It is said that a Daytona block was used with the addition of cylinder heads from a 365 GT 2+2, the 365’s engines of that time had steel track instead of the belts. The fuel tank was placed in the front, containing 92 litres. Goldsmith documented his work in a 150-page booklet, offered at $100 to interested people. Vmax of the 365 GTB is 285 km/h compared to 255 km/h of a standard 308.
#22105 received some attention by magazines like Road & Track, but Goldsmith soon lost interest and the car was offered for sale. The car’s next appearance was an appraisal by Mike Sheehan in 1991. Mike described the car as being in good condition body wise showing no rust or previous accidents. The paint was qualified as being average with many chips. Mike recommend a full bare metal repaint. The interior was called weathered. The engine received a major service during Mike’s appraisal. His evaluation ended in an estimate of $75,000 for “As-is” condition.
However, Mike might have taken #22105 on consignment and it was obviously sold to Europe. A well-known Belgian broker of that time might have been involved in the transaction. The car was next known with a medic from Münster in Germany from where it was sold to a German collection.
F-Register became a visual impression of the car when is was observed in unrestored condition –either at the collection or with the next and current owner- westerly of Düsseldorf. The car was still Rosso Corsa and Nero and taken apart obviously soon afterwards.
The current owner commissioned Norbert Lahme of Willich with the complete restoration. What Lahme provided was finally a transformation from a 308 to the 365 Goldsmith had in mind. German magazine Motor Klassik featured a complete story about the work done in February 2014. Beside the many technical improvements, including a Crane ignition and a distributor from a Countach, the 365 GTB finally received everything to disguise its transformation when spotted with a quick glance. The proper repaint in Grigio Silverstone with an elegant Cuoio interior hides many of Lahme’s improvements: a roll cage, a 288 GTO-style hood and side air intakes in the 208 Turbo-style. The Goldsmith engine-hood was replaced with a standard 308 hood.
We had the pleasure to meet the owner at 2014’s Schloß Dyck Classic Days and he was kind enough to open doors and hoods for us. The result is a little Slide Show, please enjoy!