Ferrari Daytona

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Daytona at Wheels Of Italy

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

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.

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Ferrari Daytona Spider

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".

Model variations

365 GTS/4

The generally accepted total number from the Ferrari club historians is 1,284 over the life of the model. That includes 122 Spyders, of which 7 were right hand drive, that were converted from the Coupe to the Spyder for the factory by Scaglietti - the Daytona body builder, and 15 competition cars in three series with modified lightweight bodies in various degrees of engine tune. I am in posession of a telex from the Ferrari factory listing the individual Spyder chassis numbers. A good reference book 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 Spyder. In hope for higher value and prospective sale revenue or even due to the fact that not too many factory spyders were ever built, some Berlinettas were turned into convertibles. They are usually distinguishable from a factory-made GTS 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 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 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 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.

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona

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1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Competition Source

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