Sometimes you fall in love with a car that eschews all driving dynamics in favor of absolutely stunning aesthetics. A piece like this transcends its function as transportation, and reaches the status of ‘art’. This is no longer just a Porsche, it is the result of efforts that are intended primarily to be appreciated for its stunning visuals.
This speedster isn’t exactly powerful, it’s not exactly original, and it doesn’t particularly handle well. This car is nothing that a Porsche should be, and yet I’ve still fallen in love with it. From every single angle, this car delivers in spades, but I’m not sure it would be all that fun behind the driver’s seat.
The UK air-cooled scene is pretty advanced, and it takes a whole lot to stand out in the crowd across the pond. When a 356 Speedster isn’t enough to attract attention, you put it on a four corner Air Ride system, and drop it until it scrapes the ground. This car is practically subterranean.
Painted up in an Audi shade of Slate Grey Metallic, and sitting on a flat black set of steelies, the car looks like a dream. Using a Speedster replica shell on an old Volkswagen floorpan, this thing looks the absolute business, and sits lower than a grasshopper’s knee. The hard top is custom made and assembled from a modified Beetle roof. The roof rack, custom exhaust, auxiliary fog lamps, and accessories are all just added benefits, a gilded frame around a masterpiece, I suppose.
The folks at Volkswagen specialist site “Watercooled Society” have produced this gorgeous short film about this car. Watch it and be amazed.
For more information, read the entire build thread on the VolksZone forum.
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View Comments (9)
Is it illegal to put Porsche emblems, logos and lettering on a non-Porsche?
In the early 90's I attended 'The Porsche Driving Experience'. Loads of fun, and they had a Dodge Grand Caravan with 928 wheels and Porsche logos, seats, steering wheel, etc. Rumor has it that Chrysler had a fit and made them stop using the vehicle.
Definitely not for commercial use/resale. Maybe okay for personal use? Porsche would probably say no, regardless...
Hi thanks for your great write up Brad I enjoyd the whole build ,356 is my art passion
Brilliant!! Porsche or not! The work that has gone into this is incredible
Kit cars take away from the real deal and bring down prices and mess with overall general sales but I have to say that this guy's ride is definitely a looker. One of a very select few cars I can stand being a knock-off and appreciate. And those who don't believe that imitations hurt the real deal then go ask Burberry and Coach what counterfeiting has done to their business LOL.
How would a 'kit car' possibly reduce the potential price of a genuine Porsche 356? Anyone who buys a kit car does so for entirely different reasons than the purchaser of a real 356. I find it incredible that would state this. 356 replicas do not at all represent the same potential market of buyers that a real 356 does. Yes, some replica owners do put Porsche emblems on their cars, but perhaps that is an indication of respect for the real ones.
As for your example of Burberry and Coach. they are selling current items that are being copied; Porsche is no longer producing and selling the 356.
Apologies for the second post. I didn't believe the first had been accepted - got a 404 reading when I submitted it.
no problem. We took care of it and will get rid of this one, too. :-)