Ferrari Daytona

Ferrari 365 "Daytona" GTB/4, GTS/4, GTC/4, GT4 2+2
Manufacturer:	Ferrari
Class:	front-engined sports car
Production:	1968 — 1976 1406 produced
Engines:	4.4 L Colombo V12
365 GTB/4
Production:	1968 — 1973
Predecessor:	330 GTC 275 GTB/4
Body styles:	Berlinetta
365 GTS/4
Production:	1971 — 1973
Predecessor:	275 GTS 330 GTS 365 GTS
Body styles:	Spider
365 GTC/4
Production:	1971 — 1972
Predecessor:	365 GTC
Body styles:	2+2 Coupe
365 GT4 2+2
Production:	1972 — 1973
Predecessor:	365 GT 2+2
Successor:	400 Automatic
Body styles:	2+2 Coupe
This article is part of the automobile series.

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

The Ferrari Daytona (correctly named the 365 GTB/4) was a Gran Turismo automobile produced from 1968 to 1973. It replaced the 275GTB/4 but, although it was also a Pininfarina design, the Daytona was radically different. Its sharp-edged styling and covered headlights resembled a Lamborghini more than a traditional Pininfarina Ferrari. The Daytona name was chosen to commemorate Ferrari's success in the 24 Hours of Daytona race.

Unlike Lamborghini's new Miura, the Daytona was a traditional front-engined, rear-drive car. Customers were disappointed that Ferrari stuck with this layout, and the Daytona was replaced by the mid-engined 512 Berlinetta Boxer.

The engine was a 4.4 L (4390 cc) DOHC V12. It produced 352 bhp DIN (259 kW) and could reach 280 km/h (174 mph). 0-60 mph acceleration was just 5.4 seconds.

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

The Daytona gained new notoriety in the 1980s as Detective Sonny Crockett's car in the first years of the TV show Miami Vice. Ironically, the actual car used for filming was a modified Chevrolet Corvette. Ferrari, reportedly miffed that a fake was getting so much attention, supplied two new Testarossas for use in the show. Still, another fake (this time a modified DeTomaso Pantera) was used for stunts.

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".

365 GTS/4

165 convertible Spider models were produced among the 1,426 Daytonas in total. Five of these were lightweight competition models with aluminium bodywork and 450 bhp DIN (331 kW).

Because of the exclusivity of the production run, a number of the more common (relatively speaking) coupes have been converted to spyders in independent shops.

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 GTC and 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 a regular gearbox instead of the rear mounted (transaxle) gearbox in the Daytona.

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 200 mm longer at 2700 mm, but most of the mechanicals, including the engine, were carried over. The GT4 was replaced in 1976 by the new 400 Automatic.

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