The Ferrari 365 GTB/4’s dizzying Pininfarina-engineered beauty has been causing knees to weaken and eyes to well for decades. That sleek fastback body epitomises the romance and appeal of the Italian Gran Turismo. The ‘Daytona’ is the kind of classic in which you can turn up anywhere on the planet, be it Monaco or Mumbai, and you’ll draw gawping onlookers by the dozen. It starred in Miami Vice and even Elton John owned one. And in the 1970s that was a big deal.

The absolute must-have luxury Grand Tourer in the 1960s and ’70s, the 4.4-litre Colombo V12-powered ‘Daytona’ is no shrinking violet when it comes to hiking up its skirt and getting a move on. Just ask the legendary American racing drivers Brock Yates and Dan Gurney, who, in 1971, famously drove a ‘Daytona’ 2,876 miles from New York City to Redondo Beach in California in a record time of 35 hours and 54 minutes. That’s an average speed of 80.8mph!

Early examples are characterised by their distinctive Plexiglas noses with faired-in headlights – a slightly purer design, at least for us here at Girardo & Co. HQ. Changes in American homologation rules forced Ferrari to introduce pop-ups on the 365 GTB/4 in 1971. Less than a third of the 1,284 ‘Daytonas’ produced featured the Plexiglas nose and are therefore most desirable to collectors today.

Built by Ferrari in July of 1970, this 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Plexi – chassis number 13689 – was delivered new to one Giancarlo Tuzzato in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was finished in the stunning colour combination of Blu Sera over a Pelle Beige interior and specified with the optional wooden steering wheel and air-conditioning system. Tuzzato retained this Ferrari for 17 years, before it was acquired by the second of its mere three owners to date, Marco Garbero, who divided his time between ‘Joburg’ and Turin in Italy. Within two years of assuming custody of chassis number 13689, he had returned the car to his native Italy.

Once in Turin, this ‘Daytona’ was put into storage, where it would largely remain for almost three decades, only seldomly being driven. In 2017, the official Torinese Ferrari centre Rossocorsa undertook a major mechanical service, which included replacing the exhaust system. It was at this time chassis number 13689 was treated to a cosmetic restoration, prior to us selling the car to its third and final owner, a collector from Germany.

Said collector later charged Bacchelli & Villa in Modena with comprehensively restoring this ‘Daytona’. The two-year project was exhaustive, encompassing repairs to the bare-metal body, overhaul of the drivetrain and restoration of the sumptuous Beige leather interior. Upon completion, chassis number 13689 was submitted for Ferrari Classiche certification – certification it duly received, confirming it retains its original matching-numbers chassis, body, engine and gearbox.

This Ferrari boasts a number of trump cards, not least its remarkable provenance, charted over the course of 55 years and in the loving ownership of just three private individuals. With its fully matching-numbers status, Ferrari Classiche certification and ‘better-than-new’ condition courtesy of the wizards at Bacchelli & Villa, chassis number 13689 is as good a ‘Daytona’ as you’ll find anywhere.

Price Upon Application