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365 Daytona
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4, better
known by its unofficial name the
365 Daytona, made its debut at the
Paris Motor Show in 1968. The
name was first given by the media
in reference to Ferrari’s 1-2-3
finish at the 24 Hours of Daytona,
with their prototype sports car the
330P4. The 365 Daytona featured a
traditional front engine and rear-
wheel drive.
The Tipo 251 engine was
developed from the earlier
Columbia V12 used in its
predecessor, the 275 GTB/4, and
could produce 352 bhp, enabling
0-60 in 5.4 seconds and a top
speed of 174 mph. The chassis,
suspension, wheelbase, and even
the layout, were very reminiscent
of the former Berlinetta. The five-
speed manual transmission was
mounted in the rear for optimal
weight distribution.
The 365 Daytona was
designed by Leonardo Fioravanti
at Pininfarina. Its sharp-edged
appearance was unlike previous
Ferrari models and it resembled a
design familiar with Lamborghini.
Early models featured fixed
headlamps, but changes in safety
regulations led to the Daytona
sporting the pop-up variety
that became customary for
many models.
In its heyday it was the fastest-
going road car and set a benchmark
among supercar manufacturers. The
car was voted “top sports car of the
1970s” by
Sports Car International
magazine in 2004, and
Motor Trend
Classic
hailed the 365 GTB/4 into
second position on the list of
“greatest Ferraris of all time.”
In addition to the Berlinetta,
Ferrari (with Scaglietti) produced
a limited run of Spiders –
Produced
1968-1976
Engine Size
4390 cc
Cylinders
12
0-60 mph
5.4 secs
Top Speed
174 mph
Power Output
352 bhp
Transmission
Manual
Gears
5 Speed
Length
174.2 in (4425 mm)
Width
69.3 in (1760 mm)
Height
49 in (1245 mm)
Weight
2645 lb (1200 kg)
Wheelbase
94.5 in (2400 mm)
(Specifications refer to the 365 Daytona
base model)
the result was the 354 GTS.
Although virtually identical to
their Berlinetta counterparts, the
body, chassis, and windshield
frame were strengthened to
convertible standard. With only
122 produced it is not surprising
that they became very sought after
models, and many Berlinettas
have since been modified into
convertibles. However, the varying
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