With Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction underway as we write this, it seems only fitting to feature a restomod in Wolf and Mare’s Good Find Friday. Custom and modified American muscle cars have always attracted attention and buyers, but as Hagerty notes in their Scottsdale preview, they’re also becoming more valuable. Barrett-Jackson’s Arizona auction is usually a bursting cornucopia of modded metal.

Only after the auctions close and the dust clears will we know if the downward-trending market had an effect on this growing segment. But if customized cars are indeed seeing a resurgence of interest, does this extend to other makes, such as Porsche?

The Porsche enthusiast community by now should be well aware of Rod Emory and the “Outlaw” Porsche movement his father Gary and he created. Emory Outlaws are like Singer Reimagined 911s for the 356 model. Emory builds range from hopped-up Outlaw cars like this 1959 356A Sunroof Coupe all the way up to insane twin turbocharged Specials like the 1960 MOMO 356RSR. Emory Outlaws rarely come up for sale, but when they do they bring big money. In fact, just last night at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction a 1957 356A Emory build hammered for nearly $750,000!

Today’s car is not an Emory Outlaw, but follows the general formula of customized early Porsches. A 1959 Porsche 356 by birth, this A-model coupe has been lavished with a host of modifications to improve overall comfort, performance, and style.

Built by 901 Shop in Florida after a claimed 8 year effort, this Porsche Outlaw’s exterior modifications include smoothed bumpers, beehive tail lamps, rear decklid louvers, a glass sunroof, some incredible work on the exhaust exit and stunning Wimbledon Green metallic paint. Aside from an overall streamlining and that incredible paint, the beautiful curved design of the 356 has been respected.

The interior has been updated with less concern for originality, however, with reclining seats from a Porsche 928 adding 8-way adjustability to the 356’s original…well, two. Bluetooth connectivity, a reverse camera, cruise control and a very slick air conditioning integration round out the modern conveniences. The interior is upholstered in beautiful Metropol Blue leather, one of our favorite Porsche interior colors. The power glass sunroof with sunshade is something we’ve never seen on an Outlaw before, even on the wildest Emory builds.

Hidden beneath all the “show,” a whole lot of “go” has been engineered into chassis. It’s no easy feat to replace the 356s swing-arm suspension with that of a 911, but it’s been done here. With a Jake Raby built 2.3 Liter flat 4 in the back mated to a 911-style 901 5-speed transmission, the disc brake upgrade to all four corners should arrest its powerful forward momentum. Another customization we’ve never seen are early disc brake Porsche wheels fitted with “baby moon” hubcaps that usually cover the hub and lug pattern on drum brake wheels. That certainly took some doing and the look is very smart!

The finest metalworking craftsmanship is a hallmark of high-end custom builds, and this car appears to be no exception. Moveable panel fit suggests care has been taken in the restoration of the body and something must be said about that incredible metallic green paint color. According to Porsche Club of America’s RENNBOW utility, Wimbledon Green is a very rare color native to 928s, 964s and 968s. With that eye-catching turquoise hue, we’re not surprised the finish hails from the 1990s.

This particular Outlaw has a personal connection, as we were able to inspect the car in depth at Werks Reunion Amelia Island in 2018. The featured make was “356 Outlaws” and this build had a prime location on the lawn. The photos by the selling dealer do not deceive—we can attest that this Outlaw is as finely crafted as it appears.

Completely bespoke anything comes at a premium and even a non-Emory build could be an investment if it’s true that cars with modern mods are poised to rise. Priced at $399,900 the question is simply this: How does this green machine’s tailoring suit you?

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisal and listing services for sellers and buyers of collector German cars. If you’re interested in this car or any other collectible, give us a call or drop a line!