1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”

Chassis No. 13231

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4, more commonly referred to as the “Daytona,” was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1968. A dramatic departure from the more rounded traditional styling of the 275 GTB, the Daytona was a preview of what was to come throughout the 1970s and 80s with more angular styling. The most notable feature of the Daytona during its introduction at Paris was the full width Plexiglas cover that ran from headlamp to headlamp.

While the “Plexi Nose” cars were certainly attractive, the configuration was not allowed into the US for safety reasons. Ferrari would have to redesign the car to meet US standards with the traditional “pop-up” lights. Considering the US was and still today is the largest market for Ferrari, it is no surprise these Plexi cars were produced in small numbers before the subsequent redesign to allow higher volume of sales.

Specified for the European market, chassis number 13231 was completed at the factory on 7 March 1970. Originally finished in Rosso Rubino with a Nero Vaumol leather interior along with air conditioning and power windows according to Marcel Massini. Sold new through the Bologna dealer the car would remain in Europe until 1979 when it was imported to the US. By this time it was repainted black and was displayed at Ron Spangler's Prancing Horse Farm by its owner Leo Holt or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The car would remain in Pennsylvania under two different owners until about 1991 when it was acquired by Paul Tavilla of Florida. By 1995 the car was advertised for sale following restoration in Costa Mesa, California, but was not sold until it won a Gold award at the 1998 FCA Vintage Ferrari Concours.

Two more owners are noted and by early 2010 chassis 13231 was again for sale and described as having completed a two-year mechanical restoration by Dayal Dindral at Prancing Horse of California. Shortly thereafter it was acquired by John Campion of Jacksonville, Florida who was famous for his Martini collection of rally cars. In 2013 he commissioned Autosport Designs of Huntington Station, New York to complete a sympathetic restoration. Autosport would repaint 13231 to Rosso Nearco and reupholster the interior to tan with black inserts. Following completion, the car would be exhibited at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and The Quail. Campion would sell 13231 to a New York based collector before being acquired by the present owner, also a New York area collector.

With the Daytona being one of the most iconic and dramatic Ferrari's of the era, any early plexi-nose should be considered by serious collectors.