365 GTB4 Daytona (Italy, 1968)

The 365 GTB4 was introduced at the Paris Salon in 1968 as the replacement for the 275 GTB4 model. The car is also known as the “Daytona”, an unofficial nickname given by the media of the time, supposedly in recognition of the Ferrari 1-2-3 victory in the Daytona 24-Hour Race in 1967. The unofficial name stuck and continues to be widely used today.

This became the last 12-cylinder Ferrari model announced before Fiat took over control of road car production in 1969. It was also the last 12-cylinder Ferrari to be sold in the USA (through official channels) until 1984, when the Testarossa was launched.

The 365 GTB4 was produced until 1973, with 1289 units produced.

In terms of design the 365 GTB4 was even more aggressive than its predecessor, with the long, wide, and sharp, almost shark-like sweeping nose, with a large bonnet with twin rectangular exhaust air slots. The set-back cabin section flows straight into the abrupt angled Kamm tail, equipped with a pair of twin circular light units.

With a body designed by Pininfarina and constructed by Scaglietti in steel with aluminium doors, bonnet and boot lid. Later in the production the doors were changed to steel, and bracing struts provided within them for USA market examples. The cabin was a five-window design with a large lightly curved windscreen.

The engine was derived from the 275 GTB4 with a 4390cc capacity, longer-block derivation of the twin overhead camshaft per bank, with an output of 352hp. The USA market cars were also fitted with a number of devices to control exhaust gas emissions, including a fast idle device, and an exhaust manifold air injection system.