THE 365 GTB/4 Daytona , released in 1969, was Ferrari's answer to the radical Lamborghini Miura (transverse engine in central rear position). It stood out for its design, quite daring for what was customary at Ferrari, with Leonardo Fioravanti, from Pininfarina, being the author of its lines.
However, if its lines were a shock at the time, or a breath of fresh air, depending on your point of view, underneath the bold skin, it was the “typical” Ferrari, a high-performance GT with front engine and rear-wheel drive. .
It took the place of the 275 GTB/4, taking the top of the hierarchy in the Ferrari range, and quickly became one of the most memorable and desired Ferraris ever — that's still the case today.
Underneath its long hood is a naturally aspirated 4.4 l V12 with 352 hp. The five-speed manual gearbox is mounted at the rear for superior mass distribution. The weight is around 1600 kg, and is capable of reaching 100 km/h in 5.7s, with the top speed fixed at 280 km/h, making it one of the fastest cars in the world… at the time.
the decoded name
As was common in Ferraris of the time, the three digits 365 referred to the engine's single displacement, and the digit 4 was the camshaft number of its V12. GTB is the acronym for Gran Turismo Berlinetta. Daytona, the name by which it is best known, was, interestingly, not part of the official name. It was dubbed that way, by the media, in allusion to Ferrari's victory in the 1967 24 hours of Daytona.
The interaction with celebrities and show business is not limited to the history of this unit, which belonged to Elton John. Miami Vice, the American television crime series of the 80's, had a Daytona as one of the points of attraction, but in its convertible version, the GTS — even today knowing that the series' Daytona was in reality… a Corvette.
Elton John's Daytona
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, which is up for auction through Silverstone Auctions, was listed on August 3, 1972 in the UK, being one of only 158 right-hand drive units.
Elton John became its owner in 1973, being one of the first, if not the first Ferrari he acquired — a relationship with the Maranello builder that would go on and on, having owned, among others, a 365 BB, a Testarossa or 512 TR, all of them with noble 12-cylinder engines.
Elton John's relationship with the 356 GTB/4 Daytona, however, wouldn't be that long — in 1975, this unit would change hands.
This Daytona would later meet several owners, all of them Ferrari Owner's Club members, with one of its last private owners holding it for 16 years. The state of repair is excellent, according to Silverstone Auctions.
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Featured on this unit is the Rosso Chiaro color exterior, and the interior in black VM8500 Connolly Vaumol leather — last coated in 2017 to factory specifications.
The odometer registers 82,000 miles (approx. 132,000 kilometers), has been recently inspected and serviced, the magnesium wheels have been returned to their original condition and shod with Michelin XWX tyres.
This 356 GTB/4 Daytona is no stranger to Silverstone Auctions, which had already auctioned it in 2017. At the time it was bought by a young collector, James Harris, who added it to their collection of other Ferrari models, which included a Dino 246 from 1974 and a Testarrosa from 1991. His death this year is the reason behind the new sale, with the auctioneer doing it on behalf of the family.
The auction will take place on September 21, 2019, at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire. Silverstone Auctions estimates a sale price of between 425 thousand and 475,000 pounds (approx. between 470 thousand and 525 thousand euros).