Lot 246: 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona competition NART

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' is one of the most significant models in the history of the world's most famous car company. As well as revolutionising the company's styling, the Daytona was the most powerful road car Ferrari had produced at that time, and would sell in large numbers around the world. Even today, the car is an icon in performance car terms, and one to which Ferrari owes much of its reputation as the builder of the greatest road cars. The Daytona came at a time when Ferrari was dominant in sports car racing with its sports prototypes, and the road cars the company developed were increasingly distanced from the racing cars with their associated improvements in reliability and creature comforts. In the word of one enthusiast, "There is no greater adrenaline pump". With its brutally aggressive yet somehow classically elegant lines and such a wonderful 4.4 litre four-camshaft V12 under its bonnet, there was nothing that could challenge it when new, and precious little that can do so today. True, such cars have never been considered easy to drive, but then again the best things in life always demand a little more commitment. Indeed a motor car such as the Daytona, once mastered, can provide thrills beyond its owner's wildest expectations. Ferrari Daytonas also made their mark in competition at the highest level with strong results at Le Mans and, indeed, Daytona. These competition specification cars obviously have even more formidable performance and they are far and few between. Indeed, this example, chassis 15685, is the 10th built of just 15 works competition Daytonas. Campaigned by the famous North American Racing Team (NART), this car's impressive race history includes finishing in sixth place overall and second in class in the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours in the hands of Sam Posey/Tony Adamowicz and sixth overall and first in class in the Watkins Glen Six Hours driven by Jean-Pierre Jarier/Gregg Young; in the 24 Hours of Daytona the following year, crewed by Arturo Merzario/Jarier, it retired after 394 laps with clutch failure. Two years later it was driven by Ken Starbird in American hillclimbs and speed trials, as well as taking a first in class award at the Pebble Beach Concours. The following year the car's current engine, number 13855, was installed and at Riverside, manned by Jeff Kline/Chris Cord it finished sixteenth overall; 1976 realised a sixth place overall for Milt Minter/Cord/Jim Adams in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the next season recorded a non finish after 286 laps in the same race driven by Adamowicz/John Cannon/Dick Barbour. Thereafter, between 1978 and 1988, 15685 was used as a road car before being once more used in competition by Jean-Pierre Slavic from 1990 to 2002, events entered including the Grand Prix de Montreux and the Tour Auto. In 2005 it again ran in the Tour Auto as well as the Shell Historic Ferrari Maserati Challenge at Pau. Finished in red with black interior, this formidably fast Ferrari, which comes complete with FIA papers, is race-ready and in the right hands it could be a very competitive entry in numerous historic events. Chassis 15685's sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire and compete in a very important piece of Ferrari motor sport history.La voiture en question est une des seulement 15 Daytona qui ont participée dans le 24 heures du Mans. Une voiture avec une histoire des courses trs importante. Elle est prt pour des nombreuses courses historique, avec un grand dossier et des papiers FIA.