Although the Porsche 959 and retro-style 911 Speedster are arguably the most popular Porsche cars of 1980, they were quite different.
Both were futuristic, with all-wheel drives technology and engine parts taken from the 962 endurance racing car. The other was retro, looking back to the old 356 Speedster.
Today, any carmaker with marketing skills would recognize the potential to combine the two, and make even more money from collectors by creating a bizarre mashup. But the 1980s were simpler, so Porsche kept the legends of the past in separate corners.
The kit car industry wasn’t so reluctant to seize an opportunity. Classic Motor Carriages presented the 359 as a new twist on Porsche 356 Speedster, which would be complemented by its Beetle-based, more traditional-style kit.
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As with all Speedster kits it is available on eBay. This one has a Beetle-based chassis. However, the turbocharged 2.0 liter engine should offer more performance than Beetle.
But it’s the style you’ll buy this car for. It’s definitely controversial, and you’re bound to find as many people who hate it as love it. We’re not sure we’d put ourselves in the latter category, though perhaps with a new set of side mirrors and a change of wheels, we’d like it more.
The standard of craftsmanship is high, at least from the photos. This is something we all can agree on. Kit cars are often sold with unfinished interiors, and lots of tedious fiddly tasks still to be done. However, the interior trim and engine bay appear impeccable.
We still have to fit the latches to attach the soft roof, but we are open to the possibility of buyers opting to go without. After all, this definitely isn’t the kind of car you buy to used through a Michigan winter.
It’s $26,995 and it will be shipped from Phoenix, AZ. Do you think that this is a great deal or are the decimal points in the wrong spot? Comment and tell us what you think.
