All Porsches evolved from the 356, an elemental sports car that Ferry Porsche envisioned during World War II and introduced a few years later in 1948. Spanning some 17 years, the many variants of the 356 enjoyed a long production run, eclipsed only by the various iterations of the still manufactured Porsche 911.
Porsche fanatic Tom Raymond has owned five different 911s, each newer and more sophisticated than its predecessor. Though he appreciates all the technological advances found in his current 2008 911, Tom's favorite Porsche is a replica: a 2006 Intermeccanica Roadster. "My 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet makes 355 hp and will get to 60 in under five seconds. It has massive power, but I feel so insulated from the road. I prefer driving the Intermeccanica. With those narrow tires, it's seat-of-the-pants driving at its best," said Tom.
The quest to find the right 356 began with the original Porsches some three years ago. Tom learned of some nearby 356 events from the popular 356 web forum he belongs to, www.speedsterowners.com. Even then, rusty, leaky, and ragged-around-the-edges original 356s were fetching more than $100,000. Tom was used to paying such prices for new 911s, with all those modern amenities. But spending that much for an original that wasn't anywhere near perfect didn't make any sense to him. Mr. Raymond redirected his Speedster search toward the replicar world.
He stumbled onto a company that built Speedster replicas and literally was burned twice. Unfortunately, he bought a completed 356 replica from them. Said Speedster had two engine fires, the second of which totaled the car. Fortunately, the company is now out of business, so no one else will get taken. From the insurance settlement and selling the sooty salvaged Speedy to a friend, Tom came out of the nightmare $6,000 poorer and light-years more savvy. He contacted Hickory, North Carolina, Intermeccanica dealer Jay Stephano and continued his quest to find a 356 replica that offered modern electronics and solid reliability, while being fully recognized as a classic Porsche 356.
At the 2006 Annual Intermeccanica BBQ & Tour, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Intermeccanica's headquarters, Tom selected all the options for his Roadster with IM's owner, Henry Reisner. Not too long afterward, he took delivery of the 2006 Mexico Blue Intermeccanica Roadster from Jay Stephano in nearby Hickory, North Carolina. The only option not found on his 356 is seat heaters. You guessed it-Tom didn't want anything to get in the way of that so-sought-after, real seat-of-the-pants driving experience. And being burned twice before, we're sure Tom has spent more than enough time in the hot seat.
 |  Tom's 2006 IM has been featured...  Tom's 2006 IM has been featured in local commercials for a popular Tennessee fast food restaurant chain. It's also the poster car for Intermeccanica. |  The VW T-1 2,110cc CB Performance...  The VW T-1 2,110cc CB Performance Products engine sports an all-new high-performance dual-relief case and has CB 044 heads that have been CNC "round" ported. For comfort, a dual power fan condenser and Sankyo rotary pump supply abundant air conditioning for those days when it's too hot to have the top down. |
 Porsche 356 reproduction headlights...  Porsche 356 reproduction headlights with Hella H4 bulbs give the 2006 IM Roadster an authentic nose. The owner opted to paint his 356 Mexico Blue, which was a Porsche 911 OEM hue used from 1973 through 1975. |  VDO instruments fill the dash....  VDO instruments fill the dash. Of Intermeccanica design, the Spinneybeck custom leather interior includes piping to match the Mexico Blue exterior color. |  Notice the billet aluminum...  Notice the billet aluminum accelerator pedal is designed for effortless heel/toe shifting, as is the brake pedal. The fire extinguisher is within easy reach of the driver or navigator. |