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Friday, June 29, 2012

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe

The ultimate expression of Ferrari's fabulous line of V12 front-engined sports cars, the 365 GTB/4 gained the unofficial name "Daytona" in honor of the 1-2-3 finish by the Ferrari 330 P4 at that circuit in 1967. The influential shark-nosed styling was by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, the famed carrozzeria's director of research and development, who later revealed that the Daytona was his favorite among the many Ferraris he designed. Although the prototype had been styled and built by Pininfarina in Turin, manufacture of the production version was entrusted to Ferrari's subsidiary Scaglietti, in Modena. 



The Daytona's all-alloy, four-cam, V12 engine displaced 4,390 cc and produced its maximum output of 352 hp at 7,500 rpm, with 318 ft-lb of torque available at 5,500 rpm. Dry-sump lubrication enabled it to be installed low in the chassis, while shifting the gearbox to the rear in the form of a 5-speed transaxle meant 50/50 weight distribution could be achieved. The all-independent wishbone and coil-spring suspension was a recent development, having originated in the preceding 275 GTB. The four-wheel ventilated disc brakes were servo assisted. Air conditioning was optional, but elsewhere the Daytona remained uncompromisingly focused on delivering nothing less than superlative high performance. 



With a top speed in excess of 170 mph, the Daytona was the world's fastest production car in its day, and surely is destined to occupy the front rank of high-performance sports cars for the foreseeable future. A mere 1,301 Berlinetta models and 123 Spyder convertibles had been made when Daytona production ceased in 1973.

Right-hand-drive chassis number 15055 has had only five former keepers, the first of whom is understood to have been the Chairman of P&O, and it has covered only 49,331 miles from new. 15055 has been maintained by marque specialists Italia Autosport in Metham, West Yorkshire, since acquisition and comes with full service history from 1995 onwards, plus a substantial quantity of preceding bills, all of which are contained within a most substantial history file.

Finished in Sera Blue with matching leather interior, the 1972 365 Daytona Coupe has the desirable options of nine-inch rear wheels (shod with new Michelin XWX tires), headrests, air conditioning, and opening quarter lights. 15055 is presented in excellent condition and offered with its original dealer card, warranty card, owner's wallet, instruction manual, tool kit, and car cover. There can be few better examples of this iconic Ferrari currently available.