The lost ‘Disco Daytona’ is back on the dance floor after 25 years

There are many things we’d do to own a wholly original Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ – and that includes listening to the same 8-track tape for eternity…

Barn-finds are so last week. RM has just announced a ‘condo-find’ Ferrari Daytona that remains in original condition and, until its sale at Amelia Island in March, will have had only a single owner since he bought it new in 1971.

Never-ending repeat play

Dubbed the ‘Disco Daytona’ – a reference to the eight-track tape of ‘Disco Rock’ still stuck in its K-Tec player – the car was purchased by Toronto businessman Patrick Sinn in the summer of ’71.  According to RM, “A delayed flight from Geneva to Toronto saw Sinn take the chance visit to the Geneva International Motor Show, where he instantly fell in love with the Ferrari. Such was his desire to purchase an example of his own that Sinn postponed his return trip and immediately travelled to the Ferrari factory, where he ordered a closed version of the popular model, finished in Rosso Rubino over Nero.” 

25-year slumber

After 18 years and 90,000km, Sinn then had to leave the country for a sustained period to handle a personal matter, storing the Daytona on blocks in the shared garage of his Toronto condominium. It remained there until last month, at which point it was awoken from its 25-year slumber. RM’s specialist Gord Duff explains its significance: “It’s almost unheard of that you have the chance to purchase a 100 per cent original car, from its original owner. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime find and opportunity, made all the more valuable by the extensive documentation accompanying the car.” RM expects it to fetch more than $600,000.

Photos: Darin Schnabel © 2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

The ‘Disco Daytona’ will be offered at RM Auctions’ Amelia Island sale on 14 March 2015 but, if you can’t wait until then, you can find numerous Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytonas’ for sale (with working cassette players) in the Classic Driver Market.

Dakar Stage6 : RODRIGUES sort de l'ombre ; AL-ATTIYAH enfonce le clou

Discret depuis le départ de Buenos Aires, Helder Rodrigues n'en est pas moins capable de beaux coups d'éclats, comme le démontrent ses cinq précédentes victoires d'étapes sur le Dakar. Un chiffre porté à six ce soir à Iquique, après une grande journée pour le Portugais. Nasser Al-Attiyah a lui réussi la passe de trois et poursuit sa course de rêve depuis le départ de Buenos Aires, en restant sous la menace de Giniel de Villiers.

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Ultra-régulier, ambitieux, Helder Rodriguez s'est pourtant toujours vu opposer une fin de non-recevoir pour une victoire sur le Dakar, en dépit de deux podiums (2011, 2012). Et le rallye sud-américain ne semblait pas vouloir lui sourire non plus outre-mesure en 2015, avec une 10ème place largement en deçà de ses attentes. Mais après 318 km de spéciale parfaitement maitrisés ce vendredi de la part du Portugais, c'est la 6ème place du général qui s'offre désormais à lui, à 2'20'' d'un Toby Price qui n'est autre que son dauphin du jour. L'Australien, qui participe à son premier Dakar, confirme sa belle vitesse mais aussi ses talents de navigateur.

Paulo Gonçalves n'est lui plus une surprise et reprend enfin du temps au duo Barreda/Coma au Chili à seulement 1'42'' du vainqueur. Incisif, le pilote Honda conforte sa troisième place du général, en embuscade. Une position d'attente également observée par le local Pablo Quintanilla, quatrième à Iquique. Joan Barreda et Marc Coma ont quant à eux à nouveau roulé ensemble après la petite chute sans conséquence du pilote KTM en début de spéciale et c'est donc au tour du leader du général Barreda de reprendre deux minutes à son compatriote. Une lutte des chefs à laquelle Jordi Viladoms dit définitivement adieu, à 35 minutes du vainqueur du jour
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Loin d'avoir renoncé à ses ambitions de doublé sur le Dakar, Ignacio Casale a pour cela sorti la grosse attaque entre Autofagasta et Iquique. Le Chilien est parvenu à reprendre plus de huit minutes au solide Rafal Sonik, mais reste à 16 minutes du Polonais au classement général. Un Dakar qui tourne au duel entre les deux hommes, Sergio Lafuente étant désormais pointé à plus de 40 minutes.

Irrésistible. Nasser Al-Attiyah ne se contente pas de survoler le classement général, le pilote Mini affectionne également les victoires de panache, comme celle décrochée vendredi à Iquique. Une troisième victoire en six étapes qui confirme le rythme impressionnant d'un succès tous les deux jours et qui marque un peu plus son empreinte sur l'édition 2015. Le Qatari n'a pourtant pas eu la partie facile face à un Robby Gordon incisif et un Giniel De Villiers toujours prompt à maintenir la pression sur les épaules du leader du général. Et avec seulement 37 secondes de retard à l'arrivée, le Sud-africain reste plus que jamais le principal adversaire d'Al-Attiyah au soir de la sixième étape.


Evincé de la course à la victoire finale, Nani Roma n'en demeure pas moins l'un des pilotes les plus rapides en piste et prend la troisième place du jour, devant Robby Gordon. Lui aussi éloigné de la course au général, Orlando Terranova termine pour sa part à 5'48'' du vainqueur devant un Yazeed Alrajhi moins en jambes que les précédents jours mais qui reste solide troisième du général tout en reprenant plus de trois minutes à son poursuivant Krzysztof Holowczyc. Stéphane Peterhansel a lui perdu une demi-heure sur un problème mécanique et laisse à Christian Lavieille, 7e, la place de premier pilote français du général.


4/6. Voilà le bilan impressionnant des victoires d'Eduard Nikolaev depuis le départ de Buenos Aires et qui roule maintenant sur un rythme qui transforme son Kamaz en véritable rouleau compresseur. Vainqueur à Iquique avec plus de cinq minutes d'avance sur Airat Mardeev et plus de dix minutes sur Andrey Kargoniv, le Russe est plus que jamais leader du général devant ses deux coéquipiers chez Kamaz.



Discreet since the start in Buenos Aires, Helder Rodrigues is still capable of a major feat, as he demonstrated with his five previous stage victories on the Dakar. This figure moved up to six this evening in Iquique, after a great day for the Portuguese rider. Nasser Al-Attiyah made it victory number three and continues to enjoy a dream start since Buenos Aires, though the threat of Giniel de Villiers still remains.


Ultra-consistent and ambitious, Helder Rodrigues has always fallen short when looking for outright victory on the Dakar, despite two podium finishes (in 2011 and 2012) The South American rally-raid did not seem to be smiling on him either in 2015, with so far a 10th place in the general standings which is below his expectations. However, after a 318-km special perfectly negotiated this Friday by the Portuguese rider, he now climbs to 6th in the general standings, 2'20'' behind Toby Price who was the runner-up today. The Australian, participating in his first Dakar, demonstrated a good turn of speed and also navigational talent.

Paulo Gonçalves is used to good performances on the Dakar and finally clawed back time on the Barreda/Coma duo, finishing just 1'42'' behind the day's winner. The incisive Honda rider strengthened his third place in the general standings, waiting to ambush the men ahead. Local boy Pablo Quintanilla is also ready to take advantage of any mistakes and finished fourth in Iquique. Joan Barreda and Marc Coma again rode the stage together after a minor fall by the KTM rider at the start of the special. This time it was the turn of general standings leader Barreda to take two minutes from his countryman. This battle of the elite will not involve Jordi Viladoms, whose hopes definitively went up in smoke as he finished 35 minutes behind the day's winner.

Far from having dropped his ambitions for a double on the Dakar, Ignacio Casale has gone on the attack between Autofagasta and Iquique. The Chilean has managed to regain more than eight minutes from the solid Rafal Sonik, but is still 16 minutes behind the Polish rider in the general standings. The Dakar is turning into a duel between the two men, since Sergio Lafuente is now 40 minutes behind.

Irresistible: not content with dominating the general standings, Nasser Al-Attiyah is also seeking to pick up stage victories with panache, like the one earned in Iquique this Friday. It is the Mini driver's third success in six stages, at an impressive rhythm of a triumph every two days, as he progressively leaves his mark on the 2015 edition. That said, the Qatari did not have an easy time today against the incisive Robby Gordon and Giniel de Villiers who is still able to keep the pressure on the general standings leader. Only 37 seconds behind the day's winner at the finishing line, the South African is more than ever the main rival for Al-Attiyah on the evening of the sixth stage.

Unable to join in the fight for final victory, Nani Roma is still one of the quickest drivers on the racks and took today's third place, ahead of Robby Gordon. Another driver far back in the general standings, Orlando Terranova finished 5'48'' behind Al-Attiyah, but in front of Yazeed Alrajhi, who was slightly slower than the previous days. However, he remains in a solid third place in the general standings and gained more than three minutes on his nearest pursuer Krzysztof Holowczyc. Stéphane Peterhansel lost half an hour due to a mechanical problem, meaning that Christian Lavieille, 7th, is the leading French driver in the general standings.

Four out of six are the impressive statistics for Eduard Nikolaev's victories since the start in Buenos Aires. The Russian is now driving at a pace that transforms his Kamaz into a veritable steamroller. The winner in Iquique avec with a lead of more than five minutes over Airat Mardeev and more than ten minutes over Andrey Karginov, Nikolaev is even more comfortable at the top of the general standings ahead of his two Kamaz team-mates.

Biker.....

Loeb Testing - 2015 Rallye Monte-Carlo