Ferrari Daytona

Ferrari 365 "Daytona" GTB/4, GTS/4 Overview Manufacturer Ferrari Production 1968–1973 Designer Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina[1] Body and chassis Class Sports car Layout FR layout Powertrain Engine 4,390 cc Colombo V12

365 GTB/4 Overview Production 1968–1973 1,284 produced Body and chassis Body style Berlinetta Dimensions Curb weight 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) approx Chronology Predecessor Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Ferrari 330 GTC Successor Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer

365 GTS/4 Overview Production 1971–1973 122 produced Body and chassis Body style Spider Chronology Predecessor Ferrari 365 GTS

See also Ferrari 365 for the 365 California, GT 2+2, GTC and GTS

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4, better known by the unofficial name Ferrari Daytona, is a Gran Turismo automobile produced from 1968 to 1973. It was first introduced to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968 and replaced the 275 GTB/4. The Daytona was replaced by the mid-engined 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer in 1973.

Name

The unofficial Daytona name is reported to have been applied by the media rather than Ferrari and commemorates Ferrari's 1-2-3 finish^[2] in the February 1967 24 Hours of Daytona with the 330P4.^[3]

Vehicle specifications

Unlike Lamborghini's then-new, mid-engined Miura, the Daytona was a traditional front-engined, rear-drive car.

The engine, known as the Tipo 251 and developed from the earlier Colombo V12 used in the 275 GTB/4, was a 4.4 L (4,390 cc, 267.9 cid) DOHC V12 with a 60° bank angle, 365 cc per cylinder, 81 mm (3.2 in) bore and 71 mm (2.8 in) stroke, featuring six Weber twin carburettors (40 mm Solex twin carburettors were used alternatively). At a compression ratio of 9.3:1, 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.^[4] For the American version, slight modifications were made - the compression ratio was reduced to 8.8:1 and the exhaust system was equipped with a large central silencer, necessitating visible alterations to the primary pipes.

The five-speed manual transmission (of the transaxle concept) was mounted in the rear for optimal weight distribution, and a four-wheel independent suspension^[4] featured wishbones and coil springs.

Styling

Although it was also a Pininfarina design, as with many previous Ferrari road cars (by Leonardo Fioravanti), the 365 GTB/4 was radically different. Its sharp-edged styling resembled a Lamborghini more than a traditional Pininfarina Ferrari.

Early Daytonas featured fixed headlights behind an acrylic glass cover. This particular setup was completely abandoned in 1971 favor of retractable pop-up twin headlights due to new safety regulations in the U.S., which outlawed headlights behind covers. Leonardo Fioravanti, designer, intervieved on TV car show had confirmed a popular rumor that it took him 7 days to design a Daytona.

Model variations

365 GTB/4 and GTS/4

The generally accepted total number of Daytonas from the Ferrari club historians is 1,406 over the life of the model. This figure includes 158 right-hand-drive coupés, 122 factory-made Spiders (of which 7 are right hand drive) made by Scaglietti — the Daytona body builder — and also 15 competition cars in three series with modified lightweight bodies and in various degrees of engine tune.^[5]

Historically, and especially since the mid-1980s and early 1990s, there has mostly been a considerable market price difference between a real Berlinetta and a real Spider. In hope for higher value and prospective sale revenue — or even because not too many factory Spiders were ever built — many Berlinettas were turned into convertibles.

A UK 1972 Daytona Coupe

Achievements and notoriety

In 2004, the Daytona was voted top sports car of the 1970s by Sports Car International magazine. Similarly, Motor Trend Classic named the 365 GTB/4 and GTS/4 as number two in their list of the ten "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

In 1971, the Daytona gained notoriety when one was driven by Dan Gurney and Brock Yates in the inaugural Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. Showcasing the car's potential for sustained high speed travel, the pair won with an average speed of 80.1 miles per hour (129 km/h), completing the distance from New York to L.A. in 35 hours 54 minutes (2,876 miles (4,628 km)).

Competition versions

The first racing version of the 365GTB/4 was prepared in 1969: an aluminium bodied car was built and entered in the Le Mans 24 hour race that year (the car crashed in practice). Ferrari did not produce an official competition car until late in 1970.^[6]

	1972 Ferrari Daytona LM at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010
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The official cars were built in three batches of five cars each, in 1970-1, 1972 and 1973. They all featured a lightweight body making use of aluminium and fibreglass panels, with plexiglas windows. The engine was unchanged from the road car in the first batch of competition cars, but tuned in the latter two batches (to 400 bhp (298 kW; 406 PS) in 1972 and then around 450 bhp (336 kW; 456 PS) in 1973).

The cars were not raced by the official Scuderia Ferrari team, but by a range of private entrants. They enjoyed particular success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with results including a 5th overall in 1971, followed by GT class wins in 1972, 1973 and 1974. In 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4s took the first 5 places of the GT class.

The final major success of the car was in 1979 (five years after production ended), when a 1973 car achieved a class victory (2nd overall) in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

References

1. ↑ "Designer". ajovalo.net. Retrieved 2012-02-08. 
2. ↑ "WSPR, World Championship 1967". Wspr-racing.com. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 
3. ↑ "Focus on 365 GTB4". Official Ferrari website. Ferrari. Retrieved 21 February 2010. 
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Willson, Quentin (1995). The Ultimate Classic Car Book. DK Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-7894-0159-2. 
5. ↑ Pat Braden and Gerald Roush (1982). The Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona. Osprey. ISBN 978-0850454123. 
6. ↑ The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. "Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Competition". How Stuff Works. Ferrari. Retrieved 21 February 2010. 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferrari 365 GTB/4 "Daytona".

• Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7. 
• 365gtc4.com