This Emory build saved a 356 coupe from certain doom.
The rift between purists and hot-rodders will never be completely
mended, no matter how common the car or how large the investment. There
is one small patch of middle ground, however; in the case of the
unsalvageable, both sides usually agree that a repurposing is better
than sending the car to the scrapper. Legendary Porsche shop owner and 356 Outlaw mastermind Rod Emory
skillfully straddles the fine line between spectacular and sacrilege
better than anyone, and it's with that in mind we check out his newest
356 creation.
Emory calls it the 1959½ "Transitional" Speedster,
as the production Speedster was phased out in 1959 for the lesser-known
Convertible D. Don't worry, Emory didn't chop the hat off a pristine,
untouched car for this Speedster, instead saving a wrecked 1959 coupe
whose roof was deemed unsalvageable. So, instead of parting out the car
or sending it to the crusher, this basket case has a new lease on life
as one of the greatest examples of the 356 Outlaw breed.
Of course, this being Emory Motorsports,
the changes go way, way beyond some paint and interior trimmings. Aside
from subtle body modifications like the "racing-inspired" aluminum
tonneau cover and headrest fairing, there are proprietary bumpers and
shaved exterior trim. Inside, the interior is all new, but retains the
Speedster's minimalistic aesthetic with Hydes red upholstery and
charcoal-colored carpets.
A punched-out, hopped-up 2.4-liter air-cooled flat-four from
Rothsport Racing shoves out a meaty 205 horsepower, the output routed to
the skinny, 195/65-15 rear Tecnomagnesio wheels through a 901
four-speed transmission. The suspension is Emory-ified as well, with a
modified 901-style IRS in the rear and adjustable Koni dampers at all
four corners. For extra decelerative might, custom rotors and calipers
provide "911-levels of stopping power."
Want one? Too bad—like all Emory Motorsport creations,
this is a one-off, customer-specific build, but we're sure Emory would
love to work with you to create the Porsche of your dreams.
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