Description

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was unveiled at the 1968 Paris Motor Show as the successor to the 275 GTB/4 and quickly became one of Ferrari’s most celebrated grand tourers. While its official name did not include “Daytona,” the nickname arose after Ferrari’s 1-2-3 victory at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, and it has remained inseparably linked to the model ever since.

Under the bonnet lay the 4,390 cc Colombo V12, producing around 352 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. Equipped with six Weber carburettors and a five-speed transaxle mounted at the rear for improved weight distribution, the Daytona could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of around 280 km/h, making it one of the fastest production cars of its time. The engine’s smooth yet ferocious power delivery, combined with precise gear changes, made it equally suited to high-speed touring and spirited driving.

Stylistically, the 365 GTB/4 was a departure from the flowing curves of earlier Ferraris. Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti designed a sharper, more aggressive body with a long, pointed nose, a clean side profile, and a Kamm tail. Early cars featured fixed headlights behind acrylic covers, while later models adopted pop-up headlights to meet U.S. regulations. The car’s stance was low and purposeful, with wide wheels filling muscular arches, reflecting its performance credentials.

The chassis used a traditional tubular steel frame with fully independent suspension, ventilated disc brakes on all four corners, and a well-balanced layout that made it stable at high speeds yet responsive through corners. The Daytona was a demanding car to drive at the limit, rewarding skilled drivers with exceptional performance and feedback.

Inside, the cabin combined luxury and sportiness, with leather-trimmed seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a distinctive instrument layout. While more comfortable than Ferrari’s pure racing cars, it remained focused on the driver, with minimal concessions to passenger comfort.

Production of the 365 GTB/4 ran until 1973, with 1,284 Berlinettas built, alongside 122 open-top Daytona Spyders. Today, the Daytona is regarded as one of Ferrari’s all-time greats — a high-performance GT with a commanding presence, breathtaking speed, and timeless design, representing the last of Ferrari’s classic front-engined V12 grand tourers before the mid-engined era took hold.