Here is a very special machine — an estate-car variant of the legendary Ferrari Daytona.
Originally commissioned in 1972, the car headed from Modena to England for its retrofit to custom wagon bodywork. When completed nearly two years later, the bespoke creation headed to its forever-home in Florida — where it was the only Ferrari to fit two people and two golf bags at the same time!
Loading those clubs might have been tricky, however. Butterfly glass canopies on each side of the shooting brake rear end were the only access to the newly huge trunk, despite the giant glass window apearing to be a tailgate hatch.
Not just the rear that was modified, however, on this Daytona wagon. The entire cabin was redesigned with glossy mahogany wood and central instruments. The nose is revamped as well, with a defined reflector bridge across the entire face of the shrouded, flip-up headlights. The lower intake is also far more shrouded and modern than the standard Daytona. The big volume of custom design tweaks show that making an elegant supercar estate was not easy then either.
The one-off Ferrari wagon is now back in England with the Hexagon Classics supercar showroom in London. While seeking a new owner, the Ferrari FF ancestor competed in the post-war Concours category of the recent Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Shooting Brake
- Hexagon presents a stunning collection of classic cars at Salon Privé, headlined by a one-off Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Shooting Brake
- Unique Ferrari stars in the Post-War Coachwork concours class
- Hexagon is also presenting a 1966 Maserati Mistral 4000, a 1970 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, a Jaguar E-type 4.2-litre Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe and a 1972 Aston Martin AM Vantage Coupe
- For more information about Hexagon Classics visit http://hexagonclassics.com
(London – September 4th)
From a one-off Ferrari to the finest examples of icons from Maserati, Mercedes, Jaguar and Aston Martin, Hexagon Classics has something for all tastes at this year’s Salon Privé.
The leading London car dealer is showing off several cars from its classics department at the Blenheim Palace event, ranging from a 1966 Maserati Mistral 4000 to a 1970 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, a Jaguar E-type 4.2-litre Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe and a 1972 Aston Martin AM Vantage.
Undoubted highlight of Hexagon’s collection at Salon Privé is its 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Shooting Brake, entered in the Post-War Coachwork concours class.
Commissioned by Luigi Chinetti (Coco), Jr it features coachwork by Panther Westwinds. Built at a cost of approximately four new Daytonas, this particular 365 GTB/4 was the 805th off the line. A standard Berlinetta, it was finished in Rosso Dino with a Nero leather interior. When completed, it was shipped to the United States and received by Chinetti Motors in the US.
The idea to turn it into a shooting brake came about in the early ‘70s, when real estate developer Bob Gittleman strolled into Chinetti Motors asking for something a bit different — and Coco was only too happy to oblige. With the drawings completed, Coco decided on Panther Westwinds in Surrey, England, and two years later the car was shipped to the UK.
Panther Westwinds modified the Daytona into a striking shooting brake. Unlike traditional shooting brakes, this Daytona estate avoided a traditional rear tailgate by using gullwing-style rear side windows for access to cargo.
The interior was also substantially new, with the instruments mounted centrally in the opulent wooden trimmed dashboard. Even the cargo load floor featured wooden decking.
Delivered to Gittleman in Florida in 1975, it remained in his possession until 1980. The car passed through various hands, including those of Texan car collector and race team owner John Mecum, and was then acquired by New Jersey Ferrari collector Bill Kontes in 1988. A decade later it was with a different owner in France.
In 2000 it was displayed at the Concours d’Elegance at Paleis Het Loo in Holland and a year later it appeared at the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Showing fewer than 4,000 miles on its odometer and in concours throughout, this one-of-a-kind custom Ferrari is spectacular and unique in virtually every way.
Hexagon Classics acquired the car in 2014 and set about a comprehensive restoration, employing the very same artisan who built the car while working at Panther in period. It has also benefited from a bare metal repaint and mechanical restoration by an official Ferrari service agent – and is in concours condition. It is for sale through Hexagon Classics.
Another Italian car capable of turning heads is Hexagon’s 1966 Maserati Mistral 4000 Coupe. Offering the highest horsepower of the Mistral series, this model has a 265bhp 4.0-litre straight six-cylinder engine.
Painted in its original colour of Argento Auteuil and supplied new to a Mr Luigi Serra of Genova, Italy on the 22nd April 1966, this particular Mistral is one of only 298 produced and is presented in superb order today.
It has benefited from sympathetic restoration and remains thoroughly original, coming with the original owner’s manual and maintenance manual among other documents, plus also Maserati Classiche Certification. Without doubt a rare opportunity to acquire one of Maserati’s most highly sought-after models.
One of the best four-seater convertibles ever made is this 1970 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet. Presented in near concours condition, it is also extremely rare being one of only 68 right-hand-drive cars produced.
Offering a thoroughly modern and easy to use driving experience, with a snug-fitting six-layer convertible top, excellent sound-deadening and a whisper quiet V8 engine along with power steering, it also benefits from the highly desirable option of a floor-mounted four-speed automatic gearbox, power windows and front head rests.
Accompanying the car is its original handbook with the detailed pictures of a recent restoration by Australia’s leading Mercedes Benz restoration company Sleeping Beauties of Brisbane.
Many people’s idea of the perfect classic car is the Jaguar E-type – and one of the most desirable examples is on Hexagon’s Salon Privé stand, a 4.2-litre Series 1 Fixed Head Coupe.
Combining the classic lines of the original with a noticeably better driving experience, this particular car was completely restored in 2013. Like all 4.2-litre E-types it received a number of improvements over its predecessor, with an all-synchromesh gearbox, better brakes and more supportive seats. Of course, though, the highlight is the 4.2-litre engine, with its greater torque and refinement.
Another British icon is Hexagon’s Aston Martin AM Vantage Coupe. One of just 70 cars produced, it comes in Cairngorm Brown with Connolly Natural Hide and was supplied new on 18th September 1972. Its last owner, a British Airways Captain, has had the car for 19 years and has maintained it through Oselli Engineering, who recently rebuilt the engine to 4.2-litre unleaded fuel specification.
Hexagon has carried out a bare metal re-paint and a complete re-trim using the correct Connolly Hides throughout. With the car also getting a final mechanical sales preparation by an official factory Aston Martin Heritage Service Centre, it is now ready to be enjoyed to the full by its new owner.
Paul Michaels, chairman of Hexagon Classics, said: “Salon Privé always represents a fantastic opportunity to share our cars with like-minded enthusiasts. This year we’re showing some of the more varied machines that Hexagon offers – from a one-off Ferrari to the finest examples of classics from Maserati, Mercedes, Jaguar and Aston Martin. All are for sale through Hexagon and we look forward to welcoming all car lovers to our stand in the majestic surroundings of Blenheim Palace.”
About Hexagon
Hexagon has had one careful owner for over 50 years. Paul Michaels, Hexagon Chairman, started the business in 1963. From a small mews in North London, Hexagon quickly built a reputation for being passionate about road and racing cars.
It became the official dealer of some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Lotus and Reliant, not to mention London’s leading BMW dealer for over 45 years.
During that time, Hexagon also committed to car racing. It began racing D-Type Jaguars, Formula 5000 and during its most adventurous period, entered into Formula One in 1973/74, with driver John Watson driving a Brabham BT44 to its best finish of 4th in Austria and picking up a very respectable six points for the season.
Racing, with a particular emphasis on history, remains a passion, evidenced by the purchase of a 1987 Porsche 962, raced twice at Le Mans finishing 4TH and 8th respectively. It’s one of the most original examples in the world, and can be seen in the Modern Classics showroom in East Finchley.
But as the classic market continues to prosper and diversify into the more modern classic models, Paul and his team – lead by Jonathan Kaiser in the classics division and Jonathan Franklin in the modern classics division is harnessing its wealth of experience to bring you the very best the market has to offer.
Its unrivalled contacts and reach across the world means that if the car you want is not in stock, it will know where and who to go to get it. And no car is offered to customers until a full and detailed inspection is undertaken.
Hexagon Classics focuses on the rarest and most collectable marques in the world and is the first port of call for any serious collector or investor.
Hexagon Modern Classics predominantly specialises in the collectable air-cooled Porsches, and we usually have over 40 Porsche models in stock at any one time. From the 356, through to the best of the 911s – the 930, 964, 993, 996, and the 997. And extending to one of Paul’s personal favourites and one he believes is under-rated, the 928 GT.
Given that Porsche was one of the marques Hexagon sold new, it’s entirely possible that one day the same car will re-enter stock as a classic!
Hexagon’s recent partnership with Lotus marks a return to new cars, but with the Lotus’ heritage steeped in racing and some iconic road-going models, it’s a move that fits in with the ethos of the Hexagon brand. And with Jean-Marc Gales now at the helm, there are some exciting new Lotus developments to come.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.