Miguel Sánchez
During the Franco regime and until the full incorporation of Spain into the European Economic Community, import quotas were quite low. In this way, the protection of the national industry was promoted, seriously taxing any imported vehicle brought in private. What's more, the mixture of bureaucracy and taxes made foreign cars products with no competitive capacity in the local market.
Thus, national manufacturers grew under the protection of an evident protectionism against the most efficient and competitive foreign industry. Truly a double edged sword. And it is that, while in motorsport companies like FIAT or FASA achieved continuity to this day Thanks to having strong technological partners, in the case of motorcycling everything was very different.
What's more, as soon as the Spanish market began to liberalize, from Montesa to Bultaco passing through Sanglas, each and every one of the historical brands of local motorcycling began to fall. A fact that, mists of nostalgia aside, can be well explained based on the lack of quality and technological backwardness of those manufacturers. Widely accommodated to a market where, for decades, they were isolated from Japanese competition thanks to state action.
However, in the rigid wall of those protectionist measures there were some cracks through which to slip. To begin with, we must take into account fairs such as the one in Barcelona. Places where, in small batches, vehicles could be imported and sold under very special conditions. In fact, This environment was the gateway to Spain for unique models such as the Peugeot 504 Estate Riviera. A prototype signed by Pininfarina that, after being acquired by a Spanish buyer in 1971, spent decades in our country until its recent departure to the Netherlands.
Likewise, given its insular nature, far removed from the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands had advantageous measures in the face of more relaxed import quotas than in the rest of the country. Thanks to that, the current panorama of classics in that territory has unforeseen surprises in places like Madrid or Barcelona. Undoubtedly, the clearest heritage on that old automobile market much more liberalized than in other Spanish territories.
A context under which, in 1970, the delivery of this Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta took place. He "Daytona de Tenerife".
THE DAYTONA DE TENERIFE, A FERRARI RESTORED TO THE ORIGINAL STATE
After reigning at Le Mans for six consecutive years, Ferrari ceded its reign to Ford at the French event after the appearance of the GT40. However, that was not the end of the house of Maranello in the World Cup of Brands. far from it, the defeat at Le Mans had an obvious reply thanks to the triplet achieved by the Ferrari P3/4 and P4 at Daytona 1967. A singular feat that, in the end, ended up giving a popular nickname to the new V12 launched by the Italian house in 1968.
Conceived to be the replacement for the 275 GTB/4, the 365 GTB/4 interpreted an effective mixture of rupture and continuity. Not surprisingly, while in the stylistic sense Pininfarina opted for a muscular line marked by the enormous bonnet, in the technical Ferrari was still clinging to the front engine against the tendency to the central-rear already assumed by Lamborghini. With all this, the popularly known as Daytona was one of the great Ferrari V12 before the BB appeared with its mid-rear engine.
In addition, its engine derived directly from the Le Mans Sports Prototype delivered up to 352 CV with a symphony worthy of the best classic times in Maranello. In short, one of the great sports cars of all time, which presented in this unit a really attractive appearance. Not surprisingly, its combination of white with green motifs -both on the bodywork and on the seats- gives a soft and tropical color combination to the eye. Of course, worthy of the Canary Islands. Something in full harmony with the place where it was delivered to its first owner: Tenerife.
Commissioned through a local Alfa Romeo dealer, this Ferrari 365 GTB/4 was given a highly personal specification at the whim of whoever ordered it. All this through the steps taken by Antonio Vela Murillo; at the time responsible for the aforementioned concessionaire. After this, this Daytona traveled through different owners and countries, going from the Canary Islands to Switzerland and from there to Monaco to even spend a few years in Japan.
Of course, in 2016 a new sale led to real interest in bringing it back to its original state. A happy decision that has culminated in the recreation of its original appearance. Something so perfectly worked that it has deserved the Ferrari Classiche certification. Thanks to this, the so-called "Daytona de Tenerife" it has returned to the original splendor of its early days. A seductive look under which it is now offered by the specialist Real Art on Wheels.
Images: Real Art on Wheels
