1972 Ferrari 365

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys Sealed July event, Bidding Closes 16 July 2026.
2,300,000 - 2,800,000 EUR

• The 16th of just 18 Daytona Spiders built to European specifications
• Italian delivery example, retained by its second owner for over thirty years
• Used in the movie The Swiss Conspiracy and featured in Ruoteclassiche magazine
• Ferrari Classiche Certified in 2009, retains its original chassis, engine, and bodywork
• Extraordinarily well preserved in its original colours of Grigio Argento over Nera

Conceived initially for the American market like the 275 GTS/4 NART Spider before it, Ferraris 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider followed a long and illustrious line of V-12, open-top, grand tourers built in limited numbers. Only 121 Daytona Spiders would be built but the vast majority of these would be allocated to the U.S. market. Just 18 cars would remain in Europe for Ferraris European customers.

Chassis number 15911 was the 16th of just 18 Daytona Spiders built to European specifications by Ferrari. Finished in Grigio Argento (106-E-1) over a Nera (VM 8500) Connolly interior, the car was built to LHD specifications and fitted with both air conditioning and power windows. Completed by the factory in May of 1972, one month later the car was registered in Ravenna (RA 187453) and sold new though Motor S.a.s. in Bologna, just down the road to the factory, to Avvocato Lodovico Constantino Giardini of Ravenna. According to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the car was used in the film The Swiss Conspiracy whilst in Giardinis ownership which was released in 1975.

Giardini sold chassis number 15911 to the second owner, Elio Paterlini of Reggio Emilia in May of 1976, who was just thirty-five years old at the time. Paterlini re-registered the car in Reggio Emilia (RE 274524) and would go on to use and enjoy the car for over three decades. During his ownership, the car was seen on a handful of occasions with its most notable appearance being featured in the Italian magazine Ruoteclassiche issue 226 (October 2007) in a comparison test alongside a Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9 Spyder. Paterlini finally sold the Daytona Spider to Giovanni Venturelli in May of 2009. In 2016, the car was displayed at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena. Shortly thereafter, the seats were retrimmed in its original shade of Nera, yet today the original trim on the dashboard and soft top still remains.

Remaining in Italy in Venturellis ownership until 2024, this Daytona Spider has been extraordinarily well preserved, no doubt thanks being carefully kept by just two owners for over forty years. The Ruoteclassiche explains that while Mr. Paterlini sought to keep the car in all original condition, he made sure the car was regularly maintained mechanically throughout his ownership and today it remains in good running condition. A handful of invoices from the well-regarded marque specialists at Autofficina Bonini Carlo are on file from Mr. Venturellis ownership, with the most recent of which carried out in November 2024 totaling to 6,230.00. It is important to note that in 2009, the car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it retains its original chassis, engine, bodywork, and is fitted with a replacement gearbox of the correct type.

Arguably one of Ferraris most iconic and beloved V-12 grand tourers, the Daytona Spider would mark the end of an era for Ferrari, as it would be the final open-top Ferrari to feature a derivation of Gioacchino Colombos classic short-block V-12. Not only does their rarity make them highly desirable in todays market, even more so for this European specification example, but the superlative driving experience which the Daytona Spider offers simply cannot be rivaled. This particular example is surely amongst the finest examples of its kind and would stand proud in any collection of Ferraris worldwide.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/s0726/.