According to the registration records, this is a 1969 VW Beetle 1600. Your eyes may suggest something – the obvious is a 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster. The manufacturer calls it the Chesil Speedster Let’s have a quick look at this car, and then consider what we think about it.
The premise is very simple and has parallels to the one followed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1948 for the original 356. Take a VW Type 1, remove the body, shorten the chassis by around 11 inches, and fit a roadster body. The Porsche had, initially, an aluminium body but later cars had steel. The Chesil has a GRP body. One key variation is that the Chesil uses a shortened VW Beetle floorpan, the Porsche 356 used a different bespoke Porsches only monocoque. This is literally a cut down, rebodied VW Beetle, styled to look very like the 356A Speedster.
The Porsche Speedster came about at the instigation of the US importer Max Hoffman (that man again – his influence seems to known no limits) who identified a spot for a stripped down, driver focussed version of the existing cabriolet. The padded lined roof was swapped for a basic folding, the screen cut down, clip in side windows and basic bucket seats were fitted. It was a hit, sales wise especially in in the south west of the United States, and set an image Porsche have been able to utilise on various occasions since.
Production of the 356 variants ran, with some changes through to 1965, in three generations. Engines grew from the initial 1100 to as much as 2 litres for the last generations of cars. A 356A was typically fitted with a 60bhp 1.6 litre unit, with two valves per cylinder and always a boxer of course. And, yes, they were used a police cars – this one is Finnish.
The Chesil Speedster, although the company admit the inspiration of the Porsche 356A, is completely separate to any Porsche activity or input, but is unambiguously a visual copy, down to details such as the badging and rubbing strip. The website, presumably vetted by cautious lawyers say “The Factory Built Speedster from Chesil is a replica of a famous 2-seater sports car from the 1950s” and carries a clear disclaimer that the company and car are not affiliated to Porsche, do not infringe Porsche copyrights and that the product is not a Porsche product.
The Chesil Speedster can be purchased either factory built, on a VW platform with a brand new engine. Options up to 2 litre and 120bhp are available, and you can choose between trailing arm or swing axle rear suspension. The gearbox is four speed and reconditioned, brakes are front disc and rear drums. As you’d probably expect, there are a wide range of options on trims and finishes. A new car starts at about £41000. Alternatively, you can build one at home, either from your own donor Beetle or with a Chesil supplied donor. The parts and kits to do this would cost around £30000 depending on your choices.
So, QOTD, what does the Curbivore Community think? Nice idea, and you’d accept the lack of originality for pleasure of driving it, getting some glances? Or if you want 50s/60s sportscar, buy one, and if you want a modern roadster get an MX-5?
Chesil? Intermeccanica has been building these (as complete cars or kits) since the mid 1970s. They were hugely popular in the 1980s.
The reality is that in the US, whenever one sees a “Speedster, everyone assumes it’s an Intermeccanica (or other clone). The real things are extremely rare, valuable, and brought out for special occasions.
I used to want one; actually, I still rather do, as I’m in love with the Porsche upside-down bathtub look, as well as the rear engine and all. And I like that they offer the choice of swing axles or the semi-trailing arm rear suspensions; you don’t need to ask which one I’d take!
“The reality is that in the US, whenever one sees a ‘Speedster,’ everyone assumes it’s an Intermeccanica (or other clone). The real things are extremely rare, valuable, and brought out for special occasions.”
Same applies – perhaps doubly so – to AC Cobras.
There has been a bunch of these for sale on BAT and it looks like they sell for pretty good money https://bringatrailer.com/porsche/356-speedster-replica/
Looks like a fun drive, regardless.
Sure, why not? The original 356s of all sorts have gotten so ridiculously expensive that this is the way to go, if one wants the actual driving-it-around experience. Though the equivalent of $35k to $50k seems awfully pricey in itself, for a bunch of fiberglass.
The Chesil website has some legal mumbo-jumbo but also explicitly states “that it is a replica of a Porsche 356 Speedster.” They also claim to be the “leading Speedster replica manufacturer”. Anyway, I like it.
I have no problem with it. As we’ve often said here, anything that encourages the enjoyment of the car hobby and driving is a good thing. If it makes the driver/owner happy, then that’s awesome.
Is it original? No, but it is really cool. Think about it. 99.99% (WAG, not a real stat) of the AC Cobras at a Cars & Coffee are NOT original AC Cobras.
Personally, I’d rock a Revology Mustang (’67 Replica) if I could afford one, just to have that look, but with modern features… Oh wait, never mind. I have a 2007 Mustang. That’s close enough, and it’s paid for! 😉
When the originals have become static sculptures due to their (real or perceived) value, I have no beef with replicas. But these days, even the VW donor chassis are getting expensive.
That Police car is cool!
Wonder what he’s looking for?
If my experience with Finns is any indication, he is looking for someone to read some driver training material to, in a monotone voice.
I have zero problem with these, as has been said the price of the original precludes ownership by “normal” people, and there were always oodles of donor beetles around. Not so much today.
I have much more problem with modifying a good stock VW by lowering and accessorizing it. As they do with Harley Davidsons, they all get heavily personalized until they all look the same. Yawn.
If I were to go for one of these VW Porsche replicas, I think I’d opt for a 550 Spyder, instead.
The cop is obviously looking for a reindeer. If the Chesil is available with LHD I’d consider it seriously as a frivolous but reasonable indulgence.
Nice but can I get it with Subaru power? This is pretty much what a dunebuggy was that was where many rolled over and rusted beetles went and a lot of them had the VW eggbeater replaced with other ideas Ford V4 or V6 was popular.
As with Cobras the real thing is too rare and expensive so a good replica provides the look and feel without the worry. These Speedsters are mechanically very close to the original and are far more authentic than the Fiberfab MG T series, which was a plastic MG body with a tonneau to conceal the VW engine in the back.
Interestingly there is a custom car genre called the Volks Rod which is a Beetle cut down into a traditional hot rod style roadster, making it an original take on the Speedster.
Personally I’d like a Hebmuller cabriolet style Beetle as a unique fun car.
If this company wants to stay in business they need an electric one like the Karman Ghia I saw.
There is a Chesil E
https://chesil.co.uk/electric-chesil-e/
Not what I would ever have wanted, but it anybody wants one, that’s fine by me. It’s not like Beetles are as rare as, say, T-model Fords….
It might be just an effect of the luggage rack, but to my eyes this body looks ‘humpier’ in the rear than the real thing, the engine lid more level than I recall, with more of an angled drop down to the licence plate light rather than a single smooth curve – like the engine bay has been stealthily raised for clearance. I wonder whether it’s still running VW power?
The body is a prefect replica. It’s your eyes. 🙂
Not surprising!
Interesting, why not ? .
Ball joints and real indie rear suspension beats link pins and swing axles any day of the week .
Many years ago I was looking at a fiberglass 356 Coupe from Brazil IIRC, I’m not much into cabriolets of any sort .
-Nate
I used to hate the 956 but over the (many,many) years I have grown to appreciate their simplicity. I think that they are quite cool, Porsche replicas built off VW parts are sort of DNA related. I saw a Jaguar XK120 replica that was built off of a VW floor pan, now that was weird. I guess now that I’m old, I don’t care what other people think. Jaguar SS copy? Why not? I’d even rock a Lazer Porsche 917 replica. I recently saw a “Blower Bentley” VW based kit that looked like a lot of fun. That’s what counts, the fun.
I have no issues with them making a knockoff, I mean Porsche discontinued that body 50+ years ago, and rightfully so, it was obsolete. And with what’s known as the IRS rear suspension, meaning trailing arm not swing axle, they should handle better. VW HP is cheap, although there is come cost if you want more, and more than 356C is available.
On the other hand, I’ve never really been a Speedster fan. And that nose, while certainly reminiscent of the original, it’s much too bulbous, while not Volvo 240 square, it doesn’t taper down in front like the original and appearances suffer from it.
So while not cheap, at least this is one you can drive on the street without hyperventilating at every stoplight laser focused on the rear view mirror. And performance is probably better to much better. But does it feel as good? Ah, the intangibles.
it’s much too bulbous, while not Volvo 240 square, it doesn’t taper down in front like the original and appearances suffer from it.
It’s exactly like the original, in terms of its body contours. The fiberglass molds are made from an original Porsche body.
I don’t understand what this means:
“… Porsche 356 used a different bespoke Porsches only monocoque.”
Do they not use a VW style floorplan?
No. The 356 had a built-up semi-monocoque “frame” that the body was attached to. It did not use the VW platform. The 356 body structure is significantly stiffer as a consequence.
Yes I watched one being dismantled on Utube a very strong monocoque, that was however a coupe but the open car is very similar.
I love the replica and kit car bodies. As a youth, I liked the entire car idea, including the VW pan, suspension and drivetrain. Now, I still like the kit car bodies, some more than others, but my appreciation of the chassis, suspension and drivetrain has waned. Torsionally rigidity is an important facet of a chassis, and the VW pan has little. The Porsche 356A chassis is much better than what I had anticipated, mistakenly remembering a platform frame.
https://silodrome.com/porsche-356-chassis/