From the stable of arch enthusiast and consummate perfectionist, the late Aldo Cudone, this fearsome Daytona was prepared to competition specification in 1981 for Signor Cudone in the workshops of Giuliano Michelotto, the factory-appointed tuner responsible for the 308 Group 4, F40 LM, 333SP and many other Ferrari racing cars. This work was carried out under the supervision of Gaetano Florino, head of Ferrari Assistenza Clienti at the time, without regard to expense.
In the modern classic car market, the big four-cam V12 front-engined Ferrari Daytona is rightly regarded as offering a tremendous amount of machinery-and of public road performance-for the money such cars cost. Most sought-after of all, however, are the handful of Daytonas assembled for endurance racing in the Assistenza Clienti center neighboring the old pre-war Scuderia Ferrari building.
Acquired from second owner Clementino Borghi by Aldo Cudone in 1981, this Daytona was uprated to full factory specification by Michelotto (mechanics) and Bacchelli & Villa (bodywork). Works drawings were made available-after all, the Daytona had been racing until 1979 and the know-how was still fresh.
The riveted Group 4 bodywork includes six side exhausts, flared arches covering wider competition wheels, full height faired headlamps, air splitters atop front fenders, a chin spoiler, twin exterior fuel fillers, plexiglass side windows and a single pantograph wiper.
Inside, the cabin is trimmed in lightweight materials and there are harnesses for both occupants, plus a fire extinguisher, roll cage and other competition necessities. Nonetheless, the trunk still manages to accommodate a space-saver spare and full toll kit.
Mechanically, the car was fully rebuilt by Michelotto to competition specs. Although we do not have a record of the horsepower figures, the presentation of the engine bay, dominated by the ram air induction box, speaks for itself.
Judging from its still concours condition 20 years later, Sig. Cudone’s “Comp Daytona” was used most sparingly. We know he drove the car, accompanied by an Italian rally ace, on the 1985 Coppa d’Italia, but since then the car appears to have been carefully stored in climate-controlled conditions. It is offered today by his family with current FIA testament to the enthusiasm and perfectionism of one man and the talent of two great Ferrari specialists.
SCM Analysis
Detailing
| Vehicle: | 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona |
| Years Produced: | 1969-74 |
| Number Produced: | 1,273 |
| Original List Price: | $19,000 (1969) |
| SCM Valuation: | $105,000-$140,000 |
| Tune Up Cost: | $3,000 |
| Distributor Caps: | $200 |
| Chassis Number Location: | Steering column and on frame near right front suspension pickup points |
| Engine Number Location: | Right side of engine block near flywheel |
| Club Info: | Ferrari Club of America, Box 720597, Atlanta, GA 30358; Ferrari Owners Club, 8642 Cleta St. Downey, CA 90241 |
| Website: | http://www.ferrariclubofamerica.org |
| Alternatives: | Two Maserati Ghiblis, four Ford SVO Mustangs or a single 289 Cobra |
This car sold for $239,960, including buyer’s premium, at the Bonhams & Brooks Monaco sale, May 21, 2001.
The 365 GTB/4 Daytona was Ferrari’s first modern luxury Grand Touring Berlinetta, with striking looks, an exhaust note to die for, big horsepower and a top speed few would ever find.
Initially priced at $19,000 in 1969, production ended in 1974 with a price tag of just over $25,000. Just as production ended, the first of several gas crises hit and prices plummeted-I bought an alloy Comp Daytona prototype in mid-1974 for a mere $14,000. Daytona prices peaked in 1989 when a good “street” Daytona would easily bring $500,000. Prices dropped below $100,000 by 1995, and have rebounded slightly in the last five years to the $100,000-$152,000 range for a good “no-stories” car.
Almost 1,400 365 GTB/4s were built, and although never intended to be race cars, a few were indeed prepared by privateers and raced successfully. A mere fifteen Competition lightweights were built with factory support and raced very successfully, with multiple class wins at Le Mans, Daytona, the Tour de France and at virtually every other major racing event on the planet. These very desirable factory-built competition cars bring as much as $1,500,000 today for a Le Mans class winner, and sell quickly when on the market.
With the few factory-built competition cars commanding a huge premium, there has long been a demand for non-factory built competition cars for real racing, for club racing and for those who want the ultimate in a 1970s Ferrari “bad boy” street car.
I know of thirty-three non-factory Competition 365 GTB/4 Cs built over the years. The very few privateers’ cars with period Le Mans, Daytona or Sebring race histories command a substantial premium, while those with no race history are the club racers’ bargain basement buy, available as cheaply as $125,000-about the cost of the competition conversion.
When I inspected this car at Aldo Cudone’s Padova race shop in October 1997, the quality, authenticity and money spent on its conversion were instantly obvious. With bodywork by Bacchelli & Villa and mechanical and race preparation by Michelotto, the work was to the highest standards in Italy and, bluntly, to higher standards than when the factory-built Competition cars were new.
While this example is a non-factory car and has no race history from the 1970s, and so is not eligible for most first-tier European rally events, it brought a price of almost $100,000 more than recent sales of similar but lesser-quality cars. This is further proof that “the best” will always bring the best prices.-Michael Sheehan
(Historic data and photo courtesy of auction company.)