One thing people outside of the car enthusiast community may not know is that gearheads are also—whether consciously or unconsciously—fans of history. The personal stories behind cars have a strong appeal to buyers, all of whom have their anecdotes about their own vehicles. Vintage automobiles are still trading hands because people like to experience what cars were like in bygone eras. Our Pick of the Day, a 1966 Porsche 356 Speedster replica, has an interesting human connection and combines the styling of yesteryear with useful updates. You can find it on ClassicCars.com listed by a private seller in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The 911 is synonymous with Porsche, but that doesn’t mean it launched the brand. “On 8 June 1948, the first automobile bearing the Porsche name was approved for production: the Porsche 356/1 Roadster,” according to the automaker. Over time, this “pre-A” version of the 356 evolved into the subsequent A-, B-, and C-series Coupes, Cabriolets, Speedsters, and Roadsters.
Porsche stopped production of the 356 lineup 60 years ago, but the model remains popular, which explains why various companies offer replicas. Dino Omens, an automotive industry veteran who’s appeared on Chip Foose’s show “Overhaulin’” and currently serves as the caretaker of this particular 356 Speedster, told us it was built in 2015 by Vintage Speedsters (now Vintage Motorcars) of Hawaiian Gardens, California. It went to a very special client: Greg Leach, the owner of the company. He made sure to show it off to fellow automotive enthusiasts at the 2015 Cars ‘N Copters event, “Southern California’s premier automotive and helicopter experience supporting the Huntington Beach Police & Community Foundation.” Since new, this vehicle has only been driven approximately 3,800 miles.
The crew that built this Speedster based it on the underpinnings of a 1966 Volkswagen. The fiberglass Speedster body was finished in black and equipped with a matching low-profile soft top that can be snapped into place when storm clouds move in. Whether the top is up or down, there shouldn’t be any gas fumes whipping around the cabin thanks to the fuel tank’s sealed charcoal canister. Bright bumpers and trim, auxiliary front lights, headlight stone guards, BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall radial tires, and a luggage rack with leather straps fit this build’s retro inspiration. Not so visible are the internal structural reinforcements which make the lightweight shell, as Omens puts it, sound “like a steel body.” He adds that there is also a “factory engine appearance package and under-carriage package for show.” If you look closely, you’ll see Omens’ signature under the rear-mounted engine’s hood.
The cockpit’s red vinyl upholstery certainly catches the eye, but everything else—with one exception—is focused on driving. Behind the wood-rimmed steering wheel is a set of simple gauges, including a tachometer that shows how high the air-cooled, dual-carb 1,915cc flat-four is being wound up. A heavy-duty heater keeps the cabin warm during open-top drives in cold weather.
There’s no center console with space for drinks that can distract from shifting through the gears of the Freeway Flyer four-speed manual transaxle. However, there is a 1,000-watt audio system with a Pioneer head unit and Focal speakers, which offers an alternative to the sound pumped out of the dual exhaust outlets.
This 1966 Porsche 356 Speedster replica is a modern continuation of Porsche’s formative model. It was also an important part of the history of the company (and its founder) that made it. If you want to start your own history with it, you can do that for $54,999.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
