1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta

• Delivered new to the UK
• Matching chassis and engine numbers
• Rare right-hand drive example
• Factory air conditioning
• Well documented
• Requires recommissioning

Every Ferrari is, to a greater or lesser extent, a 'landmark' car, but few of Maranello's road models have captured the imagination of Ferraristi like the 365 GTB/4. The ultimate expression of Ferrari's fabulous line of V12 front-engined sports cars, the 365 GTB/4 debuted at the Paris Salon in 1968, soon gaining the unofficial name 'Daytona' in honour of the sweeping 1, 2, 3 finish by the Ferrari 330 P4 at that circuit in 1967. Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, later the famed Carrozzeria's director of research and development, was responsible for the influential shark-nosed styling, creating a package that restated the traditional 'long bonnet, small cabin, short tail' look in a manner suggesting muscular horsepower while retaining all the elegance associated with the Italian coachbuilder's work for Maranello. One of Pininfarina's countless masterpieces, the influential shark-nosed body style featured an unusual full-width transparent panel covering the headlamps, though this was replaced by electrically operated pop-up lights to meet US requirements soon after the start of production in the second half of 1969. Fioravanti later revealed that the Daytona was his favourite among the many Ferraris he designed.

Although the prototype had been styled and built by Pininfarina in Turin, manufacture of the production version was entrusted to Ferrari's subsidiary Scaglietti in Modena. The Daytona's all-alloy, four-cam, V12 engine displaced 4,390cc and produced its maximum output of 352bhp at 7,500rpm, with 318lb/ft of torque available at 5,500 revs. Dry-sump lubrication enabled it to be installed low in the oval-tube chassis, while shifting the gearbox to the rear in the form of a five-speed transaxle meant 50/50 weight distribution could be achieved. The all-independent wishbone and coil-spring suspension was a recent development, having originated in the preceding 275GTB. Unlike the contemporary 365GTC/4, the Daytona was not available with power steering, a feature then deemed inappropriate for a 'real' sports car. There was, however, servo assistance for the four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. Air conditioning was optional, but elsewhere the Daytona remained uncompromisingly focussed on delivering nothing less than superlative high performance.

At the time of its introduction in 1968 the Daytona was the most expensive production Ferrari ever and, with a top speed more than 170mph, was also the world's fastest production car. Deliveries commenced in the second half of 1969, and the Daytona would be manufactured for just four years; not until the arrival of the 550 Maranello in 1996 would Ferrari build anything like it again. Only 1,300 Berlinetta models and 121 Spyder convertibles had been made when production ceased in 1973.

One of only 150-or-so Daytonas manufactured in right-hand drive configuration (published figures vary), chassis number '16593' left the assembly line on 11th April 1973 and departed the factory on the 18th April 1973. It was delivered soon after to the UK via Maranello Concessionaires finished in Rosso Chiaro 20-R-190 with Nero M8500 Connolly leather upholstery, Grigio Chiaro carpets and air conditioning. The car was registered and still is as 'EPV 666L'. Its first owner, a Mr R W Hart (Parkinson Hart Securities) of Strood, Kent, took delivery in June 1973 and had covered over 13,455 miles in his Ferrari by the time of its 12,000-mile service in November 1974. Regular servicing is documented at Maranello Concessionaires and by 1980 the mileage total had risen to 58,827.

Next owner Mr R Pearce of Boxgrove, West Sussex acquired the car in 1981 and kept it until 1983 when it passed to a Mr Richard Wills at 67,334 miles. On 1st December 1984 the Ferrari was registered to The Hon M W Aitken (later Lord Beaverbrook) who was followed in May 1989 by Wensley Grosvenor Haydon-Baillie of London SW1. In 2003 Mr R Heselton of Port St Mary, Isle of Man brought the Daytona to Graypaul (at 70,581 miles), with further visits in 2006 and 2008. Throughout Mr Heselton's ownership the car was displayed at his museum in the Isle of Man.

In 2014 Stratstone carried out an annual service at 70,744 miles; shortly thereafter the current vendor acquired the Daytona, which since then has been kept in professional climate-controlled storage. Currently SORN'd, the car has been unused for 10 years, covering only some 50 miles since that last service in 2014. After its long period in storage the car is offered for recommissioning and is sold strictly as viewed, inspection is recommended - underside images are available in the condition report online.

This Daytona is offered with a history file containing copies of Ferrari order paperwork; Maranello Concessionaires documentation; old registration documents; numerous expired MoTs; a substantial quantity of servicing, maintenance and restoration invoices; and a current UK V5C Registration Certificate, and a Massini report. It is also worthwhile noting that 'EPV 666L' is featured in Godfrey Eaton's Ferrari – the Road and Race Cars, introducing the section devoted to the Daytona (pages 158, 159).