Is this unique Ferrari Daytona the ultimate barnfind?

Finders keepers?

Remember way back in 2017, when something special was found hiding in a Japanese barn? Let us have the pleasure of reminding you…

Locked away from the public for nearly 40 years, forgotten for so long that even experts began to doubt its existence, was the only roadgoing ‘alloy’ Ferrari 365GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ ever built. 

What follows are the incredible photographs taken during the discovery, from the way it was found, sitting under a thick layer of dust, to the point when it was finally removed prior to being sold for a staggering sum.

Why does this never happen to us?!

One of many

Ferrari built more than 1200 versions of the 365GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ between 1969-1973, including five alloy-bodied versions that dominated the 24 Hours of Daytona. 

Out of the shadows

The Daytona was unveiled at the 1968 Paris Auto Salon as a replacement for the outgoing 275GTB/4. Its famed Colombo V12 was bored out to 4.4 litres. 

At the races

In addition to the five alloy-bodied racing cars, Ferrari commissioned a single alloy-bodied road car. It was so rare many began to doubt that it even existed. Then it was rediscovered. 

By any other name

The ‘Daytona’ moniker was never a factory designation: it became the car’s unofficial name following the model’s success at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.

One of the first

The car wears chassis number 12653, making it around the 30th Daytona to be built.

Pure performance

In standard trim, the 352bhp supercar was good for a top speed of 174mph with a 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.4 seconds. 

On the road

Despite the other alloy-bodied Daytonas’ success in competition, chassis 12653 never turned a wheel in anger.

Sibling rivalry

The Daytona is one of just two mechanically standard 365GTB/4s to be clothed in alloy bodywork. The other, chassis 12547, was commissioned by Ferrari’s US importer Luigi Chinetti to run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Made in Italy

The Daytona’s sumptuous bodywork was built by Scaglietti, but penned by Leonardo Fioravanti. 

Through the glass

Built in 1969, the barnfind Daytona features Plexiglas headlamp covers, making it one of the most desirable versions of the model. US safety regulations banned headlights behind covers, forcing Ferrari to change the design early in the model’s production run.

Friends in high places

After being sent to a Bologna car dealer, the Daytona was bought by its first owner Luciano Conti, founder and publisher of Autosprint magazine and a close friend of Enzo Ferrari.

Changing hands

Conti owned the car for less than a year before it was sold to Guido Maran of Verona, who sold it to Carlo Ferruzzi a month later. 

Re-sale red

The Daytona left the factory finished in Rosso Chiaro with a Nero leather interior. 

Land of the rising sun

In July 1971, the Daytona’s native Italian registration plate was cancelled, and three months after that the car was exported to Japan. 

In print

In January 1972 the Ferrari made a guest appearance in an issue of Car Graphic, a Japanese magazine for car enthusiasts. 

Crossing the finish line

Five years after production ended, a 1971 Daytona achieved a class victory and second overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona. 

The Prancing Horse

During its time in Japan, the Daytona passed through the hands of a number of owners. Goro Guwa bought the car in May 1975, and in April 1979 it was bought by Tateo Ito. 

Into hiding

By 1980, the Ferrari had been acquired by local car collector Makoto Takai, who hid the car away for nearly 40 years. 

Fading from memory

The car remained hidden for so long that few people knew it even existed. Takai resisted several attempts to buy the Ferrari.

The Cannonball Run

In 1971, Dan Gurney and Brock Yates drove a Daytona in the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, completing the run from New York to Los Angeles in just under 36 hours. The pair maintained an average speed of 80.1mph. 

Matching numbers

In June 2017, Ferrari expert Marcel Massini inspected the car and discovered that the engine and transaxle are matching numbers, meaning they had never been replaced during the Daytona’s life. 

Seal of approval

"What a super-scarce Daytona barnfind, the only remaining aluminium-bodied production GTB/4" – Marcel Massini. 

On the silver screen

Did you know?

A black Daytona featured in the first two seasons of TV show Miami Vice – in the early episodes, the car was actually a replica built on a Corvette C3 chassis. The replicas were eventually replaced by two Testarossas.

Incredible condition

The outside of the car had been slightly modified in its early years, but the interior remained very original. The spare wheel had never even been used! 

Made to measure

The Daytona’s stunning bodywork was created by Italian design house Scaglietti, and the numbers of each alloy panel inspected matched factory records. 

A place for everything

Unlike other supercars of the time, the Daytona stuck to the tried and tested front-engine rear-wheel drive layout. Lamborghini’s Miura had its engine mounted amidships. 

Low mileage

When it was discovered, the Ferrari showed just 36,390km on the clock.

Perfectly preserved

Post-extraction, this now-unique Daytona is surely a shoo-in for preservation-class success at the world’s most prestigious concours contests.

Well, it is pretty special.

Succession

The 365GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ was succeeded by the mid-engined 365GT4 Berlinetta Boxer in 1973. 

Sold to the highest bidder

After being removed from the Japanese barn, the Daytona was shipped to Italy to be sold at RM Sotheby’s Leggenda e Passione auction, where it eventually achieved €1,807,000.

Light of day

After nearly 40 years in storage, great care had to be taken when removing the Ferrari prior to the auction. Skates were placed under the wheels to edge it out of hiding. 

Everything in order

From engine and transaxle to individual body panels, the originality of the Daytona could be in no question thanks to meticulous build records from both Ferrari and Scaglietti. 

In good nick

Despite so long spent in storage – and a thick layer of dust covering the entire car – it's clear that the paintwork is in remarkably good shape.

Pininfarina

Though the car was a product of Pininfarina, the design house only built the prototype. 

Diamond in the rough

With the exception of a select group of locals, few people would have guessed at the treasure that lay within the dilapidated Japanese barn. 

Loading up

The Ferrari is carefully loaded onto a transporter prior to being shipped to Italy. Care was taken not to disturb any of the muck and grime – evidence of the Daytona's time spent in the shadows.

The find of a lifetime

That was the story of the most exciting Ferrari barnfind of 2017 – and surely one of the best of all time?

It is always amazing that cars genuinely seem to get forgotten, or stored away for years – even decades – at a time without turning a wheel. We wonder what barnfinds 2020 will bring…