MID-ENGINE MAKEOVER: Combining the looks of a rear-engine classic with the performance of a modern Cayman
October 9, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante
One of the first Resto-Mod Porsche 356s to appear on the Barrett-Jackson auction block, this sleek speedster (Lot #765) is West Coast Customs creation.
Resto-Mods have become a major part of the collector car scene during the past decade. Growing numbers of builders, buyers, collectors and investors have learned to appreciate the merger of a fine vehicle restoration (the “resto” part of the equation) with superior – often more modern – underpinnings (the “mod” element). But while the majority of Resto-Mods tend to be based on American platforms like Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs, two-seat Thunderbirds and the like, there is no reason the craft cannot be applied to European sports cars as well.
An excellent and highly imaginative example of applying the Resto-Mod aesthetic to a European classic is shown by Lot #765, a 1965 Porsche 356 custom convertible that has been masterfully merged with a 2008 Porsche Cayman chassis by the craftsmen at West Coast Customs. Porsche-lovers will know that 1965 marked the final year for the legendary 356 before giving way to the also desirable, but generally less-exclusive 911 and 912 replacements. As the 356’s final offering, a mere 1,688 356 Cs were produced in 1965, making them quite scarce indeed.
But with a modest 1600cc (95ci) four-cylinder engine of 88 horsepower and oversteer-inducing swing-axle rear suspension architecture – details Porsche itself eliminated with the 911 successor (the less costly 912 continued with four cylinders through 1969) – a showroom-stock (restored) 356 has become a sheep in wolf’s clothing in this age of twice-as-powerful (181 horsepower) Honda Civics. Something had to be done. Something was done.
To bring the timeless looks of the 356 into the 21st century, the West Coast Customs team answered the question, “What happens when the body of a 356 is blended with its spiritual descendant, the Porsche Cayman?” After over 3,000 hours of effort, we have the answer. When the Cayman debuted in 2006, it represented a closed-coupe version of the mid-engine Boxster roadster. Styled for Porsche by Pinky Lai, core elements of Cayman’s voluptuous curved exterior were admittedly inspired by the 356. So in this case, the circle is complete.
But as a physically larger platform, the modern Cayman chassis and vintage 356 body shell required careful reengineering to achieve harmony. The stock 95.1-inch Cayman wheelbase was reduced by 9 inches to suit the proportions of the 356 skin. Moving in the other direction, the 356 body shell – noted for its elbow-rubbing cockpit – was widened 8 inches to suit the Cayman’s wider suspension layout.
Inside, the expected power windows, custom basket-weave leather seats, Alpine/ARC sound system with 7-inch touchscreen controller and Bluetooth connectivity invite comfort and passenger entertainment without looking out of place. Also achieving a perfect blend of modern technology and classic looks are the steering wheel and 17-inch-diameter rims. Machined from forged billet aluminum bar stock, each wheel has been CNC whittled down to elegant perfection to mimic the look of the original pressed and cast-steel components, but with larger dimensions for better driver grip and to accept wide, sticky tires. The design fidelity of these items fools casual observers into thinking they’re original Stuttgart equipment.
Other massaged items include the front and rear bumpers. Gracefully curved to hug the body, they’re not available in any parts catalog. Rather, each was lengthened to match the 8-inch-wider body before being expertly rechromed. Likewise, the glass has been custom-molded and ground just for this car; it’s all one-off stuff. And atop the former engine bay lid (the actual liquid-cooled engine is positioned behind the cockpit), a CNC machined billet aluminum representation of the stock vent grille reminds us of the days when Porsches were strictly air-cooled.
Most Porsche fans agree that the engine represents the heart and soul of any car. For this flight of fancy, the Cayman’s robust 240-horsepower 2.7-liter flat-6 was retained without any reliability-risking power adders. With its overall low curb weight and nearly triple-stock horsepower rating, the power plant is fully capable of delivering performance that would leave any vintage 356 in the rearview mirror. We don’t mean to disrespect icons like the DOHC Carrera 2 engine of 1963, but just as the Red Baron’s once-invincible 1918 Fokker Dr1 triplane paled in comparison with a 1944 Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, such is the march of progress.
And while Porsche equipped base-level Caymans with a 5-speed manual transmission, this unique offering is equipped with the optional 5-speed automatic transmission for easier cruising and no clutch-tasking in heavy traffic. Though the 2008 Cayman was strictly a closed-cockpit fastback body type, West Coast Customs removed the roof and replaced it with a removable hardtop from a 1965 Porsche 356 that can be secured in wet weather. Otherwise, a custom-fit canvas cover conceals the cockpit-aft region.
One of the first Resto-Mod Porsche 356s to appear on the Barrett-Jackson auction block, this sleek speedster reminds us all that the only thing limiting skilled automotive craftsmen is the imagination. Run free, run wild, bid accordingly!
For more about this car, check out this segment from a recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage:”
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the Las Vegas docket, click HERE.