For the most part, I prefer barn finds that I can actually afford to own. That’s the problem with finding ultra-rare exotics, even if you can afford to buy them they are going to cost serious money to restore. Of course that doesn’t mean that I don’t still enjoy fantasizing about discovering a long lost Ferrari or some other desirable Italian. When Graham L, we actually just featured his garage here earlier, sent me a link to an upcoming auction for a 1971 Ferrari Daytona I was rather curious to see the car and read its story. And does this Daytona have quite the story. Have a look at the listing here at RM Auctions and be sure to read the owner’s complete story!
This Ferrari wasn’t actually discovered or found in the conventional sense, as the one and only owner is the one that revealed it to the world. They offer quite the interesting story of how the car came into their ownership, they actually ordered it from the Ferrari factory in person. Upon its completion they took ownership directly from the factory and traveled around Europe in it. Once their vacation in Europe was completed, they loaded it up on an ocean liner and crossed the Atlantic with it. Once to North America, they made the drive back to their home in Toronto Canada.
Once back in Canada, it was only used a few times before it went into storage. The owner’s father passed away and they had to move to Hong Kong to run the family business. The Ferrari was parked in their condo’s parking garage on blocks and that’s where it has stayed ever since. For nearly 30 years this Daytona has rested in this garage. If you don’t believe the story, just take a look at the photo of the car’s parking spot after it was removed for proof. You can clearly see that the parking garage walls have received several coats of paint over the years, but never right where the car was parked.
Once the car was out of the parking garage, it was cleaned up and gone through. It now runs, but the owner makes it clear that it will need attention before it will be ready for street use. As you can see, it was clearly used regularly before going into storage. This could be a good or a bad thing. Cars tend to fair the years better if they are used, even occasionally, but the seller didn’t plan on leaving the car parked for so long. It is important that a car be properly prepared for long term storage and it would seem that the car was literally driven into the garage, put on blocks, and never touched again. Getting it back into top shape will likely require considerable work and money.
And that brings me back to the problem with cars like this. It is a beautiful machine that deserves, no demands to be driven, but it will be costly to get it back to that point. Even the owner realized it was going to be expensive to fix it back up, that’s actually the reason they are selling it. For the right price, I’m sure a Ferrari aficionado could easily get it back into peak performance. Since I’m not a Ferrari expert, I will leave this one up to the pros, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep dreaming about it! As I’m typing this, I’m imagining cruising down the road in this Ferrari with an 8-track in the radio and the windows down. In my dream, I’m listening to something other than the Disco Rock that’s currently in it, but what album would you listen to if you owned it?
I wouldn’t listen to anything except that wonderful music the V 12 makes. I was lucky to take 5 hot laps around Laguna Seca in a Daytona once and it was great! I wish I could relive that day because I was also able to take 5 hot laps in a Ferrari 250 GTO! That car played even better music than the Daytona.
I’m thinking this is one of those deals where the cheapest thing you can do is buy it. Everything else will be far more expensive. That being said I would give up my first born a kidney and a right thumb to own a Daytona.
Great that the RM Auctions left the dust and dirt on it for their pictures. Good story from the owner, and bet it will sell for a high price.
As a long time fan of the Daytona, I was delighted to see this show up. The 8 track in the console is a nice touch. Great car, great story.
In my home town but way beyond my means – as for an album I just want to listen to the exhaust!!
I ran across several cars like this today, one is a full AACA full classic Packard limo which I could easily afford to buy but WHOOPS I’d have to sell my house to pay to restore it. In the end I’m glad for the people who have money to restore these wonderful cars and keep them alive for the future to enjoy! (Not to mention keeping K-tel Disco Rock alive too!) ^_^
This car was featured in a story recently in the Toronto Globe & Mail newspaper. The owner describes using it a lot in Europe and then leaving it up on blocks for 3 decades. The car has about 94K clicks on it but we don’t know whether that’s kilometers or miles. Either way, that’s a lot of distance for a Ferrari, especially when it’s used in Europe the way Enzo intended. After 94K clicks and 30 years the car will need every system taken apart and recommissioned, and probably an engine and maybe a driveline rebuild. And if gas was left in it while it sat, there’s another $10+K to R&R the fuel system including each and every one of its 6 Weber carbs. The interior will need a lot of attention too, probably all the leather replaced, tires, brakes—the while shot.
The good news is that it’s original, which will compansate for the downside….maybe. If perfect, a Daytona sold through RM is $800K and up. It’ll be interesting to see what this one brings.
I had a chance to drive a Daytona around the Mosport track not far from Toronto years ago, and these cars have truly amazing high speed performance. The back straight is a very long uphill drag and most street cars run out of breath at the high speeds they can get to there. The Daytona just pulled like a train and accelerated all the way up. It is definitely the fastest street car I’ve ever driven.
How fast? I didn’t come close to its top speed, but here’s a comp: Years ago in the ’70s when the Lamborghini Countach was introduced I went to look at one of the first ones in the country. No I didn’t get a test drive, but the salesman proudly told me that the top speed was 208 MPH. He actually looked that up in his information sheets. Being a real polite guy I didn’t quibble with that, but I was very interested to see that when Road & Track tested a Countach the best they saw was in the 160 MPH range. The Daytona held the record as the fastest street car for many years at 173 MPH, confirmed by just about every road test that got to its top speed, including the one that R&T did with the Daytona.
You, yes you, can now own a piece of this historic automobile:
http://www.8-track-shack.com/k-tel-disco-rock-8-track-tape-cartridges-p-6839.html
Unreal story. Very rare car with that silver painted nose. Only thing I do not like are those less than 30 year old tires…I’d have to see the production codes.
I’m not a Ferrari fan, but this has got to be one of the best looking cars ever produced
If I had the money, I don’t think I would care what it would cost to get that car back on the road. .Dropping it down a gear and listening to that engine sing going through a tunnel would be worth every penny spent.
That nose shot…my Lord. I don’t think a sports car looks any sexier when its a bit grimy and used up. They just seem to wear it well.