The 365 GTB/4 that debuted at the Paris Motor Show in the fall of 1968 marked a great departure from the 275 GTB that preceded it. Its hidden headlights, truncated tail without a spoiler, and five-spoke alloy wheels brought the brand into the modern era to compete against Lamborghini’s dramatic Miura.

With its long hood and hidden headlights covered initially by Perspex and later reworked as retractable units to satisfy U.S. federal requirements, the GTB/4 became the quintessential Italian long-distance grand-touring car design. Underneath, it utilized a welded tubular steel frame, an independent suspension, and a new version of the V-12 complete with four chain-driven camshafts and six downdraft Weber carburetors. At 352 hp, the 365 GTB/4 boasted two more horses than the Miura, a point hardly lost on engineers in Sant’Agata.

The motoring press dubbed the supercar Daytona, a nickname that stuck with engineers and designers but not marketers in Maranello; Ferrari rarely refers to the car as anything other than the 365 GTB/4. The Scaglietti-bodied 365 GTB/4 Daytona went into production in 1969 and spawned a convertible Spider the next year at the Frankfurt salon.

Journalist Ken Bachelor said at the time that its “excellent horsepower and torque give the Daytona performance to match its looks.” Contemporary Road & Track testing found a 0–60 mph sprint of just 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. The Daytona excelled at long-distance, high-speed traveling thanks to its plush interior, but this archetypal supercar was just as at home on a race track. Lightweight versions finished 5th and 9th overall at Le Mans in 1972.

Chassis 15419, completed on 27 July 1972, left the factory finished in Rosso Chiaro over Nero. A U.S.-delivery example, the car was completed in left-hand drive and featured power windows and instrumentation in kilometers. It was delivered to Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors in Reno, Nevada. Sold new to its first owner from Los Angeles. In 1978, Arthur Rice purchased the car and owned it through the mid-1980s. Gerald Schwallbach of Minnesota purchased the car in 1985, owning it until 2016. It was subsequently purchased by the current owner, who is proud to offer it today.

Some five decades after it was built, this Daytona is presented in excellent condition, an ideal example for high-speed driving, touring, or other enjoyment on the open road. It has been recently serviced by Ferrari technicians and offers the ultra-smooth performance and crisp shifting for which Ferrari is known. With power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, the car offers roadholding and stopping performance truly befitting of a car with such a legendary racing heritage.

Sure to turn heads anywhere it goes, this GTB/4 provides a driving experience unlike anything else on the road. It is truly a must-own for any committed sports car aficionado.