1957 Porsche Model 356

[NickCats]

Had the Benz in for an oil change this weekend and my local shop had this in the showroom :









What a beautiful car ! If only I had $20k and a four car garage

Nick

[FTD]

Very attractive, but I can't get past the lack of wheel wells.

Why does it say kit car?

[CJ_Boxster]

But its a Fiberglass kit car on a VW beetle chasis, You could get an unrestored 356 for about 20k or less.

[FTD]

It looks like it doesn't fit. Like someone picked up a top and set it down on a chassis, and didn't get the snaps clicked right. Look at the wheel 'cutouts'. The body is out a half foot or more from the tire sidewall. And no wheel wells! I bet if you went 35 mph or more the body would lift up - maybe pop off.

[NickCats]

Originally Posted by blkboxster

Why does it say kit car?

A real one would cost considerably more :

356A Cabriolet - $40 to $61k
356A Coupe - $25 to $38k
356A Speedster - $73 to $110k

356A Super Cabriolet - $40 to $62k
356A Super Coupe - $27 to $43k
356A Super Speedster - $74 to $112k

( prices from Nada )

Nick

[JackG]

Originally Posted by CJ_Boxster

But its a Fiberglass kit car on a VW beetle chasis, You could get an unrestored 356 for about 20k or less.

Nicely restored 356's are fetching 60-80k. If you buy an "unrestored" one for 20k or less, you'll put another 20K+ in it turning it into a half-decent driver that you can trust. Show quality will cost you twice that. Unless you just happen to own your own Porsche Restoration shop.

The kit car above gives you something that's probably nicer to drive on a daily basis that a restored 356 (it has A/C!), and you don't have to worry about bending original sheetmetal made of unobtainium. If it has a nice paint job and is well-executed, it's worth every bit of 20k.

oh, so its not even a real porsche, just made to look like one.

[JackG]

Originally Posted by FTD

It looks like it doesn't fit. Like someone picked up a top and set it down on a chassis, and didn't get the snaps clicked right. Look at the wheel 'cutouts'. The body is out a half foot or more from the tire sidewall. And no wheel wells! I bet if you went 35 mph or more the body would lift up - maybe pop off.

That's the way real one's are.

[Brucelee]

Nice. We have some CA Speedster kits cars out here that are just beauties.

[FTD]

You are right. Great photo. At least the real one has a wheel well. You know - something for stuff off of the tires to fling on to. Look at the last photo of the kit car and the rear tire. It looks wide open. I guess I am just fixated on that.

Happy Monday!

[RandallNeighbour]

Jay Leno drove one (a fiberglass replica) and said it was fun and a wonderful rendition of the real thing (which he owns), but commented it wasn't safe at higher than freeway speeds.

I'm betting the lack of wheel wells as well as other items like a good suspension have a lot to do with this. Your concerns are well founded.

These cars would be fun to have for putzing around town and the countryside with the wife (who won't let me drive fast with her in the car).

[JackG]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Jay Leno drove one (a fiberglass replica) and said it was fun and a wonderful rendition of the real thing (which he owns), but commented it wasn't safe at higher than freeway speeds.

I'm betting the lack of wheel wells as well as other items like a good suspension have a lot to do with this. Your concerns are well founded.

All of us, including Leno, are spoiled.

There is no reason the replica cars aren't safer than the originals. Better suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, modern tires, seatbelts, dual well master brake cylinders. All things the originals didn't have.

Don't forget we're talking about cars built in the late 40's to 50's. There was no safety equipment to speak of. There were no nicely molded plastic wheel well inserts. Airflow management was in it's infancy at best.

Done properly, these replicas are just as safe, if not safer, than the originals. Our reference point has just gotten so much higher. Leno has a Carrera GT! Of course he thinks the Speedster is only good for highway speeds. When a 356 or a 550 Spyder was one of the best cars on the road people really hauled in them. They didn't know how "unsafe" they were!

[Grizzly]

Most people who own, or have owned, originals say that the replicas are faster, safer and handle better than the real ones. The car in Nick's photos is a Speedster, not a 356 Cab, so the purchase price for a real one is well into the six digits.

I've wanted a replica for a long time. I'd like Vintage Speedsters to be my builder (they built the car in Nick's photos). They build a pretty nice car and 19,900 is not a bad asking price. Currently, I'm out of room and money, so I'd need to sell something in order to buy one. Maybe someday.

[CJ_Boxster]

I dont know, something about that car makes me NOT want to buy it, i think its because i can easily imagine someone like Dr. Hannibal Lector in a cream color suit with matching hat driving it.

[j.fro]

I've had the 550 replica itch for a while now. That Speedster replica is pretty sexy too. Somebody showed one at at the regional PCA concours last year, and it was a beauty. I couldn't imagine owning either of the real thing without also having the means to own and collect a gaggle of cars: they're not drivers anymore; I'd need some pretty good distracting! Those replicas, however, are drivers. Hell, you could feasibly mod either one into a fine autocross car...hhhmmmm

[Brucelee]

I am still looking for a clean 912. I love that car.

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by CJ_Boxster

I dont know, something about that car makes me NOT want to buy it, i think its because i can easily imagine someone like Dr. Hannibal Lector in a cream color suit with matching hat driving it.

Some of the times that the 356 had a starring role in Hollywood, not to mention that anyone who was anyone in Hollywood seemed to own one at some point.

1955: The Racers (Cesar Romero, RHD 356 coupe)
1958: Roadracers (Joel Lawrence? 356 coupe)
1963: 8 1/2 (Marcello Mastroiani, Claudia Cardinale)
1965: Promise Her Anything (Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron red coupe)
1966: Harper (Paul Newman, Speedster)
1966: The Quiller Memorandum (George Segal, 356B Cabriolet)
1968: Bullitt (Jacqueline Bisset, T6 Cab.)
1971: On Any Sunday (Steve McQueen, Speedster)
1975: Shampoo (Warren Beatty, Red Coupe)
1978: Coming Home (Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern, Jon Voight; Speedsters)
1979: Manhattan (Tony Roberts, Diane Keaton, with Woody Allen, red Roadster)
1980: Hollywood Knights (Tony Danza, red Speedster, black Roadster)
1980: Dogs of War (Christopher Walken, green B Coupe)
1981: King of the Mountain (Harry Hamlin, Dennis Hopper, Speedster)
1982: 48 Hours (Eddie Murphy, Speedster)
1982: Best Friends (Burt Reynolds, Coupe)
1983: Breathless (Richard Gere, T5 Coupe)
1984: Making the Grade (Dana Olsen, Convertible D)
1986: Top Gun (Kelly McGillis, Speedster)
1989: Her Alibi (Tom Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, silver cabriolet)
1996: Highlander (Christopher Lambert, Speedster)
1987: Summer School (Mark Harmon, Speedster)
1990: Another 48 Hrs (Eddie Murphy, Speedster)
1990: The Fourth War (Roy Scheider, 356A Cabriolet)
1991: Doc Hollywood (Michael J. Fox, Speedster)
1991: Point Break (Lori Petty, Speedster)
1993: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (Jason Scott Lee, Cabriolet)
1995: The Way to Dusty Death (Simon MacCorkindale, T6-B Coupe)
1997: Life and Death on Long Island (Jason Priestley, Roadster)
1997: Playing God (David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Speedsters)
2000: The Kid (Bruce Willis, black Speedster)
2002: Posession (Gwyneth Paltrow, RHD T6 Coupe)
2003: Anything Else (Woody Allen, Red Cabriolet)

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

I am still looking for a clean 912. I love that car.

I owned a 1965 912 about 3 years ago, clean car, had dual 2 bbl weber carbs. strong for a 1965 model.

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Some of the times that the 356 had a starring role in Hollywood, not to mention that anyone who was anyone in Hollywood seemed to own one at some point.

1955: The Racers (Cesar Romero, RHD 356 coupe)
1958: Roadracers (Joel Lawrence? 356 coupe)
1963: 8 1/2 (Marcello Mastroiani, Claudia Cardinale)
1965: Promise Her Anything (Warren Beatty, Leslie Caron red coupe)
1966: Harper (Paul Newman, Speedster)
1966: The Quiller Memorandum (George Segal, 356B Cabriolet)
1968: Bullitt (Jacqueline Bisset, T6 Cab.)
1971: On Any Sunday (Steve McQueen, Speedster)
1975: Shampoo (Warren Beatty, Red Coupe)
1978: Coming Home (Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern, Jon Voight; Speedsters)
1979: Manhattan (Tony Roberts, Diane Keaton, with Woody Allen, red Roadster)
1980: Hollywood Knights (Tony Danza, red Speedster, black Roadster)
1980: Dogs of War (Christopher Walken, green B Coupe)
1981: King of the Mountain (Harry Hamlin, Dennis Hopper, Speedster)
1982: 48 Hours (Eddie Murphy, Speedster)
1982: Best Friends (Burt Reynolds, Coupe)
1983: Breathless (Richard Gere, T5 Coupe)
1984: Making the Grade (Dana Olsen, Convertible D)
1986: Top Gun (Kelly McGillis, Speedster)
1989: Her Alibi (Tom Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, silver cabriolet)
1996: Highlander (Christopher Lambert, Speedster)
1987: Summer School (Mark Harmon, Speedster)
1990: Another 48 Hrs (Eddie Murphy, Speedster)
1990: The Fourth War (Roy Scheider, 356A Cabriolet)
1991: Doc Hollywood (Michael J. Fox, Speedster)
1991: Point Break (Lori Petty, Speedster)
1993: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (Jason Scott Lee, Cabriolet)
1995: The Way to Dusty Death (Simon MacCorkindale, T6-B Coupe)
1997: Life and Death on Long Island (Jason Priestley, Roadster)
1997: Playing God (David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Speedsters)
2000: The Kid (Bruce Willis, black Speedster)
2002: Posession (Gwyneth Paltrow, RHD T6 Coupe)
2003: Anything Else (Woody Allen, Red Cabriolet)

You left one out
2004: Wimbledon (Adam Woods, White Cabriolet)