Description
Acclaimed successor to the 275GTB/ 4, the 365GTB/ 4 debuted at the Paris Salon in 1968, soon gaining the unofficial name 'Daytona' in honour of Ferrari's 1-2-3 finish at that circuit in 1967. Aggressively styled by Pininfarina, Ferrari's new sportscar boldly re-stated the traditional long bonnet, small cabin, short tail' look in a manner which suggested muscular horsepower a la AC Cobra while retaining all the elegance associated with the Italian coachbuilder's work for Maranello. Although there had been no official open-top version of its predecessor, the favourable reception of Luigi Chinetti's 275GTB-based NART Spyder no doubt influenced Ferrari's decision to produce a convertible Daytona.
Again the work of Pininfarina, the latter was first seen at the Paris Salon in 1969 with deliveries commencing in 1971. Although the rear end had been extensively re-worked, so successful was Pininfarina's surgery that it was hard to credit that the Daytona had not initially been conceived as a spider. Ferrari's production run of just 124 Daytona Spiders left many would-be customers disappointed, a situation which led, inevitably, to a number of coupes being converted.
Chassis 14413 was first registered on 2 November 1972. Copy invoices on file refer to various maintenance and bodywork being performed on the car during the late 1970s by Graypaul of Loughborough, whilst the car was in the ownership of a Mr Walton.
The car passed into the ownership of a Mr Savage in the early 1980s, with 15, 000 miles recorded. Mr Savage had the car converted to Spyder specification by premier conversion specialists Autokraft in 1985. At that time an extensive amount of work was undertaken on the car including a complete re-trim in black leather, full repaint and various related bodywork. In 1986 a substantial amount of work was undertaken to both the suspension and the engine by Rardley Motors. At this point the car has covered 16, 700 miles.
In 1987, by which time the mileage had reached 17, 000 or so, the car was purchased by Lord Brocket. Around this time the air cleaner was removed and longer intake trumpets fitted to the carburettors.
In early 1992, the car was sold to a Mr Innes, via Talacrest, when the mileage was still only 17, 800. Mr Innes lived overseas and placed the car in the care of TigaStor, the storage specialists, who maintained the car through until October 1999. During this time the car was kept in dehumidified storage and exercised on a three monthly rota.
In October 1999, the car was purchased by an enthusiast in London who entrusted Terry Hoyle to carry out an extensive mechanical and body refurbishment. This work, at great expense is all detailed in the invoices on file.
14413 was acquired by the present owner in 2011 and has resided fairly peacefully since then with probably less than a thousand miles added during his ownership. Now showing just over 30, 000 miles this fine Daytona is up for some further adventures.
