The Porsche 356 is the first real sports car built by Ferdinand ‘Ferry’ Porsche and has a special corner reserved for itself in the heart of every automobile enthusiast. The simple bug-eyed design and the clean lines of the lightweight, nimble rear-engine rear-wheel-drive has a huge fan following. The 356 is now a highly regarded collector car and toying with it is certainly not a good idea unless your family name reads Emory.
The Emory Outlaws and Specials are to a 356 what Singer is to a 911 – a retro-mod that not only makes the car look as beautiful as ever, but also makes it run like a souped up racer.
It takes 18-months to build an Emory with the kind of detailing done upon the car both mechanical and aesthetic. One look at it and you know why.
The aerodynamic fender-mounted mirrors, the custom built front bumper, the caged vintage headlamps, the old-school fog lamps just blend into the design.
The shark-like gills on the side to facilitate cooling of the rear-mounted engine and the safety roll-cage peeping out of the bolted glass panels scream performance.
It gets a 2.4-litre 185bhp flat-four engine carved out of the air-cooled 3.6-litre six cylinder engine from the 964 along with Weber IDA carburettors, Carrera-style dry sump and custom intake/ exhaust manifolds.
It is quite modern under the skin – new steering, independent front and rear suspension plus sway bars, a 911-sourced 4-speed manual gearbox and RWD nirvana.
It is a retro-mod. While holding on to the charm of the minimalist yesteryear cabin, safety bits like seat-belts and a roll-cage have been aesthetically introduced.
The 356 is a piece of automotive history and Emory has not only preserved its soul but also has made it much more appealing and contemporary. And that comes at a price, a steep one (Rs 2.5 crore in US which means at least Rs 5 crore in India); something an enthusiast would never mind spending.
Pic courtesy: www.autoblog.com
