How I fell in love with 356...

[greesedc]

I've been playing with, restoring, racing, and having a blast with Porsches for over 25 years...some of them when I still had some money to play with. (I need a stimulis for a new Boxster).

Point is, however, Becks and every other plastic wannabe are just that. Cool to drive, cool to look at, affordable, and usually everything on them works, but to the purists they are like 4 wheeled, red headed step-children.

Case in point. I had a '56 356A coupe that I rebuilt, but not having the cash at the time for a real Porsche engine, I built a VW 1835cc race motor and put it in the tub and it ran like stink! Usually kept the lid down on the engine compartment at events, and while it still sounded pretty volksy no one ever cared.
I finally got a proper moter and sold the car to acquire a '57 356A Cabriolet.

Last year, at an annual multi marque, Concour D' Elegance car show, there were, of course, many various 356's represented by the local tub club, but what "356" do you think that the unknowing masses drooled over? Yep, it was a 356 wannabe done up in an amazing paint job, and turned into a widebody outlaw.

The masses were fooled, the real Porsche guys were put off by the fact that the thing even got into the Concours in the first place, but you know what? The car looked great, it probably ran great, it was likely very reliable, and if anyone wants a Beck or any other good looking Wannabe...GO FOR IT and ENJOY your ride!

p.s. My Black '93 968 Cabriolet placed 3rd in 2007, and the Black '01 Boxster 2nd in Class in 2008. But, the '57 356A Cabriolet, was People's Choice over 15 years ago at the West Coast Holiday. All gone but the Boxster

I love my Boxster, but a 2010 wouldn't take up any more room in my garage than the '01. My wife and my 401K disagree.

[yellowboxster01]

My father recently got into the old 356's and started collecting them. He has a 1952 pre A coupe, 1954 Pre A coupe "outlaw" style, and a 1955 356 Speedster.

The 52 has a lot of history and has won 8 out of 10 events it's been in. It's sat on the lawn at Pebble Beach and placed. Beautiful car, fully restored as it rolled off the factory line.

[Jaxonalden]

Wow...and to think some people only collect stamps!

[ekam]

What's wrong with collecting stamps? I have a room full along with my hockey cards and my limited collection action figures.


J/K!

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by ekam

What's wrong with collecting stamps? I have a room full along with my hockey cards and my limited collection action figures.


J/K!

I remember watching a movie about a guy that collected action figures. Now lets see...what was it called?...O yea, now I remember.

[vath2001]

I have to agree that their real pretty cars to go look at in an museum.... which is why I will never own one. But to each his own.

I think the quote is "Drive it like you stole it".

[ocdbilly]

Originally Posted by ekam

What's wrong with collecting stamps? I have a room full along with my hockey cards and my limited collection action figures.


J/K!

Do you have an Oscar Goldman in the original case?

[Keith Newby]

At a local informal car meet - cars & coffee - in San Diego there were several 356's being shown and not one was a steel bodied car. There's a local manufacturer of Porsche replicas - Thunder Ranch which perhaps accounts for the number of fiberglass cars on display.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by ocdbilly

Do you have an Oscar Goldman in the original case?

What? I'm probably too young to know who that is.

And I was joking about the action figures....

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by ocdbilly

Do you have an Oscar Goldman in the original case?

Good one!! LOL

[Aron in Toronto]

Ekam, not to add fuel to the fire, but here is a link to a Canadian, BC based manufacture of speedsters. They have been around in various forms since the real speedsters were in the showrooms and have some great examples.

Better start saving.

http://www.intermeccanica.com/index.html

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by greesedc

I've been playing with, restoring, racing, and having a blast with Porsches for over 25 years...some of them when I still had some money to play with. (I need a stimulis for a new Boxster).

Point is, however, Becks and every other plastic wannabe are just that. Cool to drive, cool to look at, affordable, and usually everything on them works, but to the purists they are like 4 wheeled, red headed step-children.

Case in point. I had a '56 356A coupe that I rebuilt, but not having the cash at the time for a real Porsche engine, I built a VW 1835cc race motor and put it in the tub and it ran like stink! Usually kept the lid down on the engine compartment at events, and while it still sounded pretty volksy no one ever cared.
I finally got a proper moter and sold the car to acquire a '57 356A Cabriolet.

Last year, at an annual multi marque, Concour D' Elegance car show, there were, of course, many various 356's represented by the local tub club, but what "356" do you think that the unknowing masses drooled over? Yep, it was a 356 wannabe done up in an amazing paint job, and turned into a widebody outlaw.

The masses were fooled, the real Porsche guys were put off by the fact that the thing even got into the Concours in the first place, but you know what? The car looked great, it probably ran great, it was likely very reliable, and if anyone wants a Beck or any other good looking Wannabe...GO FOR IT and ENJOY your ride!

p.s. My Black '93 968 Cabriolet placed 3rd in 2007, and the Black '01 Boxster 2nd in Class in 2008. But, the '57 356A Cabriolet, was People's Choice over 15 years ago at the West Coast Holiday. All gone but the Boxster

I love my Boxster, but a 2010 wouldn't take up any more room in my garage than the '01. My wife and my 401K disagree.

When someone buys a Beck, hopefully they'rebuying it for the pure driving experience and not to impress the neighbors.