Success Story: Dwathencars Wins 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider Conversion
This Success Story comes to us from BaT member Dwathencars, who won this 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider conversion from silverarrowcarsltd in a May 2025 BaT auction.
“I’ve wanted a Daytona Spider ever since an acquaintance pulled into my driveway with his as I was replacing the water pump on my first (of many) E-Types some 50(!) years ago. I’ve definitely indulged in fun cars over the years; this is the seventh collector car in our ‘fleet,’ which covers various themes—convertible, sporty, fast, fun to drive on tours, and kept in a condition that we could drive across the country tomorrow at a moment’s notice. That’s the goal, anyway!
Our oldest is a 1938 Jaguar SS100 that I’m in year four of restoring and just starting to reassemble. Our fastest (until the Daytona) was our 1964 289 Cobra. We are both retired corporate types who mostly worked and saved for retirement, and now travel, attend car events and tours, and really enjoy our circle of friends with similar interests.”
Dwathencars adds, “I’m a Purdue Mechanical Engineer and do everything that I can myself on the cars. While many of our friends retired to the South, we have a 1,200 sq. ft. workshop on the lower level of our home that we built in Michigan. We purposely have a couple of guest rooms for our southern friends to stay in when they visit the North, and in exchange, we visit them sometimes in mid-winter.”
He continues, “I had the car inspected by an acquaintance during the auction, and the photo above was my first view of the Daytona; Silver Arrow kindly paid to have Reliable deliver it to us. There was an intense ‘bidding war;’ I bid 23 times across several two-minute reset phases. We probably all have—or have heard of stories about—keeping two devices online in case of an internet glitch. Kudos to the BaT folks for keeping their platform in great, dependable condition.”
“This license plate came two weeks after the car was delivered, and it felt like an accomplishment. The DMV offices were overloaded with people getting their Real ID endorsements and they were only taking appointments, which were two-plus weeks out. That wouldn’t do, so I searched for the next available slot and got one 50 miles away. I knew I was in for a challenge when they asked if the car was a diesel and where my Gross Vehicle Weight statement was.
Ferrari Daytonas were officially imported to the US in 1971 after being configured for US emissions, crash, and headlight rules. My 1969 Euro-spec Ferrari wasn’t in the official book. So I was supposed to take it somewhere with a certified scale, unless I could produce a factory document showing the weight. Thankfully, the Ferrari website listed every model of Ferrari and its specs. The insurance office next door allowed me to print that page since the DMV office wouldn’t allow me to use their printers. Of course, I had to get this printed before my appointment time ran out, or else I’d have to go back in the queue. I hope the huge check I wrote to pay for the sales tax made their day!”
“I took it to its first Cars and Coffee outing on Woodward Avenue, which I typically frequent, and to a local Ferrari Club event. The Italian Happening just passed, which features about 100 Alfas, Maseratis, Fiats, and Ferraris, along with Italian food trucks, bands, and lots of folks with stories to tell. Last year, we took our 1961 Maserati Vignale Spyder; I guess we are becoming Italian car people.”
“The Daytona had a big-time restoration in 2015 and was refreshed in 2024. It is very, very well finished and accurate. But I really enjoy getting ALL the details right, so I’ve been re-plating the engine compartment fittings, correcting some tool kit items, and changing the trim washers to black oxide throughout the interior. There is a great community of Ferrari people and sources for parts that I’m enjoying.”
“We hope to see you at an event or on a tour. We do several of the big shows every year, although I realize that converted Daytonas like ours aren’t eligible for some of the stricter shows. There, you might find us in the parking lot!”
If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to [email protected], and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.