1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider with hardtop

1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider with hardtop - One of 25 cars built to European specification - Exceptional original condition, less than 30,750km from new - Up-to-date Ferrari Classiche certification, original engine and gearbox/differential - Only three private owners - One of three European Spiders delivered new with a hardtop - 1 of 6 European Daytona Spider delivered in Argento Metallizatto - History documented by Marcel Massini This car has several exceptional characteristics that make it one of the most desirable Daytona Spiders in the world: first, it is a very rare European version, of which only 25 were made; it is in exceptionally well preserved original condition, in its original colours and specification; it has had only three private owners from new and has very low mileage; and finally, it is one of the three European-spec Daytona Spiders known to have been sold with a factory hardtop. Ferrari was not in the habit of offering a convertible version of its V12 berlinettas, but a prototype produced by Luigi Chinetti in the United States undoubtedly helped convince the manufacturer to do so. Pininfarina was responsible for its very successful styling, which gave little hint that the original design had been a coupé, and the Spider had the same front-mounted 352bhp V12 as the berlinetta. It was the last Ferrari from this era with this layout, and its performance outclassed all its rivals. It was only produced in limited numbers, however, with a total of 124 genuine 365 GTS/4 cars. As the history established by Marcel Massini confirms, this Daytona Spider left the factory in 1972 in European specification, with ‘Argento Metallizzato 106-E-1’ bodywork, upholstery in black leather (‘VM 8500’) and grey carpets. In left-hand drive for Europe, it was one of the 14 Daytona Spiders produced in this colour (8 American and 6 European models), and was fitted with an air-conditioning system, a factory hardtop and instruments reading in kilometres. It went first to Lebanon and the official Ferrari importer there, Elie F. Ayache in Beirut, to be sold to its first owner, Sheikh Ali Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah, a member of the Kuwaiti royal family. Used sparingly during this period, the handsome Daytona Spider was sold in March 1988, at 14,240km, through Jay Felter, the Sheikh’s agent, to David Clark, the owner of Taylor & Crawley in London, a specialist in historic cars. The following year, it found its second private owner, F-W Dauphin, from Offenhausen, and according to the sales agreement, a BMW 507 was included in the transaction. A German businessman and head of Dauphin HumanDesign Group, a designer of office furniture, Dauphin was also a lover of classic cars who had built up a large collection of cars from famous makes; the Daytona Spider took its place there and was taken out only occasionally. On 24 August 2020, Thierry Dehaeck bought the car, which had covered only 25,600km from new, as a magnificent addition to his collection of Ferraris that included its sister model in coupé guise, the Daytona berlinetta. He then took part in several concours and other events, including the V12 Colombo Rally in 2021, the concours d'élégance at Knokke-le-Zoute in 2022 (first prize in its class), at Antwerp in 2022 (Best of Show) and at Dinard in 2023, not to mention an exhibition in 2022 at the Autoworld Museum in Brussels. This superb car also won second prize in its – particularly strong – class at the extremely prestigious Chantilly Arts et Elegance Richard Mille concours in September 2026. The car will be sold with a wealth of documentation including its registration certificates from Kuwait and Germany, the sales invoice from David Clark to Herr Dauphin, a report by the expert Marcel Massini, its up-to-date certification file from Ferrari Classiche, the owner’s manual in its original leather wallet, a spare parts catalogue, the user manual for the Pioneer radio and its FIVA ID card. It also comes with its complete toolkit and original hardtop. Having only been given a respray in 1989 when it was in England, this Daytona Spider is certainly the European model which is the most faithful to its original condition and has the lowest mileage, with less than 30,750km recorded. With only three owners from new, who have used it sparingly, this extremely rare car is one of the icons of Ferrari’s history. It combines rarity, exclusivity, high performance and the pleasure of driving with the hood down. It will be just as much at home on the lawns of the most prestigious concours d'élégance as it will be on the asphalt of the most spectacular roads.

Estimate:£2,360,926.4

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