For decades, the Volkswagen Beetle was everywhere on American roadways. The Bug is the definition of economical transportation. It’s easy to maintain and as hard as a cockroach to kill. Moreover, the compact dimensions, modular construction, and rear engine make the Beetle an ideal base for custom replica cars.
Unfortunately, too many of these replicas were poor facsimiles of the real thing, with odd proportions and ill-fitting body panels not helped by the backyard construction techniques so often employed by their builders. However, when done right, a Volkswagen Beetle can blur the lines between real and replica.
Shop now for Porsche 356
The 1958 Porsche 356 replica Speedster Coupe mounted on a 1967 VW pan—like the one for sale on eBay—is a case study for how to pull off this eye-deceiving trick.
Like Father, Like Son
The Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 356 have a shared history. In the 1930s, Ferdinand Porsche, the brand’s founder, was the father of the Type 1 (also known as the Beetle or Bug). He created the model to make personal motoring accessible to the average German.
Ferdinand’s son, Ferry Porsche, wanted to elevate his father’s design to sports-car status. So he used Volkswagen components to produce what eventually became the legendary Porsche 356. A rear-mounted flat-four engine formed the underpinnings of both cars. Mechanically, the original models are pretty similar.
In the 1950s, Porsche diverged from Volkswagen by adding performance to the 356 via dual overhead camshafts, higher compression, and other engine tweaks. Enthusiast builders soon discovered they could replicate these speed-enhancing modifications using aftermarket products.
Aftermarket kits hit the market to make it even easier to transform a Beetle into a Porsche. A kit to produce the Porsche 550 Spider, like the one driven by James Dean, was especially popular, despite Dean’s demise in that car.
An Affordable 356 Replica
The Porsche 356 was also popular as either a coupe or convertible. The 356 replica for sale on eBay comes from a speedster coupe kit. The car is powered by a 1600cc Volkswagen engine, which has the power needed for spirited driving.
The seller says the four-speed manual transmission can push the car to 65 miles per hour on the freeway.
What’s most impressive about this 356 replica is the workmanship. Most bystanders won’t be able to distinguish the VW knock-off from an original 356. The paintwork is stellar, and the interior looks period-correct, save for the modern Bluetooth stereo. Of course, Porsche aficionados might spot imperfections. Can you see anything that gives away the replica? If so, add it to the comments below.
The giveaway is this car’s price. A well-restored original 356 typically fetches six figures. Meanwhile, this easy-to-maintain superb 356 replica is offered at an asking price of $37,995. That’s a bargain basement price for daily access to the Porsche experience.
