ALONG CAME A SPIDER

Ferrari’s 365 GTB/4 Daytona was the last of its series of front-engined V-12 grand touring cars, and it was truly an incredible automobile. It was nicknamed “Daytona,” after Ferrari’s iconic 1-2-3 finish at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, and it carried the torch from the widely acclaimed 275 GTB/4 in spectacular fashion. The Daytona, graced with an all-new 4.4-liter V-12 engine, boasted incredible performance, as 60 mph could be reached from a standstill in just 5.4 seconds and it could achieve a top speed of 174 mph, making it the fastest production car in the world at the time of its unveiling in 1968. Its design, penned by Pininfarina and handcrafted by Scaglietti, was vastly different from its predecessor, yet it was also instantly recognizable as a Ferrari in a style all its own. For the individual looking to cruise across Europe at high speeds and cocooned in luxury, there was simply no better choice.

To many enthusiasts, the only way that Ferrari could improve the Daytona was to produce a spider. Such a model was unveiled at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it proved to be an instant success, as it retained all the character and performance of the coupe yet also added the trill of open-top motoring. The Daytona Spider was the perfect vehicle for sunny locales like Monaco, St. Tropez, or Los Angeles, and it was destined for greatness when it was released.

While the Daytona itself is a rare car, with only 1,406 total examples produced from 1968 to 1973, the Spider is considerably rarer, with just 121 built, and these true Spiders are by far the most valuable and desirable variants in terms of road going Daytonas. As such, the Daytona Spider is considered to be the ultimate expression of a grand touring Ferrari to many tifosi, and it is a rare, noteworthy occasion when a genuine example finds its way to the open market.

CHASSIS NUMBER 16793

Chassis number 16793 started life exactly as you see it today. It was the 84th of the 121 genuine Daytona Spiders built by the factory, and in addition to being finished in Argento Metallizzato (106-E-1) over a Nero (VM 8500) interior and matching Nero soft-top, it was fitted with air conditioning and Borrani wire wheels, as documented by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini. The car was destined for the United States and shipped new to Bill Harrah’s distributorship in Reno, Nevada, with a sticker price of $29,665.

Boyd Lavon Jefferies, the founder of the brokerage firm Jefferies & Company and a resident of Laguna Beach, California, would be the first owner of 16793, purchasing it directly from Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors. The car then passed through Ferrari of Houston, where it was repainted in a silver grey metallic and was resold to Tom Taham, of Texas. By December 1980, it had been purchased by James Hayes, also of Houston, and resided with him until at least October 1982.

By 1993, chassis number 16793 was located in Kentucky and sold from ownership in the Bluegrass State back to California, where it was purchased by a chief judge of the Ferrari Club of America and Cavallino Concours, who was clearly an individual with an eye for detail, which further asserts the factory-correctness of this Daytona Spider. This gentleman would go on to own the car for the next few years, before it was decided that the Spider would be fully restored, reusing all of the car’s original components.

With its current custodian, the Spider was sent to Bobileff Motorcars in San Diego, who was tasked with the cosmetic portion of the car’s full restoration, including refinishing the example in its original shade of Argento Metallizatto and completely restoring the interior. The car was then sent to Chris Dugan Enterprises in Oceanside, California, who finalized the sort of the car and road-tested it following a rebuild of both the engine and gearbox, which were performed to ensure that it is ready to drive in every manner. Following the completion of the restoration, the car was shown at the 23rd annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic in January 2014 and was awarded Platinum in its class.

Shortly thereafter, the car was certified by Ferrari Classiche as being completely authentic, and the car’s certification binder is included in the sale. Additionally, it is important to note that this Daytona Spider is accompanied by its full and original complement of books and tools, as well as its original window sticker and factory warranty card. Receipts from the restoration and a compression and leak-down test are also included with the car’s file.

With only a handful of test miles accumulated since the completion of its restoration, and only 17,000 believed actual miles in all, chassis number 16793 is in absolutely immaculate condition. The brilliant Argento Metallizzato paintwork shines bright, the Nero leather upholstery appears as new, and the engine bay shows nary a sign of use. This car has already garnered an award at Cavallino, and it is undoubtedly ready to garner more awards at further concours events.

As the Daytona was the last traditional two-seat, front-engine Ferrari until the introduction of the 550 Maranello in 1996, it is considered by many to be the ultimate expression of a classic Ferrari gran turismo. Its brilliant looks are a true match to its breathtaking performance. Although the car is arguably the most at home shuttling a driver, passenger, and their luggage down the coast in style, its race bred roots are apparent the moment one presses the accelerator, and it can easily outrun modern-day automobiles. Chassis number 16793 is perhaps the finest Daytona Spider in existence, and it is presented just as it was when it was new. It goes without saying that this would be an astute acquisition for any Ferrari collector, as it is a timeless example of Italian motoring in the finest sense.