Saturday, May 4, 2013

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 / GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (1971-73)

Supposedly in recognition of the Ferrari 1-2-3 victory in the Daytona 24-Hour Race in 1967, the 365 GTB4 berlinetta, replacement for the out going 275 GTB4 model, became unofficially known as the “Daytona”. 

The "Daytona" was a Gran Turismo car powered by a front mounted Colombo 4.4 L (4,390 cc, 267.9 cid) DOHC V12 engines. Rear wheel drive. It produced 357 PS (263 kW; 352 hp) and could reach 280 km/h (174 mph). 0-60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration was just 5.4 seconds. 

The 365 GTB4 was even more aggressive in appearance than its predecessor, with the long, wide, and sharp, almost shark-like sweeping nose, with a large expanse of bonnet with twin rectangular exhaust air slots, running into the set-back cabin section, that flowed straight into the abrupt angled Kamm tail, on which were mounted a pair of twin circular light units above each quarter bumper. The body was designed by Pininfarina, and constructed by Scaglietti, normally in steel with aluminium doors, bonnet, and boot lid. Later in the production run the doors were changed to steel, and bracing struts provided within them for USA market examples, due to changes in legislative requirements.

Almost a year after its introduction a spyder (convertible) version, the 365 GTS/4, or 365 GTB/4 Spyder, was announced at the 1969 Frankfurt Show, which was visually identical from the waist down, only the folding roof and boot profile being different. Both variants of the model were produced up until 1973 with 1284 berlinettas and only 122 spyders produced.

A factory Spyder version cost considerably more than a Berlinetta (coupe) version. As a result, many Berlinettas were turned into convertibles in hope of fetching higher prospective resale revenue. A original factory built Spyder in good condition can fetch over $1M in auctions. (auto.ferrari.com & wikipedia)



































































(photos from forumducavallino.nuxit.net, autpwp.ru, omniauto.it & boldride.com)