Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4: Road Review | Catchpole on Carfection

Henry Catchpole drives on of the all time classic Ferraris, the 365 GTB 4 aka, Daytona.
Ferrari 365 GTB/4
There is always an intrigue in comparing generations of car from the same family. When a new 911 or Corvette comes out it is inevitable that you will want to draw comparisons with the one that immediately preceded it. But when there is a gap of 23 years between the end of production of one model and the start of the next, that makes a comparison a little more unusual.
That, however, is just the situation we have here. Ferrari produced the legendary 365 GTB/4 (better known as the Daytona) between 1968 and 1973. The next front-engined V12 supercar to appear with a Prancing Horse was the 550 Maranello which was made between 1996 and 2001. Can they be compared? Well, with the help of Bell Sport & Classic, we went to find out.
It made sense to tackle them in chronological order, so this first film deals with the Daytona. It has a 4.4-litre Colombo V12 under that long bonnet, putting out 347bhp at 7500rpm. When it was launched, Autocar figured it at 174mph flat out (a road test record that would stand for some time) and that was a true average speed taken from two runs in opposite directions. This lead to a quip from Dan Gurney after a victory in the 1971 Cannonball Run, when he said ‘We never once exceeded 175mph’.
The car in this film is a Daytona from later in the production run, identifiable by its pop up headlights. These replaced the earlier cars’ fixed lights in order to meet legislation in the USA. It is also one of just 156 UK right-hand drive cars and has the more modern five-spoke star wheels as opposed to the other option which was Borrani spoked wheels. The five spoke design is something you can see in the 550 Maranello, too, but we’ll leave further comparison for the second film…
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[@michaeljacobs5235]

Having put many miles on a '73 Daytona the cars only really make sense over 70mph. Once you hit 80+ it's really impressive.

[@MarcSob22]

The 550 is the most gorgeous "modern" GT ever made! And the 365 GTB/4 is almost perfect if it weren't for the fact that the Competizione version exists, which is an absurd car, winner of countless races and championships and today it's possible to drive on the streets!A note, the version that reached "only" 174mp/h was the American version which was a little heavier and had around 30hp less than the European version, the European version was recorded at just over 180mp/h actually! Great content

[@uGotGot1618]

Completely agree though I did prefer the lights of the 575 when it came out. It’s just such a muscular yet lean body shape. It’s amazing

[@arnoherrmann2495]

Dear Henry, For me you are one of the best motorcar journalists and I particularly appreciate your sense of feeling a car and how you can transmit your impressions to the reader but this time you failed (Sorry. Don't take it personally). You did not succeed to understand and fully appreciate the Daytona, its capabilities. Try it once more, longer, drive faster and harder, double clutch, challenge its competences, tame the stallion, try to imagine to do this in 1968-1972, listen to Regazzoni in the old video telling how he used the car and you will be rewarded with extreme satisfaction and joy. This Ferrari deserves the recognition as a masterpiece GT of it's period.. Once it was said: you cannot appreciate a Ferrari below 60 m/h (did they mean average speed/mean velocity?!) and this is true, but hélas out of time. I loved your 812 review and many others, p.ex. Project 8, etc. Thank you.

[@Supercruze]

These are just gorgeous automobiles. One of the most beautiful GT cars ever designed for the road.

[@eea1119]

Such a great thing to revisit these classics. Hoping for more such reviews

[@andrewhigdon8346]

174mph with those power numbers is quite a testament to its slippery profile. Impressive. Those same numbers in a typical musclecar of that period would be lucky to break 150, if that.

[@arnoherrmann2495]

If you like the Daytona see the excellent Simon Kidston video with Arturo Merzario (F1 driver, rescued Lauda, won Targa Florio) in his 365 GTB4 versus Balboni (famous Lamborghini Testdriver) in a Miura and have fun

[@jamespink4202]

For this 68 year old, this is peak Ferrari. Drop dead gorgeous design from any angle, wonderful interior (when were brass eyelets in leather seats and black crackle not cool)?

[@normsallitt2753]

Bravo, excellent content and a fantastic review of one of my all time favorites 👍

[@chadderton]

Great review of a stunning classic.

[@TheCabrooster11]

Another excellent video on a truly brilliant classic Ferrari 👍

[@rjnation5042]

It truly doesn't get much better than a front engined Ferrari V12, just a glorious way to spend a day, Rj in Oz

[@GM-fh5jp]

Damn they look good on the road. Hard to find a Ferrari that looks better in profile than the Daytona. Beautiful lines, fabulous engine and a real man's interior. I *want* one.

[@bulleidboy1]

Superb review - as usual. Very surprised you have not driven one before - it's still top of the list when the lottery comes up. Looking forward to the 550 Maranello 550.

[@martynpotter21]

Another great review, Henry! I love the Ferrari Daytona and I too had originally thought that it was somehow different to the 365 GTB/4 before realising they were the same car haha

[@mr.wandererjp]

What a nice car, beautiful car and video. Thank you for giving a great time.

[@ninja12lawbreaker]

I read Brock Yates book Sunday Driver in about 1975 when I was 10, it had a big effect on me and have loved speed ever since. I bought another copy during lockdown to revisit it. Writing style seems old fashioned now but the story is still highly amusing

[@mx19idlewilder]

As usual - the highest quality stuff.

[@marknelson5929]

You are a very lucky man indeed to be driving one! These have always been my all time favourite. A few years back here in Oz I was given a tour of a private garage and amongst some humdrum classics I recognised the shape of a Daytona under its cover - it was in a 'light silver blue metallic' colour and RHD, looked magnificent. He'd had a Miura in the past, but found it heavy work to drive, particularly in traffic and the lack of A/C didn't help in our climate.

[@myou6675]

Great job as always. The 550M is the only Ferrari I have driven so it’s hard for me to put it in context with others - hence I’m really looking forward to your review of it.

[@simonturl7961]

Such a lovely shape. This was THE card to hold when Top Trumps Cars was all the rage in school playgrounds in the early 70s. 174 mph meant it trumped everything.

[@cbolt8089]

Absolutely love this technical film

[@nathanb2100]

These two particular Ferraris look amazing 😃🤩

[@pravine02]

Can't wait to see that 550 Maranello 😍

[@brianiswrong]

Lottery win a given A red daytona and a red porsche 928 gts, would be my " halo" cars parked inside a room of the house so I could admire them at my leisure. Then being 🇬🇧 a range rover outside for the day to day stuff,in metallic BRG with saddle leather,dark roof lining and dash top.

[@TheDjcarlos67]

I had a book in the 70s (I still have it) with a 2 page shot of a gold Daytona that I still drool over 🤤 The top speed seemed unbelievable at the time

[@DavidMorley]

My Father nearly bought a Daytona that belonged to Jacky Ickx in the early 80's. He just couldn't get all the money together. A few years later they were worth 5 times what it would have cost. Oh well! Wonderful car.

[@mochabear88]

Beautiful creation

[@stevehines5256]

Great vid….respect to HC 😎👍

[@cbca6567]

Actually Fioravanti's oriignal design was overruled by Enzo Ferrari, as discussed by Scaglietti who said Enzo demanded a wider body design. Also the stainless exhaust on the example driven does not provide the distinct Ferrari "trill" tonal sound of the oriignal mild steel original, nor does that example seem particularly well tuned from the sound, and should feel as quick as the 0-60 quoted in period. The Bonini serviced/tuned Daytona driven by Tom Hartley in his youtube video sounds and drives perfectly even if that example has open trumpets, with very crisp low torque on small throttle opening.

[@tumslucks9781]

Thanks. I'll check it out. Ferrari V12s sound better than V8s which I've never liked. The exception was the 355 which sounded like a motorcycle at full blast.

[@arnoherrmann2495]

T.H car is absolutely perfect, probably better than new - and very well driven.

[@Sinna94]

I'd love to see you review a Ferrari 456; it's an unfairly underrated car!

[@JVerschueren]

Nice review. I drove one of these back when it was just an old, not very popular Ferari and quite liked it in terms of performance. Nowadays, of course, a Skoda Octavia hybrid can probably run rings around it, but, compared to the sort of cars that were out there when it was new (or getting on a bit) it went and cornered very well indeed. Slightly odd driving position, indeed, took a little getting used to.

[@johnfazackerley6951]

I wonder where my Dads Daytona is now.Reg Ten444L from Ian Anthony Dealers.Dark blue met.Dark blue leather.Cheers John.

[@johnsim3722]

Another great video! Liked the version with the closed in headlights, takes me back to Miami Vice although that one was a fake. Always looked futuristic back when the future was still to be written. Now it's a classic!

[@sirmurf]

The gear-lever on the Daytona is canted for RHD cars because the it’s on the wrong side of the tunnel - it reduces the distance from wheel to gear knob. I think the 275 and BB were the same.

[@904carrera]

Great video. Looking forward to watching the 550 video - if it ever gets published, given Harry’s new collaboration with Hagerty.

[@lips5913]

Still my dream car, I was lucky enough to own a 456 GTA for several years and got as close as I will probably ever will get to owning a car like a Daytona. Selling it was one of my few regrets in life!

[@heinedenmark]

That's a very nice Ferrari as well

[@lips5913]

@@heinedenmark Certainly was a lovely car, fastest I ever saw was 168mph and then my wife who was asleep beside me woke up! Very fragile though, we used to go on extended European driving tours and we'd inevitably come home in a rented VW Golf diesel ! The Ferrari would arrive home on a low loader about a fortnight later!! We used to joke it wanted a longer holiday!

[@arnoherrmann2495]

@@lips5913 strange. I felt the Daytona was mechanically undestroyable if well maintained

[@lips5913]

@@arnoherrmann2495 The 456 GTA suffered from too many electrical gremlins and silly failures like the door windows not dropping so the door couldn't close. I suspect the Daytona was reliable because it was simpler.

[@arnoherrmann2495]

@@lips5913Thought you referred to the Daytona. I owned a 456, driving long distances in France, Germany, Italy, sometimes with 2 passengers, some 25'000 miles, several times at high speeds up to 300 km/h, had only some minor problems due to bad service (sensor, replaced water tube too short). Very comfortable long journey tourer, much loved. The GTA was much less desirable: complexity, heavier, sluggish GM Automatic drive same as in XJ12, Daimler Double Six. Eats all power and joy. Low mulage cars often suffer suspension and other leaks. Ferraris need to be driven and maintained regularly. Enjoy

[@theshowmanuk]

It was in the early 80's leaving with a work colleague in the west end (London). He spotted a red Ferrari parked down the street, 'it looks like a Daytona' he said, we walked over and there it was. It was a beauty. I was thinking - 'I'd love one of these'.

[@samueldowney2806]

That car is just utterly gorgeous. I didn't realise later ones had pop up lights...I think I might prefer them. Very hyped for the 550 test also Henry...I want to know if it really is the greatest drivers car of all time. It must be in the running with what it beat out in Evo's car of the decade back in the day.

[@VideoDotGoogleDotCom]

Why would anyone prefer pop-up headlights? Might as well install bricks on the hood.

[@rossrreyes]

The 550s design looks mast produced and plastic-ish, while the Daytona looks hand crafted and super refined. Even the molding is jewel-like on the later while fiat-parts-bin-like on the former

[@carfan3762]

The angle of the steering wheel is frightful. But the car is lovely.

[@chesspiece81]

I thought you might have left for Haggerty after the video that came out on their channel of you driving the Ford.

[@joebeus6886]

1976 "The Gumball Rally" Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona spider Franco "What's-a behind me is NOT important"!! 😎

[@kavinskysmith4094]

A few things here, the wheel choice is on this for a reason, the coupes are too heavy for wire wheels, otherwise they start to come undone, which is why that went away following the daytona, and why the spiders have them, as their just light enough that that isnt an issue, the ferrari logo on the turn signal is actually I believe an insert that can be taken out from the inside, as some have them, some dont also Ferrari always kept up with building a front engined V12, its just that this is the last one everyone likes to remember before the 550 came out namely with the car that came after this, the GTC, the 400, then the 456, like they never actually ever STOPPED making front engined V12's, its just thanks to the miura, and all those lotus's what the market really wanted was mid engined supercars hence those also if you want a curious back to back, put this against the testarossa, which I've always thought to be a midengined remake of this car, which everyone either loves or hates as they hope its a countach killer when its not, it was just made to be an alternative to it that was better than it, namely with the 4000 S model made when the company was bankrupt that had about 380 to 400 horsepower before they enlarged the motor to 5 liters, only to screw up the lines of the body by making the roof an inch higher and make the thing so loud you cant drive it without hearing protection hence why you have that overreaction on the tr where its so quiet you wonder where the noise is the F40 is the countach killer however, like you really have to look at its purpose of use to understand how it fits in with the intended design lineage, hence why everyone gets so disapointed with the TR, what they really want is the F40 that and they dont know that if you free up the exhaust, well it kinda makes the thing way faster than what it was, like it free's up 80 horsepower without doing any real mods to the car itself. also the interior on this is sadly not unique, its from the dino, while on the TR, they rewrote the book for it, with probably one of the best looking ferrari interiors ever made. hence why I keep thinking it was a remake, like lets make the thing unique throughout with no borrowed dash vents, and recycled bits from the dino on it as those dash vents are from a fiat 124 sport spider, the dials are Jaeger, the watch maker, who's dials were used on both ferrari and jaguar, and the seats are also from dino with the chairs and flares daytona package which might explain where the daytona thing came from, maybe someone who knew that and of the 67 race thought it should be called that and it stuck, also I wonder how much of a difference there is between this and the race cars like what did they do to run this at the 77' 24 hours of daytona with paul newman behind the wheel, which I think it won if memory serves.

[@daniel635biturbo]

Very nice with some classics ! Was this shot in earlier the spring, March ? Birds chirping and no leafs on the trees ?

[@Theoriginalramjammer]

What about the 456GT? I see that as the transition between Daytona and Maranello.

[@geoffsaunders4960]

Excellent video, thank you. Just to clear up something Henry said about Fioravanti did design the 308 Magnum style cars but the 308 GT4 was penned by Ghandini. And Fioravanti is the greatest car designer ever.

[@DrummingAli93]

We met Henry years ago at Goodwood FOS, he is just the same as he is in videos & magazines. Has a great feel for a cars dynamics.

[@mokotedimogadime8567]

Tx H! Being an 80s teen I fell in love with the Daytona Spyder from watching Miami Vice. As a matter of fact, I was surprised to discover years later that it came out first as a GT coupe. And it solidified it as my all time favourite Ferrari. Hammond on TG didn't hurt the cause either.

[@clausmadsen6754]

The Miami Vice car was a kit car based on a Corvette chassis. I was so disappointed when I found out.

[@mokotedimogadime8567]

@@clausmadsen6754 kit car?😳Gutted!😅

[@odl21]

how incredibly gorgeous. i'm a poor man with only a 400GT which on paper isn't much different but that just looks so special from the inside.

[@lindvi0r]

waiting for the GT3 RS video, I just know it's going to be nuts

[@PrinceBarin77]

I cannot “unsee” the Rover SD1 in the design. Damn you Rover!!!

[@rileyberkowitz]

I'd love to see a stratos on here 🔥

[@erkkavilhunen7852]

RHD version have usually leather around gear selector just because that gated shifter looks so strange. Open gate wasn't so big deal back then and only LHD was kept open since it looks better.

[@ChrisJackson36]

@Carfection - Doesn't 456 fit between Daytona and 550? I know they're unloved but would be interesting to get a take on 456 as well now. Cheers. Henry is a legend as always.

[@alberthitchcock]

An Icon......

[@williamc9578]

Classy!

[@vertigogarage24]

365 Gtb/4 is my favourite car!

[@joebeus6886]

Best looking and best sounding Ferrari GT !!

[@darrensmith6999]

Beautiful!! Love how the Rover SD1 stole some of its looks (:

[@riddledriddler3933]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! this is soooo delicious! :)

[@kramnam4716]

Was offered a blue one for 70k … in 2005. Those tyres look too wide a profile. Gear gate placed for LHD .

[@Fastvoice]

AFAIK it has a 120 liters (26.4 UK gallons, 31.7 US gallons) fuel tank, not 128 l. 😉 Still enormous though.

[@martinschofield5465]

When’s the 550 video due? 👍🏻

[@geoffclarke8934]

Would definitely have one of these in my dream car garage. Have loved the 365 GTB/4 (Daytona) since seeing one in a pub car park as a kid in the 80s.

[@yaroslavbozhdynsky]

F40 was designed by Pietro Camardella under the supervision of Aldo Brovarone, who also designed the original Dino concept and road cars.

[@rogeradshead7345]

Hey Henry, where's that 550 review you were teasing?

[@Desertduleler_88]

No computers or electronic tech, just the raw driving experience. I miss these cars.

[@timbonfield3589]

The 550/575 realy have grown gracefully with age.

[@atastefortheroad4475]

I would agree. There is a balance I see now that I did not when new.

[@AndersChanTidemann]

Fabulous - funny, I’ve heard some people say the Daytona drives a bit like a pig, happy to see you describe it differently. What a glorious thing to look at!

[@6rimR3ap3r]

Wait, not even a single mirror on the outside of the 365? O_O it's such a beautiful car anyways, maybe even more so in Competizione trim.

[@martinschofield5465]

What happened to the 550 video 😞. Did I miss it?

[@GrotrianSeiler]

If engine sounds are music to the ears, Henry’s words have always been music to the page. How about that?

[@rogeradshead7345]

Roger Adshead 3 weeks ago Hey Henry, where's that 550 review you were teasing?

[@cumnmrmptaaa4234]

I thought this was totally psychological, my E30 is "warm" after 5 minutes, but it takes a good 15 minutes until it really wakes up, I've always liked this feeling as well

[@morganbrown8950]

Henry, where's the second video? Where's the 550 film?

[@v12superleggera51]

Henry how does it compare to the 330 you drove, which sounds like really did captivate you?

[@malcolmcook7007]

The real street legal race car!

[@rockzs74r]

Is this the last we will see Henry here as he now moves to hagerty?

[@odl21]

some would say the daytona's sucessor was the 365 GTC/4.... two more seats maybe but much closer than the 550.

[@matthewlange8616]

Great film Henry. According to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini an Italianised version of Daytona - Daitona can be found in the pressings on the very early cars. You're right the Daytona is not a car for british B roads, IMO it is at it's best on sweeping French Route Nationales.

[@MattUK36]

Or on the fantastic Spanish roads

[@matthewlange8616]

@@MattUK36 not been that far south with mine yet but maybe one day.

[@chukku2175]

Simply the most beautiful car of all time. (Although I prefer it in blue/-ish colors)

[@ametti000]

Wasn't a glowing review. Respect for that. No rose tinted glasses on Henry.

[@stuartsmith5308]

The most beautiful Ferrari ever made.

[@dinoallbaugh2050]

Great video! I could never afford this car( so i built a scale model of one!)

[@andrewhigdon8346]

And the 2600 pounds helped with that 0-60 time and top speed too.

[@richardharrold9736]

Is this an old video you've had lined up for ages, or is Henry working for both you and Hagerty?

[@gentnextdoor]

If its a Daytona.. it has to be the spider... channel your inner Don Johnson or Philip Michael thomas

[@robertrishel3685]

My god that is a beautiful example, just perfect. What a cool car. What an event it must be to drive it. You’re a lucky man Henry, very fortunate indeed.

[@runechristiansen7372]

Rather odd that you didn’t mention Miami Vice, I know it wasn’t a real Ferrari but still 🤷‍♂️ and boy does the Daytona look awesome as a convertible.

[@Pandamasque]

Still waiting for someone to put 365 GTB/4 and 456 next to one another and realise how true the '90s copy is, and how well it aged too.

[@matyaskrisztiankosa9050]

I suppose the colour of the Daytona is Rosso Corsa...Am i right?

[@redbarchetta8782]

When I moved into my current home back in 1996 a gent down the street was selling one of these, just like that one, for $36,000. Man, wish I had the $$ back then.

[@benhur_9377]

👍❤️

[@ceejaydeesoozaa]

RICHARD CARPENTER'S CAR AS FEATURED ON ONE OF THE CARPENTERS LP COVERS

[@scottjohnson4319]

Now THAT was refreshing after the dismal Segway video. Henry does such a wonderful job of reviewing the classics I'd swear he was older than he really is. Can't wait for the next one.

[@mulletmanpete]

*Henry

[@andrewdavis9223]

Still the best ever❤😊

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

❤👍

[@user-ei2nt2qd2b]

I came here for the Daytona and had to suffer Catchpole.... It was worth it

[@shirleyboy8859]

Yes Please.... :-))