "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

Replicas and legal issues

In the 1980s the car gained new notoriety on the first two seasons of NBC's hit television series Miami Vice. The black car used in the series was a replica built on a Corvette chassis. Ferrari execs were not pleased that their company and one of their products was represented on TV by an imitation car. The Daytona replica was eventually destroyed on-screen and replaced with a Ferrari Testarossa, the company's newest model during the time. Recently, ebaymotors.com has made efforts to delete auctions in which Ferrari Daytona replicas were advertised as being just that.

References

• 365gtc4.com