Jack Griffin’s 356 Outlaw is something unique, as it is not only a one-year-only 1955 Continental, but it is also an exceedingly rare sunroof coupe body. His self ascribed “Beauty Queen” is “art on wheels”, and is the car he would have built if he’d been in control of Porsche in 1955. As usual, Petrolicious produced an extraordinarily beautiful film documenting this car.
“Outlaws” are so called, because when the modified 356 movement started to proliferate in the 1980s, these hopped-up performance cars were outlawed from competing in PCA concours events. The restoration-type owners didn’t want these hooligan hot rodders sullying the name of national concours competition. As such, the hot rodders took to the name and made it their own. Their cars were outlaws, and likewise, they were too. These days, most 356 owners get along pretty well. Be they outlaws or restorers, it’s one big Porsche family.
Griffin’s Continental, on its path to outlaw-dom received a number of singular touches to make it stand out from the crowd. Obviously disc brakes were spec’d, and with them come a set of 4.5 inch Fuchs wheels and more traditionally performance oriented steel-belted tires. The rear decklid has been louvered to recreate the look of the factory rarity Carrera GT engine lid. The transmission has been upgraded to a rebuilt 1962 Type 741 “dual mount” gearbox. Likewise, the engine has been given a thorough going-over by legendary racer and engine builder, Vic Skirmants. The Continental’s original 1500 Super engine would have had somewhere around 70 horsepower, and Griffin claims that Skirmants endowed his car with double that number. If so, that should make a truly impressive performer.
Jack has owned the car since 1994, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be giving it up any time soon.
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