1970 FERRARI DAYTONA

This two owner car has been under single ownership since 1977 and has covered just 57,160 miles. Its history, specialist restoration (1989/90) and surviving original documentation give substance to the considerable attraction of the car itself.

Unveiled at the Paris Salon in 1968, the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 succeeded the celebrated 275 GTB/4 at the head of Ferrari’s sporting road-car range. Its unofficial ‘Daytona’ name commemorated Ferrari’s emphatic first, second and third places at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours and has endured, becoming inseparable from a car that would define the high-performance grand tourer for a generation.

Designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, the Daytona represented a considerable advance in styling for Ferrari. The long bonnet, low roof and cut-off tail gave it a tougher, more purposeful appearance. Early cars such as this one have fixed headlights behind a Plexiglass cover running across the nose. That clean front end is a large part of their appeal, and these relatively scarce early examples remain sought after.

The engineering was equally serious. A 4.4-litre Colombo V12, four overhead camshafts, dry-sump lubrication and six twin-choke Weber carburettors delivered a quoted 352 hp at 7,500 rpm. Ferrari claimed a top speed of around 174 mph - serious performance in 1968. The five-speed manual gearbox sat at the rear to help balance the weight of the engine, with independent suspension and disc brakes at all four wheels.

Supplied through Maranello Concessionaires, chassis 13595 was first registered on 18 August 1970. Two previous owners are recorded, with the most recent ownership covering almost half a century.

The car was restored during 1989 and 1990. Bob Houghton rebuilt the engine, N. Fulcher retrimmed the interior, and Wymondham Engineering carried out the bodywork. There is also an extensive record of servicing by Ferrari main dealers and independent specialists, documenting the attention it has received over the years.

Today, it is in good cosmetic and mechanical condition. Its original book pack and wallet accompany the car, along with the original green UK logbook. These are useful pieces of its history to have alongside the service records and restoration details.

The Daytona has long been recognised as one of Ferrari’s great V12s, but there could still be another chapter in its collector story. The Pininfarina styling, four-cam engine and place at the end of Ferrari’s original front-engined berlinetta line give it lasting appeal, and the potential for renewed interest to bring stronger values. Early Plexiglass cars have particular appeal here. Add UK right-hand drive, ownership dating back to 1977 and a detailed history, and this example has good reasons to be on a collector’s shortlist.