This Stunning Porsche 356 Hides An AWD Chassis From A 911

Stop what you’re doing and gape at this modified Porsche 356. It deserves no less than your full attention. A stunning mix of 356 looks and 911 technology, it’s a hybrid of a widened 1964 356C shell over a 1990 964-era Carrera 4S chassis, all powered by a flat-four.

It’s the latest custom Porsche build from US-based Emory Motorsports. Originally commissioned by a client who wanted to drive his 356 to east coast ski areas in winter, it took four years to complete.

After the donor 356 body and 964 chassis were laser scanned, the team decided it would be best to keep all the 911 suspension mounting points where they were. That meant the whole chassis had to be shortened. Just think for a moment about the work involved in that.

The 356 shell was then widened just a little to accommodate the 964’s wider rear track, which now sits beautifully on KW coilovers. Those heavy steel panels don’t help, but the whole package weighs just 975kg. On Pirelli Ice Zero tyres it should be unstoppable on snow.

While the 964’s five-speed manual gearbox was maintained along with the essential all-wheel drive system the owner of the car was so keen on, the tiny 356 body couldn’t house the 964’s 3.6-litre flat-six. A shorter alternative was needed.

Fortunately, Emory had a ready-made solution in its Emory-Rothsport Outlaw 4 flat-four adaptation. Designed to incorporate the best of three different generations of 911 engine, the 2.4-litre unit is fed by dual Weber 48 IDA carburettors and puts out 200bhp. We bet it sounds magnificent. Built from scratch based on Porsche designs, Porsche OEM parts fit it beautifully.

On the inside a traditional RS-style leather bucket driver’s seat and ‘Speedster-style’ passenger chair have motorsport-style harnesses and sit behind a beautifully simple and stylish dashboard, incorporating a Momo Heritage steering wheel. We can’t get enough of it. We also love the custom-made roof rack designed in CAD software specifically to accommodate bikes, skis and other lifestyle toys.

We don’t know the price and we have a feeling we don’t want to. All we know is that we want one with every fibre of our beings.