1960 Devin D, Porsche 356 Super engine, 356B brakes, 356 wheels, SCCA racer

In the years following WW2. automobile road racing greatly increased in popularity in the US.   While most drove European cars. many gearheads longed to make their own car to compete with Europes finest.   Bill Devin was that kind of guy.   He made a Crosley special and he also went to Italy to pick up a couple of Ferrari race cars.   He did well with them but decided to continue with his creations.   Fiberglass was becoming a popular medium for those making their own car bodies.   Bill Devin made his own fiberglass sports car body(some say splashed off a Ferrari or Ermini Tipo 357)  Soon Devin was in the business of selling fiberglass bodies advertised in the back of car magazines.   Bill Devin designed the Devin SS. a world class race car with American power-many many years before the AC Cobra.   He then designed a more complete car. the Devin D. which was available with VW or Porsche power.   Soon he made the Devin C with Corvair power.   These capable and affordable cars were a success both on and off the track.

This particular car is a Devin D.   These cars were sold either as completed cars or as partial kits.   I got this car from out west where it had been sitting for decades.   It came with a partially disassembled Porsche 356 Super engine and Porsche 356 wheels.   Porsche 356B brakes were in a box and are included. I took out the Porsche motor and installed an early type 1 Volkswagen motor and worked on the brakes (lines. master and wheel cylinders. etc) and got this car running and driving.   Other projects came up and this one got put on the back burner.   I'm thinning the herd and it is time to sell.

This car will need. of course. a full restoration.   You could drive it as a patina survivor car but if you want to get on the track then more extensive work will need to be done.   The passenger door is glassed on and the drivers door is lightly screwed to the body via a piece of trim (that is how I got the car)  There are a few cracks in the body and the rear decklid is thin and needs some work.   It doesn't appear to be the original Devin D decklid.   The trunk and decklid need to be hinged. Of course. this car is fiberglass and this work is simple and easy to do and doesn't require the skill of. say. fabricating a fender from sheet aluminum on an English wheel!  The VW engine runs and the VW brakes work. the real way to go. of course. would be build the 356 Super motor and install the Porsche brakes all around.  

I'm sure those who are watching this auction are aware of the rising values in American specials. especially such a well known marque as the Devin D.   I don't know the actual history of this car and where it might have been raced but would love to hear any first hand knowledge that anyone might have. With the Porsche 356 Super motor this car would really go! This car came with a Florida title stating 1960 VW and a metal id plate. This would be fine for export.   Georgia isn't a title state for this year anyway and I have never registered this car.
All you Porschephiles please look closely at the parts pictures.   This motor is a 616/2 matching case with no numbers on the third piece.   The rare and correct Zenith carbs are with the motor.   No obvious parts are missing from the motor and I have some spares also.   The brakes drums look good-no broken fins.   The front brakes have the backing plates and the rear brakes have the shoes and springs.   Smith gauges (Jaguar?) fill the dash panel.   I have more detailed pictures including all the Porsche parts.   Please email me for the picture link.

Also published at eBay.com

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