1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder

Introduced at the 1968 Paris Salon, the 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” was an obvious winner from the start, and a noteworthy successor to the 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta it had replaced. The Daytona used underpinnings similar to the 275 GTB’s chassis and suspension, but with vastly improved braking. Ferrari finally dispensed with the substandard Dunlop discs that had been used since the 250 series. The new four-cam, 4.4-liter, V12 engine was fitted with six Weber 40 DCN carburetors and produced an impressive 355 hp at 7500 rpm.

Pininfarina had produced some of the most attractive bodywork for the prototype, which also helped give the new Ferrari an aggressively exciting look. The best part was that it had performance to match. It would eventually go on to be one of the last great, front-engined Berlinettas with bodywork by Scaglietti.

The 170-plus mph performance of the Daytona was not exceeded by a front-engined Ferrari until fairly recently—certainly...