Classics, passion for the past

1973 Ferrari 365-GTB 4 Daytona Spyder

Body Convertible
Fuel type Petrol
Engine 4390 cc V12
Transmission Manual
Exterior Color Red
Interior Color Tan
Upholstery Leather
Steering Rhd
VIN 16663
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder.
POA.

VIN16663

1 of 158 RHD Ferrari Daytonas made
Expert Spyder conversion
Huge history file

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Model History

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona marked the end of an era. While the Lamborghini Miura had ushered in the mid-engined revolution, the Daytona was resolutely traditional in its conception—the last in a line of legendary front-engined V-12 grand tourers from Maranello that stretched all the way back to the 250 GTs of the mid-1950s.

Launched at the 1968 Paris Motor Show, the 365 GTB/4 soon became universally referred to as the "Daytona" in honour of the Scuderia’s one-two-three result at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. It featured the latest 4,390 cc Tipo 251 development of Gioacchino’s Colombo famous V-1... 2. With a 9:1 compression ratio—8.8:1 on US-spec cars—plus dry-sump lubrication and six Weber carburettors, it was good for 352 horsepower at 7,500 rpm.

Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti came up with a design that remains instantly recognisable more than 50 years later, and beneath that Scaglietti-built body was Ferrari’s Tipo 605 chassis. The 2,400 mm wheelbase was the same as on the 275 GTB/4, but the front and rear track measurements were wider. Suspension was independent all round via wishbones and telescopic dampers, while the transaxle layout that had first been seen on the 1964 275 GTB was carried over.

At the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September 1969, Ferrari unveiled a Spyder version of the car, of which only 7 factory RHD were produced.

As renowned journalist Mel Nichols noted in Car magazine: "In the development of the front-engined, ultra-high-performing, two-seater road car, the Daytona is the ultimate."

#16663 History

Supplied new by Maranello Concessionaires as a Coupe in Azzurro Blue with tan to Billy Skelly of Motherwell, whose father ran a succesful multi franchise motor dealership. Original correspondence exists between Sean Bealey - Director of Maranello Concessionaires and Skelly.

During the order process and after a trip to Monaco in June 1973, Billy saw a freshly arrived Daytona in the local Ferrari dealership. Upon his return, he wrote again to Maranello Concessionaires to request they leave the plastic coverings on the sills for protection and asked for "transparent side light glass for the car" as he was concerned they would look odd in yellow with the car "almost Royal blue" in colour.

In 1974 Skelly sells the car to Ferrari collector Gordon Claridge, who had the wheels painted gold as per the Ferrari prototypes in period. A really enthusiastic owner, Claridge covered 40,000 miles in his 20 years of ownership, only entrusting Maranello Concessionaires to service the car.

In 1994 Claridge sells the car and the next owner purchases the car via Bonhams. This owner continues to have the car serviced at Maranello Concessionaires, has it repainted in Rosso Rubino and sells it again to its last owner in 2001 through Bonhams.

At this time the previous owner decided to have the car restored and converted to Spyder configuration. Therefore soon after acquisition, 16663 was entrusted to Kevin O’Rourke of Mototechnique to complete a restoration and undertake the conversion to 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder specification.

There is extensive documentation making up over 400 pages which documents the correspondence during the conversion and the work was completed in June 2002. During the restoration and conversion, the car was painted in Rosso Corsa coachwork - which still looks great today.

Talacrest have completed 6 Daytona Spyder conversion transactions in the last few years in addition to factory Spyder deals in the past. Done well by acknowledged experts, a Spyder conversion is more or less indistinguishable from a period Scaglietti built car and offers the driving experience at a fraction of the price of one of the handful of factory Spyders made.   read more >>>
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