Generally I like Chip Foose's work. And I was impressed when he stepped off his beaten path to do a Lotus Europa on Overhaulin'. It was a brilliant build. So I was curious to see what he'd do with a 356.
Some of his changes were predictable, like tucked bumpers. They look just as good on a 356 as they do on any other car. And I can see "the look" he was going for: a homage to the early 356's. Thus the small, oval, rear window from an early Beetle, the small round quad taillights, and wheels reminiscent of the Glocker Porsche. The white paint harks back to German racing cars of the 1920's (and was the owner's choice). The interior is a nice nod to 1950's German cars in general and early 356's in particular:
But the rear window doesn't quite work. Even the earliest 356's had rectangular rear windows. The 356 C (which this car began life as) had an enlarged rectangular rear window and an engine cover with a straight upper shut-line to echo it and the larger twin deck vents. The car would look better if the standard rear window and tail lights had been retained. But then it wouldn't look much different from a regular 356 C. Compared to Foose's best work, the car is a Cookie Monster: good, but not delicious.
Part of the fun of researching this post was looking at the Emory Motorsports website and reading the threads on the Pelican Parts website that commented on the Foose build. Emory, which did most of the mechanical work, built its reputation on Outlaw 356's, and still likes to tweak Porsche Purists. In the Pelican Parts threads, the outlaw/purist battle seems largely to be over. Or the purists have just gone dark for now. There were posts about how much a commenter likes (or doesn't) Foose's work, or Magnus Walker's outlaw 911's. There were detailed comments on the Foose 356 itself. But not much gasping about the travesty of modifying a 356--especially the cancerous frame Foose was dealt.
Of course Pelican itself has done some Outlaw builds. But I've noticed that Outlaw Porsches are now welcome even at Porsche Club of America events--although they have to park in the back of the lot. ;-)
4 comments:
Should have lost the BBQ tray on the rear deck lid and covered it in louvers and how's about '39 Ford tail lights, frenched of course. I would have liked to see a set of late model VDO gauges in a re-modelled dash too. But Foose is God so what do I know!
what adapter did they use on that Flat 4 Banjo steering wheel to fit the the Porsche column? anyone know ?
Episode didn't focus much on the interior except for re-covering the seats. Looks like a 356A wheel or a re-pro to me, fastened to a 356C column, but those are guesses.
The Porsche 356 is a high-class sports car that has been first made by Austrian firm Porsche Konstruktionen GesmbH (1948-1949), and then by simply German provider Dr . Ent. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH (1950-1965). It was Porsche's first development automobile. Before cars created by the Austrian company contain Cisitalia Grand Prix contest car, the Volkswagen Beetle, and Automobile Union Grand Prix automobiles.
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