1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

The Daytona was hailed at its introduction as the world’s fastest production sports car, due to its aerodynamic design and magnificent 352 bhp, four-cam, 4.4-liter V-12 engine, featuring a race-derived dry sump lubrication system, six twin-choke Weber carburetors, and a five-speed rear-mounted transaxle.

The 365 GTB/4 presented here, chassis 14203, was completed at Ferrari’s Maranello workshops on March 25, 1971, and delivered the following month to George Woolley’s Ferrari in Toronto, Canada. Finished in Giallo Dino (Dino Yellow) over a black leather interior and specified with factory airconditioning, it carries one of the most striking and sought-after color combinations of all Daytonas.

According to research compiled by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, only 12 365 GTB/4s were finished in Giallo Dino, making this a rare example. By 1976, this Daytona was owned by Donald Blenderman, a classic car collector in Oklahoma, who also owned a Ferrari 250 LM, chassis 5903. It then entered the care of a private owner in La Cañada Flintridge, California, in 1980, where it remained for a couple of years before heading to Illinois. In 2021, it joined the collection of the consignor, a prominent Texas-based collector.

In 2014, while in the hands of the previous owner, 14203 was the subject of a thorough mechanical restoration with a clear focus on reliability, driveability, and on-road performance. This included work on the suspension, brakes, engine, and transaxle, as well as the installation of an electric power steering system. Shock absorbers were rebuilt by KONI, enhancing the handling of this particular Daytona. The braking system received similar attention, with all-new rotors, calipers, and a new master cylinder. The twin distributors were converted with modern internals to ensure better drivability while preserving the original look.

The engine also underwent a major service, which included new coils and fuel pumps, filters, spark plugs, and tuning – preparing this car for spirited driving – as well as a new clutch, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and transaxle overhaul. Importantly, the original steering components, including the factory steering wheel, accompany the car, allowing a future owner to revert to standard specification if preferred.

The well-preserved interior was delicately renovated, with the seat foam and bolsters renewed, while the signature Daytona center-panel inserts were retained. The Pininfarina-designed body carries an older repaint in its original Giallo Dino. The engine internal number matches the factory stamping on the steering column.

In 2015, this Ferrari was entered in the Copperstate 1000 – a 1,000-mile vintage car rally routed through the scenic byways of Arizona, where it performed without issue, a fitting testament to the integrity of the work undertaken. Recently, the consignor tendered the Daytona to Ferrari of Dallas for an inspection and addressed any needs the service department identified. The odometer showed just over 52,000 miles at the time of cataloguing, a figure the consignor believes to represent the car’s genuine, accumulated mileage from new.

With its rare and exceptional color specification, documented history by Marcel Massini, and a mechanical preparation oriented towards active use, this 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona is a highly individual and engaging example of Ferrari’s revered front-engined grand tourer.