If you happen to have a cast-iron bathtub laying around the house, flip it over and lean four tires against it. Squint a bit and you'll see the silhouette of a Porsche 356 A Speedster, better known as a Roadster D. Admittedly befuddled by the 356's magnetism, this author has been captivated by the car ever since the 1970s, when our high school teacher drove his silver '56 Speedster. Seeming not so much to turn as to hover around the bend of West Essex High School's entrance road, Mr. Coulter was quick to talk about his love for the odd little roadster with the ridiculously short windshield.
Arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever built, owners and even builders are somewhat bemused by the 356's lure.Henry Reisner, owner of Intermeccanica International in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (www.intermeccanica.com), and builder of the cabriolet on these pages, comments, "It's such an unusual design. They're so low and wide, but they are very appealing. They are just as appealing to a 4-year-old child as an 80-year-old person. The car has a welcoming look to it. It never looks ostentatious. When I park my Meissen Blue Intermeccanica Roadster D in the corner of a car show, it just sucks people away from the $100,000 cars."
Bob Bigham, owner of this stunning Slate Gray Intermeccanica Roadster D, was captivated by the look and charm of the older Porsches. Bigham already had the pleasure of owning two other "real" Porsches, a '88 928 and a '97 993 cabriolet. Attending a Barrett-Jackson auction led to Bigham spying a mint Porsche 356. Though he made no purchase that day, he was determined to pursue an old Porsche.
A few visits to Porsche events helped solidify his desire for a 356 Speedster or Convertible. Discovering that a mint Speedster is in the 100K territory, and even mint 356s are in the 70K range, acquiring a replica car became very attractive. Yes, the real cars appreciate, granted, and any Porsche enthusiast, Bigham included, would be thrilled to own a piece of Porsche history. But why spend twice the money for a car that's too valuable to drive? The replica car industry is now at a place where certain magical cars of yesterday, like the 356s, are being built that are superior to the originals in performance, creature comforts, simplicity of repair, and overall quality.
Bigham wanted to have something that drove like a newer car but looked like the older car and could be enjoyed without fear of hurting it. Research into the options for suitable 356 builders lead him to Intermeccanica International. When the company moved to Canada in '82, it began producing the '59 356 Roadster D replica. Speaking to company owner Henry Reisner helped Bob catch a passion for their approach toward producing coach-built cars that retain the 356 Porsche's magical styling while improving the car's performance, comfort, and affordability. Loving the Speedster's lines but craving the 356 Roadster's practicality, he decided to have Intermeccanica build him their turnkey '59 Porsche 356 A Roadster D replica. Approximately 95 percent of the cars built at Intermeccanica are turnkey cars.
When asked about major improvements in the evolution of the current Intermeccanica Roadster, Reisner is quick to point to the custom steel tube frame that replaced the shortened VW pan. The exclusive Intermeccanica frame addresses and corrects problems associated with the original Porsches and early replica cars built on shortened VW pans. The frame is a large box-section steel tube perimeter frame incorporating 5x3x1/8-inch side members, making it torsionally rigid and flex-resistant. Its design attributes include a front axle-mounting base that is twice as wide as the standard VW's, with increased caster (five degrees) for greater straight-ahead stability.
Possibly the most innovative part of the frame is the rear suspension crossmember, which uses stock VW IRS arm/spring plates in conjunction with short early-VW torsion bars. The design allows Intermeccanica to move the engine and transmission 3 inches forward of the original 356. The relocated trailing arm mounting points allow for some added negative camber. This combination results in very neutral handling, a drastic improvement over the original unforgiving Porsche. Bob reports, "The car has a rock solid frame. It's a very impressive structure."
The clean sheet approach allowed Intermeccanica to eliminate the large VW tunnel and increase the overall interior tub width to 48 inches. Additionally, a redesigned footwell area resulted in a very spacious interior with lots of room for both feet. Using the suggested 356 replica seats, Intermeccanica claims the car is an easy fit for people up to 6 feet 3 inches.
The optional engine in Bob's Roadster is a VW Type 1 2,110cc motor built by C. B. Performance. The motor features a 90.5mm Mahle piston/cylinder kit, a forged counterweighted chromoly crank, CNC round ported heads, an MSD ignition, and dual 44 IDF Weber carburetors. Exhaust exits through custom Intermeccanica headers and Magnaflow mufflers. Bob wanted to row as many gears as possible, so he opted for the Porsche 901 five-speed transaxle. In his words, "The motor is excellent, it always starts, and it is not fragile. The Porsche 901 five-speed is a nice upgrade over the four-speed. It's a lot of fun to be able to run through the gears."
Though the basic Roadster comes nicely equipped for $35,500, each car is custom-built with optional equipment to suit the customer's desires. Working with Reisner, Bob specified a number of options for his car, including air conditioning, dual range seat heaters, power windows with dummy handles, power locks, and remote keyless entry. The Clarion stereo, automatic antenna, and Sirius satellite radio with a hidden antenna provide entertainment.
The Intermeccanica replica's quality is seen in the flawless interior that sports optional Garnet Red Spinneybeck leather seats, dash, door panels, and shifter boot. Nestled behind the reproduction Derrington steering wheel is reproduction 356 VDO instrumentation that includes a speedometer featuring a tripmeter, electronic tachometer, electric oil temperature and fuel level gauges, and several warning lights. The look of these instruments is simply outstanding.
The interior is the perfect complement to the stock Porsche Slate Gray color that's accented by optional '58-style bumper guards and overrider tubes. The optional rear-mounted luggage rack perpetuates the OEM look. Reisner is especially pleased with the improvements that have been developed for the convertible top. Made of Haartz Stayfast Cloth, the top fits well and does a great job of protecting the driver from the elements.
Reisner sums it up nicely when he reflects on the 356's appeal, "It's more their presence-they bring about a certain older simplicity to people who see them or own them. It signifies something different from their everyday life. Ultimately, it's more about the people; the car is simply the shared experience. I can honestly say that my customers have become some of my very best friends, and that's what it's all about."
In Bob's words, "I wanted a 356, but I didn't want it to drive like it was old." Mission accomplished! Pretty good results from an upside-down bathtub replica.