If you don’t know who Rod Emory is by now, where have you been for the last decade? From a long line of hot rodders and custom car builders, Emory has been keeping the family name in the Porsche game after going out on his own adventure in SoCal. In a way, his modifications to 356s in the original Outlaw frame of mind gives those cars a second life as well. Emory’s Outlaws, in his words, are evolutions of the original 356 design, updated in ways that perhaps the Porsche factory would have as well, given the more modern drivetrain and suspension advancements he incorporates.
In a recent interview with Robb Report, Rod talks about his desire to push the envelope, to expand his hot rodding outside of what people expect. He says that he hopes the cars he builds will be his legacy by making examples of the model that people can enjoy for another 50 to 100 years. Having met Rod a few times, I can say that he’s definitely the real deal. He’s at the shop insanely early to get a jump on the day and beat the LA traffic. In the time that the rest of the world lays quiet Rod is at work hand-shaping gorgeous works of Porsche based art.
It’s fair to say that Rod’s legacy, along with Porsches, don’t have anything to fear. They’ll both be around, and inextricably linked, for decades to come. Whether it’s the Emory Outlaws, his exquisite restoration work, or even his efforts in racing whether vintage or modern, Rod Emory will be revered as part of the Porsche story for time immemorial. We appreciate the work he’s done, and more than anything we appreciate how the man always has a smile on his face and happiness in his heart. When you split your time between an incredible family and incredible Porsches, how could you have a bad day?