Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider
An undisputed star of the 1970s jet set and one of the most coveted open Ferraris of the past half-century, the model unofficially known as the 'Daytona' took its name from Ferrari’s legendary 1–2–3 victory at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, achieved with the 330 P3/4, the P4, and the 412P.
Almost a year after the debut of the Berlinetta, the open version - designated 365 GTS/4 - was unveiled at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show. The story goes that the first Daytona Spider was created at the request of a German gentleman who knew Enzo Ferrari personally.
Endowed with the same mechanical specification as its berlinetta sibling, the Daytona Spider was the fastest road-going Ferrari of its era, capable of 280 km/h, yet equally at ease idling along the boulevards of St. Tropez or making a non-discreet appearance outside a Beverly Hills club at sunset.
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There are marked differences between the European and American versions of the Daytona Spider - firstly, the rarity of the European model: only 19 out of 121 examples produced fall in this category - around 15% of the entire spider production.
Only the European cars are correctly designated as GTS/4, with the 'S' standing for 'Spider'. U.S.-spec Spiders, on the other hand, were all stamped GTB/4, just like the coupés, to avoid the cost and complexity of re-homologating the open version for the American market. Additionally, chassis #15369 came with the desirable '-A' suffix. The meaning of this designation remains somewhat mysterious. Some believe that '-A' cars featured a reinforced chassis, while others suggest they were equipped with higher-compression engines.
What seems to be the correct explanation, however, relies once again on a matter of homologation: the '-A' suffix was added to all European cars with pop-up headlights, since they needed to be re homologated because of the change in the front end of the car. Is it true, though, that some European Daytona Spiders came without the '-A' suffix, while some others, like #15369, do show it.
There are multiple visible differences, with the main one arguably being the color of the front indicator light, which is of an elegant white for European cars, while U.S. ones have full amber indicators. Two reverse lights, slightly modified bumpers, different rear lenses, lobed spinners and a chromed ring around the prancing horse on the steering wheel are other features which uniquely identify a European Daytona Spider. The mechanical differences are even more marked: different Weber carburetors, distributors and coils, larger headers, the lack of the anti smog emission equipment and other peculiarities make the European Daytona Spiders more powerful and performing than the cars with U.S. specification.
GTS/4
Chassis n. 15369
Paint color Giallo Fly
Interiors Black Connolly Leather
The only one in Giallo Fly – 'matching colors'
Ferrari Classiche Certified, extensive documentation
Winner of the Platinum Award at 2025 Cavallino Palm Beach
Best in Class and Gentleman’s Choice winner in 2025 Cavallino Classic and Sports Concours
Prepared to concours standards by Motion Products Inc., the premier Ferrari specialist in the United States
Original manuals, pouch and toolkit
Chassis #15369 is 1 of 19 European cars, the only one delivered new in Giallo Fly (20-Y-191) – a color with a fascinating story. There are many legends surrounding the color: the more likely story, is that Fly was the name of a successful racehorse at the time – as is the case for many other Ferrari colors, and developed within Ferrari.
After its birth, in aforementioned Giallo Fly over Nero Connolly leather, equipped with factory air conditioning and Borrani wheels, the car was delivered through Elie Ayache’s dealership in Lebanon. While the original destination might sound surprising, one in five of the European Daytona Spiders were sold through Ayache (including chassis 15369, 15535, 15919, 15939) – a Christian Lebanese businessman and back then the exclusive distributor of Ferrari for the Middle East. #15369 was shipped from Venezia, on March 3, 1972, and delivered on May 5, 1972 to Mr. Wassef Becharat, in Amman, Jordan.
Chassis #15369 was loaded onto the ‘Esperia’, a ship operating between 1941 and 1974 on routes connecting Northern Italy with Egypt and Lebanon. The entire delivery was overseen by Zust Ambrosetti, an Italian logistics company specializing in long-distance transport. The pouch and owner’s manual were not shipped with the car. A telegram received by Mr. C. Soubra on June 8, 1972, at 8:45 am stated: ‘Will be sending leather wallet as well as owner’s manual’. Mr. Soubra was likely a trusted associate of Mr. Ayache, as he was responsible for handling correspondence with Ferrari.
#15369 eventually made its way to the United States, where it was owned by Carl Corzan of South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. At the time of purchase, the car had just 12,500 kilometers on the odometer - a rare detail, as odometers were often swapped to miles when cars were imported from kilometer-based markets. Mr. Corzan enjoyed the Daytona Spider for several years, reportedly driving it extensively along the scenic roads near South Lake Tahoe, where he is believed to have owned a luxury hotel. He eventually sold the hotel for $2,750,000 but later, in 1997, faced bankruptcy. That same year, the car was presented at Ferrari’s landmark 50th anniversary celebration at Silverstone, where it was offered for sale by Coys. While few details are known about its time under Mr. Corzan’s ownership, by 1997 the car appeared in its factory-correct Giallo Fly paintwork.
Two years later, sold by Brooks at Quail Lodge for $354,000, the car was back in the U.S., and has been lovingly maintained in two collections since; first on the East Coast, where it was partially refurbished by Autosport, and the other in the hands of a notable collector in West Hollywood who had the car regularly maintained by Ferrari Beverly Hills.
The same official dealership, long entrusted with the car’s care, certified it in 2016. Chassis #15369, in fact, comes with its Ferrari Classiche Certification - the ‘Red Book’ - confirming that the chassis, body and engine are all original and in excellent condition. Not by chance, the car still retains its original engine bay, its factory-original dashboard, which is particularly rare, as dashboards were often replaced during restorations, and many other original components.
In January 2025, the Daytona was proudly presented at the 34th edition of Cavallino Classic Palm Beach, where it was honored with the Platinum Award, a recognition reserved for cars that achieve an exceptional level of correctness, originality and quality. During the same weekend, the car was presented at Cavallino Classics & Sports Sunday Concours, winning Best in Class and the coveted Gentleman’s Choice Award.
In March 2025, the car was showcased at Moda Miami, where it received an award and was once again praised by both collectors and judges alike.