Daytona and California Classic Cars vs Modern Supercars

From foc concours

There is an interesting thread currently on the Vintage section of Ferrarichat, debating the appeal of the older classic cars such as the 250 and the Daytona compared with the modern models. At current market prices a Daytona is probably worth around the same as a new California or a year old 599, so surely most people in there right mind would buy the modern car?

Taking the California, as a technical excercise there is not a single statistic about it where it does not better the Daytona. It is nearly 2 seconds faster to 60mph, it has a higher top speed, In real terms it will get twice the miles per gallon as the Daytona, and it's almost certainly the better place to be in an accident.

From foc concours

So why don't I trade the Daytona in and get the new car? (Before I go any further I'm not selling the Daytona and never will so dealers can save tweeting me to ask the question). Firstly and most obviously the Daytona looks better than the California, but it also looks better  than every other modern car. Designers in the sixties had much more freedom than today, mainly due to the crash protection requirements of modern cars. Not sure if this is true but I have read that the windscreen angle on the Mercedes SL and Jaguar XK is identical as this is the only solution available to the designers.  As a result cars of today all look very similar and only the details change.

From Goodwood italian breakfast

You also get to listen to a much better soundtrack in the Daytona. In a modern Ferrari you are reaching for the stereo after a while whereas I'm not sure if the radio even works in the Daytona as I have never used it, and I doubt it would make much of an impression over the V12 symphony from under the bonnet.



The next reason is financial, buy a California today and I suspect in six years time it will be worth about £40-50,000. Buy a Daytona today, and while it's value may rise and fall I cannot see it falling back to those levels. 

From foc concours

I would agree that the California is a more practical proposition and you could even use it as an everyday car. But would you really want too? Commuting by car is a miserable experience whatever you are driving, so why waste money on a hugely expensive car when a cheaper one will do the job just as well.  I actually use an Alfa Romeo Mito for commuting to work. The Daytona stays at home and waits for the sunny Sunday's  and weeks away in France when you can go out an enjoy it.

The public are more appreciative of the classic Daytona than they are the modern Ferraris as well. People often wave and give the thumbs up when they see Daytona. Mordern Ferraris can often generate shall we say different hand signals. I think this is what I call the banker/ footballer effect.




For all of the above the main reason is the way it makes you feel. I haven't had any time with a California yet (but hope too next month) but I have spent a lot of time with other modern Ferraris (599, 575 Superamerica), and they are all fantastic cars, but none of them make you feel as special as the Daytona. I always end a drive of The Daytona wanting more and the drive stays vivid in the memory, as the senses have a feast of sight sound, touch and even smell.

From Goodwood italian breakfast