Do you remember when the Ferrari Daytona was 20+ years old?

You and I are the same age. I know my 20 and 18 year olds love them!

 

When I was that age and saw a 250 SWB up close and running at full RPM on the track, that imprinted on me what a Ferrari should be. A 575M is a close to that 50s-60s styling and front engine V-12 that I could afford.

 

I can only speak for myself and say this: I was at FOW a few years ago and they invited us to have a look at their first 812 which had just been delivered.

I was waaaaay more excited by the 550 in the showroom

 

I traded my Dino 246 GT for a 1970 Euro Daytona in 1978, so I can remember when they were new. R&T test of Harrah's red Euro Daytona was great. Mine was very similar, except Giallo Fly with black blood grooves.

 

When I was 18 I adored the Daytona, 275, 330 and Lusso, and I was hoping for the introduction of a new front V12 berlinetta, which I had to wait for 4 more years. For me the 550 has been the last call to buy a classic Ferrari, or to be correct, a Ferrari which would incorporate all those features that, for my taste, composed a classic Ferrari.
Saturday I was at Mugello for the Finali Mondiali, and I has not been able to spot a single Maranello in any of the Ferrari parking, and that, in my records, add to the appeal of the model...

 

The only 575 I’ve ever seen in the flesh is my own! I have never seen another Maranello out on the road.

I’ve seen four 550’s, and that’s it. Two in dealerships, two in shows.

 

Yes

 

Moral of that story seems to be Drive your car! Keeps these out on the road for others to see and appreciate (and admire). Make the message that the only pedestal they belong in is how great of vehicles they are, not solely some rich mans out of reach object or Ferrari maintenance nightmare. Maybe even inspire others to get theirs out more often. At the end of the day all these cars were built for purpose, yet it seems so few get the opportunity to realize their intended design.

 

Right on, and I do!!

Some of it has to do with where I live, truthfully. We have a handful of enthusiasts who are into the more vintage stuff.

 

They already didn't make that many, so other than a few select locations worldwide, you probably wont walk up to the wrong one at Wal-Mart

 

The feeling of “awesomeness” of rolling in a Daytona in 1978 cannot be understated.

I know you have shared it before….did you go from the Daytona to a 308 while still living abroad?

 

Haha! Yes, I highly doubt it

People are always happy to see it, and I’m glad to take a minute to talk about the car and the marque and let people know that you don’t _have_ to be a fricken robber baron to get into the club!

 

"People are always happy to see it, and I’m glad to take a minute to talk about the car and the marque..."
*****
A lot of kids and fewer adults have sat and occasionally gone for rides in my 575 over the years. The kids get the "stay in school and work hard" talk. Probably the craziest situation was when I was, IIRC, heading to the South West and was at a rest stop in Western OK. There was a man and wife in a truck towing a trailer with a Porsche track car. Blah, blah, he was in the Air Force and had been on the East Coast at a race; "Would you like to drive the F-car?" If looks could kill, his wife had him marked as a dead man. Off we go on back roads; that Mf'er could drive. After about 45 min. we get back to the rest stop and if the wife had had a gun, we were both dead. The good news is I didn't have to get in the car and drive with her!

 

I bet you felt pretty guilty when they dragged the lake and found his body.

I’ll also bet he still had a smile on his face…

 

yesterday on our way to Big Sur.
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I'm born in 68, and in the 70's the Daytona was my absolute favorite car for many years.
My mom bought me this one in a swiss shopping center.

Daniel

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I was too young in 1994 to remember much. However, I remember my first ride in a Daytona 8 years ago (almost to the day!) and recall thinking how the Maranello felt like an authentic evolution of the Daytona (more usable for sure though). There are a number of cars that carry the ethos of the past on paper, but not many capture the actual experience as well.

The Daytona experience really connected the dots for me.

 

Took a young neighbor for a ride in a couple of cars.. It was his favorite