Modified Porsche 356 Speedster Is Far More Than Meets the Eye

Lovely Porsche 356 Speedster might look like a nicely restored original, but it’s packing some tasteful upgrades underneath.

The Porsche 356 is an iconic machine by anyone’s standards, especially when we consider that it was the very first production sports car to come from that now-iconic German manufacturer. The 356 set the stage for the 911 and many others that came later, but it was also a competent machine during its heyday. The Porsche 356 Speedster was even more so, shedding weight and adding power in the never-ending quest for better performance. However, that wasn’t quite enough for John Willhoit, who decided to build what he believes is the ultimate version of the Porsche 356 Speedster.

In this recent video from Jay Leno’s Garage, we learn all about Willhoit’s latest creation, which is the culmination of several projects, given the fact that he’s been tinkering around with 356s since the 1970s – today, he owns Willhoit Auto Restoration located in Long Beach, California. This particular 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster was purchased from none other than fellow Porsche fanatic Jerry Seinfeld, after which he gave it a full-blown restoration – albeit, with some modifications thrown in to make it a bit, well, more potent.

In this case, Willhoit took the original four cylinder powerplant and increased its displacement from 1.6 to 2.2 liters, with output now coming in at around 177 horsepower – more than double the original. Underneath, Willhoit added a set of Spax gas shocks, and replaced the original drum brakes with discs and a master cylinder from a 911, which makes it handle, stop, and just generally drive a whole lot better, too.

What makes this particular Porsche 356 Speedster build extra notable, however, is that you don’t see many of these rare machines get modified, and for good reason – they’re worth a ton of money these days. In fact, prices can range anywhere from $250,000 all the way up to a cool million, depending on the specific model and condition, but in this case, Willhoit isn’t concerned with such things. Rather, he created a version of a very special car that retains all of its original charm, and yet, it’s far more pleasant to drive at the same time.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
Foote has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles and every other type of automobile, Foote had spent several years running parts for local dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.