1957 Porsche 356A Carrera GT ‘Outlaw’

For sale by auction on Saturday 07 March 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Porsche 356 was the company's first production model. It was
a lightweight and nimble handling rear-engine. rear-wheel-drive. br/>two-door sports car available in hardtop and convertible
configurations. Design innovations continued during the years of
manufacture. contributing to its motorsports success and
popularity. Production started in 1948 at Gmünd. Austria where
approximately 50 cars were built. In 1950. the factory relocated to
Züffenhausen. Germany and general production of the 356 continued
until April 1965. well after the replacement model 911 made its
autumn 1963 debut. It was common for owners to race the car as well
as drive it on the street. Increasing success with its racing and
road cars brought Porsche orders for over 10. 00 units in 1964. and
by the time 356 production ended in 1965. approximately 76. 00 had
been produced.

The 356 has generated a huge following right across the world
with competition variants. stock cars and beautifully present
totally original road cars. A movement has evolved. however. in
southern California for something called 'Outlaws'. The first
'Outlaw 356' appears to be a 1956 356 Carrera customised by Dean
Jeffries in 1957. As soon as he purchased the car. he started
modifying it to showcase his abilities as a custom car builder.
When asked years later why he customised a Porsche. he answered. br/>"Because. back then only the sports car guys had any money. All of
the hot-rodders were broke. " This way of thinking can most easily
be seen reflected in the global phenomenon that the world of the VW
Beetle. Huge industries exist for the promotion and modification of
these iconic motorcars. And so it is with the Outlaw.

This well-known and uniquely individual example was initially
put together in 1994. A tribute to a factory 356A Carrera GT coupé
was desired. basically an off-the-shelf race car you could buy from
a main dealer back then. as indeed you can now. However. even 20
years ago. they were an expensive and rare beast. A 1957 356A Coupé
(T2) was enlisted and rebuilt incorporating many of the up-grades
used by the Porsche Factory at the time. It now has a 912 engine
giving 95hp as opposed to the complex and heavy factory four-cam
Carrera engines that gave between 105 to 125hp. The result is that
it has a very similar power to weight ratio. especially bearing in
mind the Perspex windows and lightweight interior. to the factory
cars. It is reported to be taught and direct to drive with a very
smooth gearbox and quick throttle response.

The wheel spacers are copied from a 550 Spyder giving a wider
track and improved cooling. Recent works also include; a new clutch
and rebuilt braking system including wheel cylinders and flexi
hoses etc. The wiring system has. in addition. been checked and
repaired. indeed the entire car has been checked through from
bumper to bumper. It also has an MoT test certificate valid until
January 2016. not legally required but good to see. All bushes and
bearings have been replaced with Koni shock absorbers and Avon
competition tyres (stiff side wall and soft compound) are fitted.
Other Carrera details include correct badging. the fuel filler
extending through the bonnet. period wing mirror and engine lid
louvers. The Speedster gearbox is stamped '77' (7th month of 1957)
and fitted with close ratio BBAB Ratios.

The interior includes a Safety Devices roll cage (with a
removable diagonal member that enables use of rear seats). side and
rear windows in Perspex and pull straps on the door windows. The
front footwell has been finished in Vinyl as per factory cars and
the rev. counter converted to electrical and the face has been
reprinted to show a 6. 00 rpm red-line as per the original
Carreras. The effect is completed with a Nardi wooden reproduction
steering wheel and Deist Aviation seat belts. Great looking. great
fun and hard to tell apart from the real thing!

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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