12-19-24
ORIGINS – SEARCHING FOR THE BEGINNING OF PORSCHE HOT ROD HISTORY – A PERSONAL VIEWPOINT
Congrats to Dan Macdonald for his feature in the latest issue of Panorama. It was a pleasure chasing his 1957 Porsche Speedster around the hills of Marin, California. The photo shoot went exceedingly well with lots of possibilities for publication coverage. What makes this Porsche special is its history of being the 1968 E Production Regional SCCA Champion during the “Speedster Wars” of the mid to late 1950s and 1960s.
Before the early 911 hot rod club R Gruppe, a Porsche 356 crew was founded in the Oakland area called the East Bay Grease. Several members were followers of something called “The Speedster Wars”, a mostly west coast phenomenon that paid homage to driving stripped down, hopped up versions of the Porsche Speedster to and from airports and temporary tracks where they would compete for how well they were driven that day.
It was just as big a phenomenon in Los Angeles during the mid ’50s. Some Speedsters from that era went on to become Emory 356 Outlaws. These light weight “hot rods” that had the bumpers removed and roll bars, shaved tires and go-fast-parts added. This discipline appealed to those searching for more than a lawn on which to show off their handiwork. It was a way of life, not just aesthetics. Form followed function. Everybody wanted to be regarded as one of the guys who could drive their Porsche fast, including Speedster-owning Hollywood rebels like James Dean and Steve McQueen.
Fortunately, this missing chapter of Porsche Outlaw history is now available for PCA members to read, and it won’t cost a dime if you are a member, since it’s a feature I wrote for the December issue of Panorama. Now’s that a Christmas gift worth savoring!
The Dean Jeffries’ 356 “Kustom Karrera” of 1958 has been reported to be commonly acknowledged as the first-ever “Outlaw Porsche”. Unfortunately, it’s now widely considered to be a one-off custom car design exercise inspired by a Mercedes Benz 300 SL, and its motor was used in lots of modified non-Carrera 356s before Jeffries finished building his 356 for car shows in 1958. In actuality, this car had little influence on the Porsche outlaw movement that was already well underway, hence its shape was never repeated again.
Although the two are related, custom cars are distinct from hot rods. Hot Rods are most often styled and modified as if the factory may have done it. This is the original “Porsche Outlaw” template, as seen in the Speedster Wars Porsches, Emory 356s and custom 911s, like those of R Gruppe. “We know the difference,” still applies when discussing outlaws. Smoke and mirrors, made-for-Hollywood fake patina, and self-appointed titles won’t cut it if you want to be considered seriously.
For me, digging for authentic “origins” that go beyond appearances is a necessary part of what it means to be a Porsche journalist. After all, origins is what the word Porsche translates to in English.
-Randy Wells
