Editor’s Note: We love scouring the internet for reasons to spend money we don’t have on cars we daydream about owning, and these are our picks this week. All prices listed are bid amounts at the time of publishing.
Porshe purists can be some of the most finicky enthusiasts and collectors when it comes to deeming what Porsche is worth what. They’d recommend that, if you have the capital to do so, by all means, buy a car just as it was the day it left Stuttgart — there’s nothing quite like experiencing a genuine time-hop of that magnitude. However, for the rest of us who enjoy the thrill of driving over period-correct accuracy, yet still fawn over the classic lines of vintage cars, there are hot rods and resto-mods.
Dubbed ‘Outlaw Porsches‘ because even the thought of modifying a 356 is considered sacrilegious in some circles, hot-rodded or resto-modded 356s garner their own cult following. Bigger engines and brakes, better handling and more power, all under a guise of what looks like a stock 356 (to the untrained eye) provides a drive like no other. Yes, it’s nothing like it was the day it left the factory, but you can still argue if Porsche had the resources, an Outlaw Porsche is exactly what they would have built instead.
What We Like: Some builders and tinkerers go to extremes when getting their hands on classic cars, to the point the vehicle that went under the knife and the one that leaves the garage are so far removed from each other it hurts. The trick is to modify and upgrade the car in a way that most wouldn’t be able to see at first or second glance. This 356 hits the mark by pulling all the best parts from the contemporary Carrera, GT and Speedster models in a such a sophisticated way that it almost looks natural — like Porsche rolled this one out of the factory themselves back in 1959.
From the Seller: “This 1959 Porsche 356A Coupe was finished from the factory in rare ‘sonderfarbe’ Glacier White with a brown leatherette interior according to the included Certificate of Authenticity. The car has been modified in the style of the factory Carrera and GT models with features like the louvered engine lid, through-the-hood fuel filler, GT fender mirror, deleted rocker moldings and Speedster style seats.”
Watch Out For: This is fairly well-sorted build by the looks of it, but because it still uses an older Porsche engine, oil leaks are par for course. With that said, smaller drips here and there aren’t much to worry about; it’s when puddles appear on the garage floor you should start to worry.
Original Review: “It’s not quick by latter-day Porsche standards. Even so, a properly prepared 356 can be a joy to drive, with light and precise handling that means B-road progress can be rapid if you’re the committed type – although in anything but a 356C you have to dial in extra braking time thanks to drum brakes.” — Classic Motoring