1958 Porsche 356A T2 Speedster "Outlaw"

OVERVIEW

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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.