The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona on offer here, chassis number 16691, unquestionably ranks as among the finest, most exhaustively refurbished examples currently available. Completing factory construction on 18 July 1973, this Daytona left Italy finished in Rosso Chiaro (light red) over Beige Connolly leather and optioned with factory air conditioning. Following its arrival on American shores, the car was distributed through William Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors, of Reno, Nevada and ultimately sold to its first owner, a Mr. Chess of Los Angeles, California.

Chess retained the car for the next five years before offering it for sale in the Los Angeles Times in July 1978 through the Porsche/Audi dealer in Westwood, California. The Daytona was then advertised by another Los Angeles-based owner in 1983 before moving to Florida where it was offered by Ed Waterman’s Motorcar Gallery of Ft. Lauderdale in 1986. Purchased then by Horst Bauling, of Bamberg, Germany, the Daytona was exported to Europe and minimally used, essentially being stored for a period of almost 20 years.

In 2006, chassis 16691 emerged from a long period of dormancy and was acquired by a Ferrari connoisseur based in Los Angeles. Recognizing the strong potential of such a well-preserved, low-mile Daytona, the owner commissioned a ground-up restoration, entrusting Exclusive Motorcars’ Rex Nguyen to completely refurbish the car to factory-correct standards. Mr. Nguyen’s superior Ferrari renewals have routinely commanded Platinum Awards at FCA meets and 16691 proved to be no exception.

Completely disassembling the Daytona, Mr. Nguyen authentically refinished or replaced every part and component. Proper original Maranello factory standards were replicated with respect to color finishes, cad plating, black-oxide plating, and wrinkle finishes, while correct ladder-ties, zip-ties, and wire-ties were sourced and utilized. Every body bolt was either a proper Lobo or Fiat bolt, and the proper Nylock nuts were integrated, as per original specifications.

The matching-numbers engine was tested and discovered to still develop proper compression and pull strongly, having experienced relatively little use over the years. The brakes and suspension were rebuilt to proper specifications, including a new master cylinder, brake booster, and calipers, and a myriad of finishing details were addressed, such as the application of proper stickers and decals to various lines, hoses, and clamps.

Mr. Nguyen sent the body to Beckman Metal Works, in Costa Mesa, for a bare-metal repaint in the authentic Ferrari color of Blu Scozia, and a correct interior was reportedly sourced from Romano Luppi’s shop in Italy. A thick file of invoices and over 1,000 photographs document Mr. Nguyen’s precise and well-researched work.

Completing refurbishment by mid-2011, chassis 16691 debuted to stunning effect at Concorso Italiano on 19 August, where it earned a Platinum Award from the FCA Pacific Region. Five months later, at the Cavallino Classic XXI on 21 January 2012, the Daytona took First in Class and a second Platinum Award. The car received yet another Platinum Award on 6 May at the FCA’s Southwest Regional Meet at the Concorso Ferrari in Pasadena, while a Best-in-Class Award followed on 10 June at the San Marino Motor Classic outside of Los Angeles. In addition to this enviable collection of awards, this car underwent Ferrari Classiche certification in October 2013; as the accompanying Red Book illustrates, it retains its numbers-matching engine, gearbox, and chassis, and retains a high degree of correctness throughout.

Since coming under the curation of the Dare to Dream Collection, chassis 16691 has received continued concours-quality care by marque experts including Daytona Auto Centre and RM Auto Restoration, both of Ontario, and is further accompanied by restoration documentation, service invoices, tool kit, and assortment of owner’s manuals. At the time of cataloguing, it displays 25,536 miles—a figure that is believed to be original, and one that is consistent with this car’s history of modest use.

Offered now for the first time in over a decade, this Daytona is a verifiable award-generating machine, one that will doubtlessly bring enthusiastic adoration and concours acclaim to its next curator.