Nick's 356 Speedster A Continuous Lean.


It’s a fake. A replica, an impostor and I don’t care, it’s fvcking cool. So is Nick.

Mr. Maggio aka Mr. A Time to Get stopped by my office in Beverly Hills (it’s actually my business partner Ali’s office) while I was working out that way last week. Eventually the conversation turned to cars and Nick told me about his Speedster. Growing up in Ohio there was a guy down the street from me that had a white Porsche 356 replica built on a Volkswagen chassis that I always loved. Nick’s car was custom built on an original 1956 VW frame by the guys at Automotive Legends in California, who also make reproduction versions of the Porsche 550 Spyder and a 550 Coupe. Speaking of the 550 Mr. Maggio says, “ test drove the 550 Spyder and it was crazy FAST.”

Aesthetically speaking, Nick’s Speedster is totally on point — from the rich blue paint job to the wood steering wheel and the leather hood straps. Not to mention the 1962 Yale parking permit, which is also a recreation, but a nice touch.

When asked about his unusual (but great looking) choice for a daily driver, Nick contends his ride is the “ultimate recession car.” His rationale? “It’s 32 bucks a month to insure, gets 30 miles to the gallon and if somebody opens their door into me, I don’t care, I go buy another door.” How do people react when they see you driving down the street? “I get a lot of camera phone pictures at stop lights.” he says. “I bet,” I murmur, as I snap photos of the car.

 

He makes a damn good point. I wish I would've gotten one of those as a DD. Then again, I don't think a Speedster would be the best option for dealing with MN winters. Good on this guy though. The car looks gorgeous!

 

Yep, awesome.

This, E30M3 and a E39M5 and I'm done ( well, and a CSL, but thats been greedy ).

 

Not in MN but I daily drove mine for 6 months out here in SD. Great little cars even in replica form. I will get smacked for this but one of the few cars that are better as a kit then as a original in terms of livability/drivability.

Cannot find a picture on my host but looked exactly like this.

 

CSL is let down by that SMG gearbox. base (non-sunroof) E46 with 6 speed is a stunning drive. tad too much understeer on turn in though.

 

^^^

The gearbox enhances the CSL for me. I can't really see the car with a manual ( much like the E60 M5 ). I certainly wasn't wishing for a 6-speed.

Our 6-speed E46 didn't seem to suffer under-steer, it had been properly aligned however, and we also ran different wheels and tyres.

The E30 is obviously a classic, the E36 will be forgotten, the E46 is going to be a future classic like the E30 and the E92 is going to be forgotten. I certainly have, I hardly ever drive it.