Autoblog

Back in the go-go '80s, classic Ferrari prices went through the roof. Especially valuable were the rarest models to have come from Maranello. Because of the ridiculous values, many "lesser" Ferraris gave their chassis to be remodeled as those ultra rare versions. One such target was the Ferrari 365 GTS/4, aka the Daytona Spyder. With less than 100 Spyders produced in US form, Daytona coupes sometimes found their way into body shops and miraculously emerged as ragtops. With the real deal Spyders trading for well over a million bucks each, it was a pretty common conversion. But buyers caught on and the market eventually slumped and the need to chop the top died down. The market settled and the fakes were identified. But there has been a resurgence and original, unmolested Spyders are once agin commanding seven figures when they appear on the market. It doesn't happen very often, so when it does, it's noteworthy.

Well, noted Iowa Ferrari collector Dr. Jack Frost died recently, and his 1971 Ferrari Daytona Spyder (365 GTS/4) popped up on eBay. The miraculous thing about this particular Daytona is that it is not only a real Spyder, but it has never been titled. That makes it a brand new 1971 Daytona Spyder that has just 3,700 orginal miles. Interested? It gets better. The car was originally ordered by Bill Harrah of Bill Harrah's Modern Classic Motors exotic dealership. Harrah custom ordered the car in the current color after seeing the original Daytona Coupe prototype in the same combination. It is white with a red side stripe and the interior features black Daytona seats with red inserts. Quite striking. No other Spyder is believed to have left the factory similarly painted. After having some fun with it, Harrah sold it to Dr. Jack Frost, MD of Action Performance in 1976. Frost never titled it either and added a few more miles before he passed away. Bidding on this first eBay go-around just ended and the $1,335,400 top bid failed to meet the reserve. Hard to say what this unique vehicle might eventually bring, but rumor has it that price was about 50% shy of the mark.

Thanks for the tip, Adam!

[Source: eBay]

Click image for high-res gallery of Volo cars on display

The Chicago Auto Show might not have the weight and import of a show like Detroit, but it is officially one of my favorites from now on. The reason is that the Volo Auto Museum is within range of the show and they brought out a small selection of the hardware they typically have on display and/or for sale at their Volo, Illinois museum and dealership complex up north.

Tucked into the back of the North Hall, way behind the BMWs, Acuras, and Porsches, beyond even the DUBS, Superformances and U.S. Army wheels, you'll stumble across a tiny gathering of some of the most memorable vehicles at the show. Cars like the Herbie, Fully Loaded "personality" car. The one that winks and wiggles and sticks its tongue out. Or the part car, part plane, part boat, Super Luxurious Omnidirectional Whatchamajigger from 2003's The Cat in the Hat remake starring Mike Meyers. It's 23-feet long and cost a reported $1.2 million to build. Volo also has the "Miami Vice" Daytona Spyder. Sure it's a replica, but DON JOHNSON DROVE IT! And then there's the Fastlane concept vehicle. Not to be confused with the upcoming Redline movie, Fastlane featured this "extraordinarily futuristic blue blur" that features a very Mazda Ryuga-like concentric swirl rear deck. And it only cost $2.8 million to build.

For those who can't make it to the show next week, the Volo Auto Museum has a website that will give you details of how to get out there to see these and other famous and historic vehicles.

[Source: Volo Auto Museum]

The Volo Auto Museum is in the process of restoring the Ferrari Daytona Spyder replica used during the first two seasons of Miami Vice. The vehicle, which was reportedly used and abused by the star, Don Johnson, was left out to pasture and is now undergoing a full restoration to bring it back to its former glory.

The replica of the Spyder was built off a 1980 Corvette C3 and spawned countless copycats and subsequent lawsuits from Ferrari. After the first two years of filming the series, Ferrari decided to give up two Testarossas in an effort to stem the tide of replicas flooding the market.

Some of us can think back to a few key moments in our childhood that began our automotive obsession, for this writer, the Daytona Spyder was one of them.

We'll keep you posted on the progress and follow up on its impending debut at the museum this December.