How many times do you see one of these on the street? Look inside

[URY914]

So my wife and I are driving around the south side of Jacksonville looking for our next house today. If you're familiar with the area we were on San Jose just south of the Goodby Creek bridge. From a side street a fly yellow Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona pulls up to the stop sign as we pass and then pulls out behind of us.

I told my wife to get her phone out and get the camera ready. I pulled off to a gas station and let it pass. I snapped this picture...

[URY914]

I pulled back into traffic and followed him. He headed down a tree lined two lane road that runs parallel to the river. It was a gorgeous day today. He was going along at a pretty good clip but the wife's Accord was up to the job of keeping up with him.

[URY914]

We followed him for about 10 minutes. The windows were down listening to the V-12 sing. But after awhile my wife was getting sick from the raw exhaust fumes coming from those pipes.

Once we got to a stop light I pulled up next to him and got a good look. It was Bill Warner, the former Road & Track photographer and founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours.

Here is one last shot as we took a right and drove off on his Sunday drive.




I did a little Googling and found out the street he pulled out of was the street he lives on.

[Flieger]

If I were the driver I'd be a little creeped out.

Seen plenty of Daytonas on the street, but I can understand that outside of LA they would be much rarer.

[Heel n Toe]

Very cool, Paul... thanks for going to the trouble. Beautiful Italian machinery for sure and I applaud the guy for actually driving it.

I'll never forget seeing two of them as a car show was being set up on the concourse area just inside the Frank McGuire Arena here in Spring of '70 (IIRC). One was a yellow convertible and the other was a red coupe. I was coming out of a photography class in the Journalism school on a Friday afternoon, and they had taken the doors out and were pulling cars in and staging them.

I walked in like I owned the place, wearing my blue jeans, t-shirt, and backpack and nobody said anything to me.

Saw a sweet little white 914 sitting not too far from the Ferraris. Dropped my backpack, opened the door, got in (like I owned the place), and fell in love.

I went back Sunday night when they were breaking things down because I figured I could listen to the Ferraris leave. I was in luck. Just before they pulled off, the guy driving the red one told the guy driving the convertible (following) to, "watch for rocks."

I assumed that meant "if my tires kick one up and toward you," but I couldn't imagine what the following driver was supposed to do if he saw one headed his way... except maybe swerve if he had time.

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by Flieger

If I were the driver I'd be a little creeped out.

Seen plenty of Daytonas on the street, but I can understand that outside of LA they would be much rarer.

I had probably 10 Daytona sightings when I lived in SoCal. but in the Midwest.....0. haha.

[Gogar]

So I was driving around the south side of Jacksonville looking for my next house today. I decided to get my prized Ferrari out of the garage for a last hurrah before it rains. If you're familiar with the area I was near San Jose just south of the Goodby Creek bridge. Just as I pulled off of the side street onto San Jose a Honda Accord screams by and almost grazes me. then for some reason they slowed down, got behind me, and tailgated me for almost 15 minutes! I was kind of scared. I mean . . . the passenger was taking all kinds of pictures of me and the car. I wonder if they are going to look up my license plate and come back later to steal the car!

I tried to drive in a spirited fashion hoping to lose them, but they stuck right with me.

Should I call the cops? I mean, the driver was a middle aged white guy but I hear those are the ones you have to look out for.

[URY914]

^^^The driver of the Honda was an excellent driver. I tried to lose him but he was able to keep up with me in a woefully under powered car. I pulled over and stopped and he pulled up to me. I told him he was a much better driver than I and I tossed him the keys to the Daytona. As he slipped behind the wheel he told me his wife's name was Amy and she was cute so I figured it was a even trade.

[Steve Carlton]

A good stalker. Certainly not a great stalker.

[aigel]

I get the significance but I don't get the allure of the Daytona. It hasn't aged well. My last notable "Ferrari" sighting was a silver Dino. Pretty cool.

G

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by URY914

^^^The driver of the Honda was an excellent driver. I tried to lose him but he was able to keep up with me in a woefully under powered car. I pulled over and stopped and he pulled up to me. I told him he was a much better driver than I and I tossed him the keys to the Daytona. As he slipped behind the wheel he told me his wife's name was Amy and she was cute so I figured it was a even trade.

LOL awesome!

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by aigel

I get the significance but I don't get the allure of the Daytona. It hasn't aged well. My last notable "Ferrari" sighting was a silver Dino. Pretty cool.

G

I never understood it either. To me, a 924 looks better.


The 246 Dinos are amazing in person. About 5 1/2 years ago, when I first moved to Hermosa Beach, there was a guy up on 17th that used to park his on the street. Just amazing. And to think, they were the 'budget' brand....

[winders]

A 924 looks better than a Daytona coupe? You have to be kidding. The Daytona is a beautiful car with great lines. I love it in Fly Yellow.

[Cooper911SC]

Ha! Nice sighting. My High school auto shop teacher had a 365. Dark maroon color. Brought it in to show off and had us change the oil.

I can see how rare that sighting might be even in a coastal "car culture" area.

Funny side note, Bill was at RRV. I saw him leaving dinner at Monterey Fish House while waiting for a table.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by URY914

So my wife and I are driving around the south side of Jacksonville looking for our next house today. If you're familiar with the area we were on San Jose just south of the Goodby Creek bridge. From a side street a fly yellow Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona pulls up to the stop sign as we pass and then pulls out behind of us.

I told my wife to get her phone out and get the camera ready. I pulled off to a gas station and let it pass. I snapped this picture...

Beautiful car. I've never seen one in the flesh.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by aigel

I get the significance but I don't get the allure of the Daytona. It hasn't aged well. My last notable "Ferrari" sighting was a silver Dino. Pretty cool.

G

Last of the front engine Columbo V12s, with a rear transaxle. It has the reputation of being a great road car, and of course there is the reason it got its name...

[Baz]

Iconic! Thanks, Paul.

I thought you just finished re-locating to Naples - and now you're going up North?

[Steve Carlton]

The Daytona name is (sometimes) magic in the car business...

[GH85Carrera]

A friend of mine owned one. His was the 6th one that was made. He bought it back in late 1977 and it was mostly just a used car. He paid $17,500 for it and his wife was mad because their house only cost a little bit more than twice that that. He made a promise that he would never have a car that cost more than their house. He really regretted that when the price of the Daytona started climbing like crazy. He had to buy a MUCH nicer house (mansion) to keep his promise.

My buddy lived in Chamblee, Ga. and was a Ferrari club member. In those days the Ferrari club would hire the Porsche club to run a track day for them at Road Atlanta. We would make enough money doing that, that we could rent the track the next weekend. I got a ride around Road Atlanta in his Daytona. He was driving only for fun and not hammering it at all. He double clutch shifted and we were still moving fast down that long back straight. In those day there was no chicane, just a long straight and pop out under the bridge.

He sold the car several years ago and his wife admitted it was the best purchase "they" ever made. Way better than any other stock or investment.

It is a pretty car but HOT inside and the windows don't roll down very far.

[Laneco]

A Daytona coupe is an absolutely gorgeous car. Ferrari made a lot of beautiful cars, but I would say this is in the top 5 of their front engined cars. Great proportions and lines without being overdone.

Love it.

angela