Porsche 356 and Jackie Stewart
Discussion
Was wandering up Bond Street (bottom end near statue of Rosevelt and Churchill) a bit before Christmas, and noted a very very smart looking 356 (Early model, I'm not an expert, but didnt appear to be covered in chrome bumpers) in dark/BRG, with gold porsche script and some additional lettering on the rear which I didn't get a chance to read properly. Something makes me thing this car was 'uprated' somehow, wheels didn't like OEM ones but I'm no 356 expert so I may be wrong.
While I was busy clocking this, walking away from the direction of said car was a familliar face, which once the gentleman passed me my brain triggered 'Jackie Stewart!'.
Didn't want to run after him and annoy him to ask about the Porsche - just seems wrong to bother someone like that when they are out doing their thing at the weekend. To be honest I'm only assuming the 356 was his as I didn't see him get out of it, so would probably have looked a right plank anyway!
So question for the knowledgeable folks here..
Does Jackie Stewart drive a dark green 356 or am I just imagining things?
Who does specialist restorations on Porsche 356s, and puts gold lettering on them - I'm assuming it's been tweaked? Is there an equivalent to 'Eagle E Type' for the Porsche 356? Can't stop thinking about how great this car looks, and now having seriously bad thoughts about 356s...
While I was busy clocking this, walking away from the direction of said car was a familliar face, which once the gentleman passed me my brain triggered 'Jackie Stewart!'.
Didn't want to run after him and annoy him to ask about the Porsche - just seems wrong to bother someone like that when they are out doing their thing at the weekend. To be honest I'm only assuming the 356 was his as I didn't see him get out of it, so would probably have looked a right plank anyway!
So question for the knowledgeable folks here..
Does Jackie Stewart drive a dark green 356 or am I just imagining things?
Who does specialist restorations on Porsche 356s, and puts gold lettering on them - I'm assuming it's been tweaked? Is there an equivalent to 'Eagle E Type' for the Porsche 356? Can't stop thinking about how great this car looks, and now having seriously bad thoughts about 356s...
Yes, as has been previously mentioned, the 4 cam Carrera models had gold model inscription.
As for the restoration specialists, I believe Export56 are one of the leaders in this field, however I shouldn't think they nor anybody else would bastardise a car by replacing the original badges with gold ones! However, I could be wrong..
As for the restoration specialists, I believe Export56 are one of the leaders in this field, however I shouldn't think they nor anybody else would bastardise a car by replacing the original badges with gold ones! However, I could be wrong..
If it was a 4-cam 356 then no owner who's familiar with them would likely be driving it in London traffic.
They are hideously complex and tempermental engines and driving them in the city is far from condusive to their health and well being. I know of a few people that own 4 cam cars, those who drive them on the street often install pushrod engines.
A 356 4 Cam motor is really a race engine, you wouldn't drive an F1 car in London traffic.
They are hideously complex and tempermental engines and driving them in the city is far from condusive to their health and well being. I know of a few people that own 4 cam cars, those who drive them on the street often install pushrod engines.
A 356 4 Cam motor is really a race engine, you wouldn't drive an F1 car in London traffic.
Thanks all. So it would seem like that...
It probably wasn't JS's car, I've just put 2+2 together and got 5, just assuming cool car and cool car guy as related..
It might well have been an original 4Cam (didn't know that gold lettering was standard on some cars!) If I'm honest, it was mainly the gold lettering that made me assume that it was modified - looked a bit tacky I thought. Wheels looked original style, but well fitted in the arches / car was low. Perhaps if it was an original 4Cam this would have been its natural stance?
As for someone driving a race special in london, well you shouldn't I'm sure, but then I guess we have all ended up somewhere utterly innappropriate in the wrong car at some time or other. Or maybe the owner told the mrs he we going for a drive, and was actually off to Bond Street to get her xmas present .. Who knows..
It probably wasn't JS's car, I've just put 2+2 together and got 5, just assuming cool car and cool car guy as related..
It might well have been an original 4Cam (didn't know that gold lettering was standard on some cars!) If I'm honest, it was mainly the gold lettering that made me assume that it was modified - looked a bit tacky I thought. Wheels looked original style, but well fitted in the arches / car was low. Perhaps if it was an original 4Cam this would have been its natural stance?
As for someone driving a race special in london, well you shouldn't I'm sure, but then I guess we have all ended up somewhere utterly innappropriate in the wrong car at some time or other. Or maybe the owner told the mrs he we going for a drive, and was actually off to Bond Street to get her xmas present .. Who knows..
Captain Cadillac said:
Well, the gold badges are easily available aftermarket. The 356 catalogs usually list them if I recall.
You wouldn't drive one in typical London traffic simply because you couldn't, you'd foul the plugs in no time and changing them isn't easy.
Well there was nobody trying to get to the plugs You wouldn't drive one in typical London traffic simply because you couldn't, you'd foul the plugs in no time and changing them isn't easy.
So I guess then it been a cosmetically tweaked car with the gold badges added as an aftermarket job. Anyway, beautiful looking car, and clearly a well cared for example. Wish I'd got a pic so the experts here could have pronounced exactly what I saw...Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff