FEW names in the Ferrari stable command the same reverence as “Daytona” – a moniker that endures despite never being officially recognised by the brand.
Introduced in 1968 as the 365 GTB/4, the name “Daytona” was coined by the press to honour of Ferrari’s sweeping 1-2-3 victory at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.
While the model name references technical specs (engine size, cylinder count, and camshaft configuration), the evocative nickname captured imaginations in a way cold numbers never could.
The Daytona marked a turning point in Ferrari’s legacy. It was the last in a proud lineage of front-engine, V-12 grand tourers – cars that embodied the Ferrari spirit from the 1940s into the modern age.
“It was probably the most pivotal model of the 1970s era,” said RM Sotheby’s expert Jarrett Rothmeier.
“They hold a special place in Ferrari history.”
At its heart was a glorious 4.4-litre V-12 engine, paired with six Weber carburettors and a five-speed manual transaxle.
The result? A 174mph top speed and a blistering 0-100mph time of 12.6 seconds –figures that placed it among the fastest production cars of its time.
Its aggressive styling, designed by Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, signalled a bold shift from previous models.
Gone were the gentle curves of the 250 and 275; in came sharp lines, a larger glasshouse, and a dagger-like nose.
Early models featured sleek Plexiglas-covered headlights, later replaced by pop-up units due to changing US laws – a design cue that would become Ferrari’s signature for years.
Beyond the showroom, the Daytona captured the cultural zeitgeist. It raced to victory in the original Cannonball Run, starred in The Long Goodbye, and graced the driveways of rock icons like Eric Clapton and Elton John.
Its most famous screen role? As the sleek black “Ferrari” in Miami Vice – although that version was actually a replica Corvette, replaced later by a genuine Testarossa after Ferrari intervened.
The Daytona’s influence still resonates. It inspired the 1996 550 Maranello and the recently released 12Cilindri, whose styling nods clearly to its 1968 forebear.
Extracts from Your Guide to the Ferrari Daytona: Berlinetta, Spider, and Competizione | RM Sotheby’s
