Brief History:
This fine example of a Porsche 356 Outlaw holds immense historical and personal significance. Originally John Willhoit's personal car during the 1990s, it later passed into the hands of enthusiast Carl Akins in Laguna Beach in 2005. Undergoing a remarkable transformation in Long Beach, California, Willhoit meticulously reimagined it into a timeless, super lightweight, gentleman's road/race car. Shedding its side windows and boasting aluminium doors, hood, and engine cover, it was equipped with two engines: one for daily driving crafted by Willhoit himself, and another 200bhp race engine by Performance Developments in Costa Mesa.
Following this the car made its way to England where it garnered attention on the racing circuits in the UK, the car found its way to its current owner in 2015, Mark Stubbs a UK car designer living in California. where its was purchased in it's full race spec (the original Willhoit engine wasn't sold with the car) After it's brief stint in the UK, it returned to the US in 2018, making a notable appearance at Luftgekühlt 6 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Then it returned to Willhoit, for a bespoke 2.2 GT engine installation, The Willhoit 2.2 GT engine epitomizes precision and performance, boasting a 2.2L displacement, longer stroke crankshaft, bespoke pistons and rods. With an impressive output of 190 horsepower and 182 foot-pounds of torque. (The Perfomance developments race engine has been crated) Alongside its mechanical upgrades, the car underwent a full concourse re-paint in the unique PTS GT palladium Silver. The vision remains faithful to the heritage of the iconic 356 and is a fine example of Willhoit's work, yet stands out as one of the most desirable Outlaw 356's out there.
About Willhoit Auto Restoration: led by founder John Wilhoit, a renowned name in the world of automotive restoration, specializing in the meticulous restoration and enhancement of classic Porsches, particularly the iconic 356 models. With over 44 years of expertise, the Long Beach-based company is celebrated for its unwavering commitment to authenticity, craftsmanship, and performance.
Each restoration project at Willhoit Auto Restoration begins with a comprehensive disassembly and inspection, followed by meticulous attention to detail and traditional metal finishing techniques. The company's dedication to preserving automotive heritage while elevating performance has earned it a global reputation for excellence. From complete ground-up restorations to custom-built high-performance engines, Willhoit Auto Restoration continues to uphold its legacy of passion and precision in every automotive masterpiece it delivers. For more information about Willhoit services, visit https://www.willhoitautorestoration.com @willhoitautorestoration
Mark Stubbs is an automotive designer. A career spanning more than two decades, Mark has held roles at major car manufacturers such as, Lotus, RUF, Ford, Lincoln, Bugatti, GM, Bentley and Nissan, as well as a stint at LEGO! He is particularly celebrated for his role as the designer of the Lotus Type 62-2. https://www.instagram.com/markstubbsie/ @markstubbsie - photo credits Royce Rumsey.
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