Fantasy Junction

Description

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
s/n 14203, eng. no. B996
Giallo Dino with Nero (Black) Leather

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 arrived at the 1968 Paris Auto Salon, exciting automotive press and enthusiasts alike. The striking body design coupled with a significant leap in performance were bold statements that Ferrari was intent on building a contemporary sports car to enter the coming decade. Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina created a chiseled and modern body with crisp defining lines and sweeping elegance, while the technical specification was equally exciting. The near perfect proportions of the Daytona defined the end of the front-engined V12 Ferraris for more than 20 years and have secured it a place as a blue chip classic Ferrari revered by enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Beautifully appointed and expensive when new, the “Daytona”, as it ultimately became known, in honor of the famed 1-2-3 1967 24 Hours of Daytona Ferrari finish, would become an iconic fixture of Hollywood movies and TV shows. Outfitted with the 4.4 Liter Colombo, quad-cam V-12, and breathing through six dual-throat Weber carburetors, the Daytona delivered a whopping 352 hp in stock trim with a top speed just over 170 mph. V12 motoring had never before been so advanced and exciting, offering fantastic performance and touring capability in a remarkably beautiful package. With a mere 1,400 produced until 1973, these venerable traits are still admired by enthusiasts seeking the finest and most original examples for their collections.

According to a 2016 Marcel Massini report prepared for this car, this Daytona was fitted with factory air conditioning, completed on March 25, 1971, and delivered to George Wooley’s Ferrari, Toronto, Canada. In 1972, it was listed in the Ferrari Club of America magazine “Prancing Horse” issue #36 as owned by Eric Lager, a resident of Oak Brook, IL. By 1976 the car is reported to be owned by Donald Blenderman of Enid, OK who serviced the car with parts ordered from FAF Motorcars (an official Ferrari dealership) in Tucker, GA. By November 1977, Blenderman advertised the car for sale in the Ferrari Market Letter, describing it as yellow with black interior with 27,000 miles. A year later on November 12, 1978, the car was advertised for sale in the LA Times by Ferrari of San Diego showing 29,272 miles. John Krosnoff, a resident of Flintridge, CA is reported to have owned the car from 1980-1982.

For several decades, this Daytona remained in California before being purchased by a well-known dealer who sold it to a private collector located in New Jersey. The new owners commissioned a high quality respray in the original Giallo Dino, including silver accents on the nose and headlamp covers, a feature unique to early US Daytonas as a way to establish visual continuity with the European Plexiglas nose Daytonas, which were not allowed to be sold in the US due to regulations forbidding headlight covers. In preparation for the 2015 Copperstate 1000, this Daytona was carefully serviced including rebuilding all four Koni shocks, fitting new suspension bushings, CV joints, new brake rotors and calipers, and a new master cylinder. Further work at this time included tuning the carburetors, converting the distributors to modern internal components (while maintaining the original Dinoplex housings), new coils, fuel filters, and new spark plugs. During the service, a new clutch, pressure plate, and throw-out bearing were installed. In 2017, the car was serviced, detailed, and carefully checked including a documented video of dyno testing. A new set of Michelin XWX tires were installed, and a complete mechanical inspection was performed with a compression psi/leak-down test showing the following results:

• Cylinder 1: 150 psi / 5%
• Cylinder 2: 150 psi / 5%
• Cylinder 3: 150 psi / 4%
• Cylinder 4: 155 psi / 4%
• Cylinder 5: 150 psi / 4%
• Cylinder 6: 160 psi / 7%
• Cylinder 7: 160 psi / 10%
• Cylinder 8: 160 psi / 5%
• Cylinder 9: 160 psi / 6%
• Cylinder 10: 155 psi / 6%
• Cylinder 11: 155 psi / 6%
• Cylinder 12: 150 psi / 5%

Recognized as one of only 12 Giallo Dino examples delivered new from the factory, this astonishing Daytona retains the original engine and all the original factory body panels, which display their original stamps (453) as well as all original Sekurit glass. Currently the odometer shows 53,230 miles, which is appears consistent with the reported ownership history and condition of the unrestored aspects of the car.

Today, this beautiful Daytona presents in spectacular condition, still reflecting low miles and careful preservation with attention to originality. The paint retains a very high quality gloss and the overall finish is reflective of high quality workmanship with excellent luster throughout all surfaces. The body is straight and displays good panel fit, with few blemishes to speak of: the occasional chip and a small area of superficial bubbling in the splash area just aft of the right rear wheel. All exterior trim, emblems and details are beautifully finished, showing excellent detailing including the panel creases, doorjambs, and inner surfaces. Chrome and polished metals are gleaming and show little evidence of use. All openings function as designed with tight closures and excellent fit. All four stunning Borrani wire wheels show their original stampings. Correct Michelin XWX 215/70 VR15 tires are in excellent condition.

The interior is simply gorgeous with excellent black leather components contrasting against the various delightful bits of trim and delicate features. The properly trimmed Daytona seats retain their original factory inserts supported by nicely padded perimeter bolsters that were well-matched when reupholstered. The dashboard is clean and taut with excellent condition mousehair material accented by stunning instruments, aluminum trim, and smoothly operating switches all of which function as expected. Even the factory air conditioning, recently serviced and recharged with R134a, blows frigid cold when activated. The black leather console and door panels are taut, showing excellent fit, crisp corners, and original factory stitching. The steering wheel appears never to have been restored and displays some cracking to the leather rim but excellent spokes and hub. The traditional Italian gray carpeting is in very good condition. One would be hard pressed to find a more breathtaking interior display combining original interior features with sympathetic restoration.

The engine bay and engine are exceptionally correct in presentation and are very nicely detailed. Correct features include the often-missing smog pump, correct hood struts, and Dinoplex ignition housings, which contain modern internals. Finishes throughout the engine compartment are both correctly applied and have been properly cared for over the years as the car has been serviced and detailed. There are mild indications of use on the engine surfaces and various lines but nothing more than general toning and patina. Even the traditional Ferrari black crinkled quad-cam engine finish has been faithfully presented. The hood insulation pad, proper engine compartment plaques, factory hardware, and hallmark V12 designations are all beautifully presented and correct. The trunk compartment is finished off with correct black carpet, excellent edge beading, and proper fit. Under the spare tire cover, the spare Ferrari “star mag” Cromodora rim is also shod with a correct XWX tire. A tool set, jack, and knock off hammer complete the trunk compartment.

The underside of the car shows excellent detail and tidy finishes with focus on authenticity and cleanliness. Correct exhaust and heat shields, proper raw aluminum castings, proper lines and finishes, and orange Koni shock absorbers complete the appearance. The chassis is in excellent condition with no evidence of structural damage or compromise to main components, rocker panels, or suspension.

The engine starts easily, and has great throttle response and carburetion, and settles into a wonderful deep and throaty idle. Engaging the first of 5 speeds, the car moves away smoothly with an easily modulated clutch and comfortable low speed steering, aided by a concealed EZ electric power steering unit. This magical unit electronically senses low speed steering needs and shuts off at above 25 mph, and beautifully addresses what is easily the biggest dynamic shortcoming of the Daytona. A manual shutoff is also part of the system. The car’s performance is smooth and engaging with excellent gearbox and clutch action, benefiting from the recently installed clutch and pressure plate. The dogleg 5-speed is smooth and easy to use with comfortable action through the gated selector and good synchromesh on all gears, including second from cold. Brakes are very good as well, with good bite, firm pedal, and effective operation. Handling is one of the feature points of the Daytona series particularly at higher speeds where the car reveals its true GT intentions, consuming miles of highway at brilliant speeds, enveloping occupants with confidence and a sense of occasion.

Finished beautifully in stunning factory colors and sitting on Borrani wire wheels, this numbers matching Daytona comes with the Massini report and is an exceptionally fine example in terms of originality, presentation, and operation. Discreetly upgraded to enhance its usability, this car is a pleasure to drive, delivering the inimitable vintage Ferrari experience in one of the highest performing packages possible. This beautiful Daytona is truly a refined and beautifully resolved example of Ferrari engineering and Pininfarina design excellence, ready for shows, touring, and events or simply to enjoy as the magnificent road car it was originally intended to be.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608