Porsche 356 Speedster R

In order to give better performance and handling for races in the 50s and 60s, several Porsche 356s were stripped down in weight and modified. A few notable examples include the factory Porsche 356 SL, and the uber-delectable Porsche 356A Carrera GT with it’s infamous 4-cam engine. With racing seared into the Porsche DNA, many owners wasted no time in proving the car’s worth in racing. In Porsche’s own unending quest to improve performance over merely face-lifting their cars, each year brought some performance gain in either the powertrain, suspension or brake system. This trend continues to this very day with Porsche-philes incorporating modern Porsche technology into the popular 356 frame.

This particlar concept, the Speedster R marries the Porsche 356 with modern Porsche and Volkswagen components. Starting with the obvious 18 inch Porsche Fuchs instead of the 15 inch steelies. Koni adjustable shock absorbers and stouter sway bars firm up the suspension while CB performance front and rear disc brakes handle the stops.

A 200hp 2332 nose-bleeder engine using a machined late model Volkswagen case stuffed with a 84mm Pauter forged crankshaft, 5.5-inch Scat H-beam rods and 94mm Cima pistons. Engle FK-46 camshaft with straight-cut gears blow fuel and air through fully ported and polished heads with 46mm x 37.5mm vaqlves. The compression ratio is set at 10.0:1. The springs are ERCO triples and dual-tapered CB performance pushrods. A pair of 48mm Italian Weber 48s with modified 3rd progression hole and 42mm venturis are used. The much ported Skat Track manifolds is matched with a 1 3/4 inch LowDown system with 3 inch Renn Kafer muffler and V-band clamp. A Setrab oil cooler and Mallory 70 GPH fuel pump and bypass regulator are also brought into action.

A Berg 5 speed with a modified Erco one piece mainshaft is used. A Berg Positraction unit with Erco side covers, a 12.5 pound flywheel and a Berg/Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate with Super-Diff round out the transmission.

Of course all of this drives the Porsche purists nuts.