Daytona Spyder Conversion at Fantasy Junc

Some more info here from when RM auctioned it in 2006. It was rebodied in aluminium by Grand Prix Metalcraft in the UK: http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO06&CarID=r221

I'd also try and establish if the car was converted from RHD to LHD as the car was initially supplied by Maranello Concessionaires GB according to Fantasy Junction.

http://www.vintagedrivingmachines.com/Classic-Car-For-Sale/1971-Ferrari-365GTB4DaytonaSpyderConversion?ajaxed=1&ad_id=357414408&action=viewlisting&backurl=action=carSearch&make_id=65&model_id=2304&sortby=Default&itemsperpage=5&page=1

 

I've driven that car recently , one if the better driving Daytona's I've driven

 

I have asked Johnathan Tremlett, and he has said, it was supplied as a new LHD car, from the UK to France.

 

It would have been plexi to start with I think, so when it was re-bodied after the front end smash, I guess they changed it.

To convert from RHD to left is a big job. Not just steering wheel and dash, but all the engine ancillaries such as battery, brake servo etc.
This all looks correct to me from the photos I can see for a LHD car.
Other right hand drive differences are:- gear lever cranked and a gator over the selector, Speedo in miles per hour, seat belts on later cars.
LHD cars do have a tear drop shaped plate in the drivers foot which RHD cars do not have and this car does not seem have it, but this could have been removed when re-trimmed.

Steve, best send a PM to Marcel to see if he can shed any light on it. He probably has the build sheet.

 

This car WAS ORIGINALLY LHD. It was originally silver/black/light red carpets. It was on alloy wheels, had a radio and A/C and was supplied on Italian tax free EE plates.

I have it as going new to S. Morelle, France, via Maranello Sales, UK. I see that Raab says Morello.

The boss of GP Metalcraft is no longer with us and neither is the business.

It was serial Ferrari owner Mark Tippetts, not Tippens, that owned the car. He copied the colour scheme from his friend Dudley Mason-Styrron's original RHD spyder #15841.

It was registered here on UK plates 2UAE and I think is pictured in one or two of the coffee table Ferrari books.

European cars would not have had Dinoplex ignition packs.

I think those earlier FHC Daytona's did not have headrests. I have seen another early plexi, still 100% original, UK supplied LHD FHC, and it does not have headrests either.

Mark

 

This is what i think to your questions:-

Early cars did not have head rests, a 71 car was around the change.
Dinoplex seems to be on USA cars only.
The seat belts fitted are none original but safer being inertia reel. It would have had a buckle type [ see Daytona registry].

 

Great minds think alike Mark, you must have posted while i was typing.

 

That's correct. Early Euro Daytonas generally came without headrests. The three I've owned did not have headrests.

Steve

 

That's interesting as Ferrari was still producing plexiglass headlamp cars and the USA cars with pop up headlights had only recently been introduced. It does bring up the question of which VIN is the first non-USA pop-up headlamp car?

Steve

 

Plexiglass or pop-up headlamps?

Steve

 

I have just had a mail from The Maranello Concessionaires Archive.

They have the build sheet, and it confirms:-" LHD, arrived in the UK in 1970 and delivered to the first owner in January 1971 to the South of France.
In addition it had Air conditioning and a Voxson stereo fitted plus a KPH speedo. It would have been Plexiglass, as the euro pop up lights where later".

I had asked about the lights, so I am guessing the build sheet does not have this detail.

Also, looking at the pop up light pods, they look to be of the later rounded type or though it's hard to tell from the small photos.