Vehicle Description
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• "One of One"
• Porsche Speedster - "Outlaw" - Reimagined by Canepa
• Fashion Grey, Custom Green Leather Interior
• Willhoit 2.2S Engine with 177 horsepower and 162 lb/ft torque
• Upgraded 5-speed transmission
• 4-wheel disc brake system, 6"x15" Wheels, Avon Tires
• Suspension upgrades - shocks, torsion bars, sway bars
• Extensive list of custom styling and mechanical modifications by
Canepa*
• 1958 - Last production year of the Porsche 356 Speedster
With any project there is always a grand vision of what the
finished product will look like when all the paint has been
polished, the parts assembled, and the engine and chassis are
perfectly tuned for the road. While fantasizing about a completed
car is easy on the imagination, the task of finding the right
starting point and navigating the process is often anything but
easy. Bruce Canepa specializes in finding those excellent starting
points, navigating the map of a restoration, design, and
customization, yielding unique and stunning results like this 1958
Porsche 356A T2 Speedster "Outlaw".
The previous owner, a Washington resident who would own this
Speedster for 51 years, originally was looking for a sports car to
add to his family's garage and wanting a second car that was a
Porsche. After testing driving many coupes, the couple found this
Speedster in an advertisement and went to go see it. Immediately
falling in love with it, they paid $1,000 in 1970 for the Porsche
and took it home. After some fine tuning and mechanical
refurbishment, the family drove the car regularly for 4 years,
taking it to local track events, grocery stores, and long road
trips.
In 1974 the family decided to store the car in a vehicle storage
facility while the family moved from Tacoma, Washington to Chicago,
Illinois to Lincoln, California. The Speedster would end up
residing in the same storage facility until 2010, where it was then
transported back to California. Always intending to restore this
Porsche, the owner kept it in his garage but eventually realized
that he just wouldn't have the time. He wanted the Speedster to go
to someone who would restore it properly, which led him to Bruce
Canepa. They both had a discussion about the car and Bruce had an
idea of what to do with it, turning it into The Ultimate "Outlaw"
speedster. The owner loved the idea of the Speedster getting a new
life and as a car enthusiast for their entire lives, seeing their
car transform was perfect for them. Shortly after Canepa acquired
the Porsche, the real work began.
Starting with a blank slate, Bruce immediately began imagining the
vision & sharing it with his team to bring to reality. The Porsche
Speedster was completely stripped of all its componentry and
paintwork and went directly into Canepa's modifications. Bruce's
cosmetic improvements were carefully thought out to create the
ultimate Outlaw, obvious in every detail.
• *Rear quarter fenders slightly reshaped to allow optimal
clearance for wider 6" wheels and Avon 185/70-15 radial tires
• A front underside spoiler was fabricated to follow the original
body line improving front end stability at higher speeds.
• The front rear bumpers were stripped of all deco trim, bumper
guards, and overriders and reshaped for a consistent 3/16"
clearance of the front and rear body to create a perfect fit at
every curve
• Both the front turn signals and rear taillamps were recessed into
the body - a stunning detail!
• The engine lid was louvered and Porsche 550 type license light
was used in a body color finish
• The front emblem was deleted and the very striking original hood
grab handle was polished and chrome-plated while preserving the
iconic Porsche emblem
• The side deco strips were removed, and the lower rocker moldings
deleted
• Door handles were custom machined with a very artistic slot in
each door handle
• The upper door trim was reshaped eliminating the aluminum trim
detail and creating a more integrated appearance
• External Speedster side emblems and Porsche rear emblem were
chrome-plated and a 2200 emblem was custom made to designate engine
displacement.
It wouldn't be a Canepa outlaw build if there weren't a healthy
dose of mechanical upgrades to make the driving experience better,
and this Speedster has no shortage of that. Canepa was very
familiar with the John Willhoit 2.2 liter S engine, a custom
exhaust system and with the power plant producing 177 horsepower,
it was an obvious choice. Paired to a WEVO 5-speed transmission
with an early 911 shifter assembly, this ensured that the Speedster
not only had the power to get into as much trouble as the driver
wanted, but that the transmission provided the gearing for improved
drivability & top speed cruising. Extensive handling modifications
were employed, including 4-wheel disc brakes and 6" steel wheels
refinished in Canepa Magnesium Graphite with Avon 185/70-15 tires.
Upgraded suspension included torsion bars, shocks absorbers, and
swap bar, ensuring that the newfound power could be met with
exceptional handling that would make 911s jealous.
Once the metalwork was completed, the Speedster was sent to
Canepa's award-winning in-house bodyshop where the car was treated
to the finest craftsmanship to ensure all panels were perfect.
Going through multiple stages to ensure that panels were laser
straight, the Speedster was given exceptional care to prepare the
car for its specific Fashion Grey paint finish. Once the car was
fully prepared for paint, the car received its final preparation
and sent to Canepa's exceptional painters. After painting
completed, the car was cured for multiple days before Canepa wet
sanded the finish to a concours-level smoothness usually reserved
for Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance entrants.
With the mechanical componentry ready to be installed and the
bodywork and paint completed, the last piece of the Speedster
puzzle was the interior. A full custom green leather interior was
chosen, with perforated seat inserts, perforated vertical stripes
in the door panels, gray German square weave carpet, and a black
canvas top and frame in matching green. The Speedster's bucket
seat's hardbacks were refinished in the same Fashion Grey color as
the car, tying in the interior with the exterior. The dashboard was
modified to remove all decorative trim, with the gauge cluster sill
extended to give the appearance of recessed gauges. A special
custom 3-spoke steering wheel rim was painted Fashion Grey and the
center tunnel was trimmed in the same gray carpet used throughout
the interior. "GT" style gauges were added, along with interior
door handles and dash knobs all painted Fashion Grey. In addition,
the Speedster's fuel tank, engine shroud, and air cleaners were
painted the same green color as the leather throughout the car,
tying in the color choices perfectly.
Completed, this 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster "Outlaw" is a vehicle
to behold. Perfect subtle styling inside and out with thoughtful
touches, excellent handling upgrades that enable rivaling 911s,
with ample power and 5 speed gearing to match, this car is an
exciting addition to any collection. Ready to impress on the road
or the lawn, and certainly at and from a stoplight, this
Canepa-designed Outlaw is what it means to dial things to 11,
tastefully.
