another chop top
 

Check out this "chopped" 356 Porsche...

Porsche : 356 | eBay

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1314112340.jpg


Built on a 914-6 chassis with a body based on a 1955 356 Continental, it is fitted with a 3 liter, 279hp RS-spec engine, and a 915 gear box. Momentum created by the race engine is temporarily halted with addition of “full-trick” 934 brakes. The polished disc wheels are 17” in diameter and match the other accents/trim on the car.
This car is a stunning and totally unique one-off that subscribes loosely to the 356 Outlaw philosophies. Based on a 914-6 chassis, this car has been fitted with a mid-mounted 3-litre 911 engine with Weber carburetors, as well as a 915 5-speed gearbox. It was built by Australian Jeff Dutton in 1992. The body is based on a 356 Continental from 1955, and is recognizably such up to the B-pillar. The roof has been chopped several inches, as is fairly standard for an `Outlaw`, but thanks to the mid engine placement and 914-6 chassis, the wheelbase is longer than that of a 356. Consequently, the car displays a dramatic and striking `fastback` rear treatment, which is beautifully set off by a number of very neat and extraordinary details. The philosophy throughout the car is one of lightness and strength, and much of the car is structurally composed of a tube frame. There is an integral roll bar, which is in keeping with the general interior aesthetic of Spartan functionality.
The disc wheels are 17 inches in diameter and are highly polished to match a number of other accents on the car, including the 718 RSK style side vents, driver’s side mirror, as well as the engine and transmission access covers. The panels themselves have been extensively louvered to allow heat to escape. The beehive tail lamps from the 1955 Continental have been retained, and no fewer than six polished exhaust tips fitted, to hint at the 6-cylinder power plant. A racing style through-hood fuel filler has been fitted at the front, while the rear view and passenger side mirror both operate on the `periscope` principle through view windows that have been let into the body panels. The result is very coherent and nothing short of incredible. The exterior has been recently repainted to a nice standard and shows only a handful of small blemishes. The metal trim is very nice, including the highly polished accent panels. The lights and lenses are excellent, including Hella H4 headlamps.

chopper 356
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1314112688.jpg

The interior is quite Spartan but still feels very special. The green leather bucket seats are attractive and comfortable, while the dished wood-rimmed steering wheel with Porsche crest is very much in keeping the 1950`s racer feel of the car. The dashboard provides a similar effect and has been carried over from the Continental, complete with large `Telefunken` radio speaker aperture. The instrumentation is by timeless VDO instruments, some of which have been sourced from a 911. There is no carpeting or other upholstery to speak of, while the door panels are nothing more than polished stamped aluminum panels. The windscreen and side windows are Plexiglas, as is the rear porthole, which provides a great view of the engine, and an okay view of the scenery behind the car through the louvers. Also of note is an access panel between the seat backs on the rear firewall, cheekily labeled as an emergency exit using a sticker from an airliner. Between the seats is the exposed shifter for the 915 gearbox, as well as the ignition panel, complete with protective red switch cover for ignition, starter button, and an ominous red indicator light. The general condition is tidy, with no significant wear. The leather is excellent, as is the upholstered headliner.
The engine compartment is clean and looks like any backwards 911 engine should. It is not detailed for show but is satisfyingly clean, and brightened up by chromed air filter rain guards and polished trim. The engine itself has been built to RS specifications topped with Weber carburetors and is claimed to make 279hp. The front compartment reveals a fuel cell, as well as more evidence of the tubular frame components. The brakes are hugely impressive fully ventilated and drilled discs from a 934(!), which capably slow this extremely rapid car.
Perhaps the most unique and creative of the 356 Outlaw breed, this car is stunning in every respect, and totally unique. Combining the balance of the 914-6 chassis, reliability and potency of the 911SC driveline, aesthetic feel of the 356, and development and rigidity of a tube-frame car, this car really represents the best of all worlds. The level of detail is remarkable and its construction was an uncompromising and hugely expensive endeavor. This is a completely unrepeatable car that has had hundreds of thousands invested and is truly a one of a kind, head turning, tire burning Porsche hot rod that can be enjoyed on the street.

Now that's an outlaw!

I find it to be quite a beautiful car.
It's probably very quick. ;)

Someone spent alot of time and executed this project nicely.
Hats off to whoever created this.

I'd love to drive it - talk about a head turner. And what a conversation starter. "What is it? Is it a 356? No, actually it's a 914-6." Imagine where it would go from there!!!

I saw that car at the Ventura Show a few years ago. I have a few dozen photos of it somewhere. Really cool

I always enjoy this thread every time I read it in detail. Keep it going!!!! I am beginning to see all the participants as old friends and the history is unbelievable including all the twists and turns as all the special situations unfold. I lived in Northern California enjoying amateur "sports car driving in the Austin Healeys, Alfa Romeos, and Corvettes but the images and history of Mulholland being written here makes me feel like I am part of it.

I do not live in California any longer but the thread makes me feel like I still belong to my home state. Born, raised, Cal-Vet, and retired from there. Keep up the thread and maybe someday I will bring my 914-Sixer (replica) to Mulholland for Saturday Coffee.

Keep up the good works and am looking forward to Mr. Banning's books.

Steve Hurt

Hey Banning I was wondering, since you lived on Mulholland your whole life, if you had any good stories about Steve Mcqueen. I always hear of him and his jaguar XKSS having quite a bit of fun up there but I haven't heard any stories first hand.

Old days of Mul
 

The only story that I have is one from 1968.
We all used to go moto-X riding in the hills just south of Mul near Beverly Glen.
It was a big area with a track, hillclimbs, bigger hillclimbs, and miles of trails. Quite awesome for a 13 year old. We called it "The School" because we heard it was going to be a school someday.

Lots of big name stars were there like Steve Mcqueen, Whitey Martino, and more.
Bud Ekins was right down Beverly Glen at Ventura. It was a great time to be here.

I had built a Heathkit Boonie Bike which came as a kit with a 5 hsp Briggs and Stratton Engine and a two speed jackshaft. After junior high school let out and I got home, I would ride all over Bel-Air or go up to The School near Mulholland.
There is a secret pass near the old Odies Market that leads to Bel Air Road.

One busy weekend day on the track (over 100 bikes), a friend of mine crashed into another mini- bike rider like myself. Turned out to be Mcqueen's son that got crashed into.

Steve ran over and made a small commotion about he son getting bashed into.
No one really got hurt and it turned out fine but I remember Steve getting excited.

His XKSS days were just before that. I probably heard him as I did many racers on Mulholland in the 60's while I layed in bed late at night.

The loudest and most significant racer in those days was Charley Woit.
I could hear him from Deadmans to almost the 405, a big distance.
No problem for a built 427 with open side pipes at full throttle- Redline!
Those were beautiful days back then. I miss 'em.
It was fun to grow up on Mulholland. ;)

That's funny. Chad is a good guy. I saw him quite a bit this summer on the other Mulholland and got to chat a couple times. He has a nice 1970 911S modified with lots of lightweight and rally bits.

I have heard so much about this "crazy" Charlie Woit. He sounds like a true character, does anyone have a picture of him and/or his infamous red vette?

I believe there is at least 1 photo of the car, and possible Charlie too back in this thread. You've just got LOTS of pages to go through.

Don't confuse the crazed alcoholic Dennis Hopper in a red 63 stingray coupe , from "King of the Mountain" with crazed alcoholic Charlie in his blue 65 427 vette on the mountain ;)

I have been watching this thread since about the beginning and have read every post. I don't remember there being any pictures of him. I'm not saying there aren't, I'm just saying I don't remember there being any.

Its possible that TooTall had taken pics of Charlie and his vette at the Old Timers quasi vintage race weekend upmteen years ago at Willow Springs. A group of mul regulars found out about this event and we took our cars out there to race. Charlie was friendly enough, but mainly kept to his small circle of friends.
Where as the CRE/ ACR group would socialize a lot more, between events both legal and not ;)

Since we played 98% of the time at night, there are precious few pics of all the regulars from the years of driving

Yes Dave, I also wish we had more good photos from back then. I guess we were too busy with our passions ;) to spend time with cameras.

No photo of Charley or his Vette has of yet surfaced. I think I asked Kurt. The only person that I know of who may have one is Dick Guldstrand. I asked him if he had one and he thinks he does somewhere. I will have to go and politely ask him to look for it. Probably difficult to locate after all these years

Sheen Ravine no more
 

The Sheen Ravine sign is gone from it's Mulholland location. Missing for about 2 months. Perhaps the neighbors that lived in front of it got sick of the tour busses stopping there all the time.

Better yet, maybe Sheen got it himself for memories sake. He's been thru some rough times of late ;)

By the way, day before yesterday large (3'x8') metal caissons were delivered to the landscaped area at Beverly Glen and Mulholland by Dept Water/Power.

And recently huge cement blocks were installed around the base of the light poles at the same intersection.

Coincidence?

John's new book
 

Johnny's book on Mulholland is out. It's a personal memoir of days/nights on Mul. It's a fun read and if you like hearing neat stories, many concerning Mulholland Drive then you will like reading this book. I highly recommend it!


This is an excerpt...

You would typically have had your foot to the floor from last big turn almost a mile away, and although the road curved slightly in this whole section, your speed was usually near the top at this particular point. Bob didn’t seem to be slowing down much as he sped past us and from our angle and we had no idea he wasn’t going to make the next turn until…boom!

The speed he was going didn’t give him enough time to make the second turn and he side-swiped a telephone pole, taking out the left side of my car. One more foot to the right and he would have missed the pole entirely and I wouldn’t even remember the night. One more foot to the left and Bob wouldn’t have remembered anything ever again.

The car looked like it exploded when it hit the pole from our point of view but when we ran over to see if Bob was still alive we couldn’t believe what we saw. The pole had just missed the driver’s door and all the glass from the back seat window was everywhere in the car. The car was totaled, but it held up nicely in the crash. Bob was unhurt and got a ride home from whoever brought him up there that night.

Here is a link. Amazon.com: Chasing the Kings eBook: John Hall: Books

One more excerpt to wet your appetites, lol

I still remember the nights standing up on the big berm on the side of the road in the middle of the main racing section appropriately called “Grandstands.” There’s a couple mile stretch of road on Mulholland Drive that was usually the main hangout from generation to generation, beginning all the way back in the early 60’s and probably years before as well.

A mile and a half section of the road climbs a small hill on the city side (south) from the west, crests the top of the hill and then heads down slightly on the Valley side (North) with Grandstands plopped right in the middle for a perfect view of all the action. When Charley made a pass and you just happened to be there it was quite a sight.

You could hear him coming very faintly and everyone would stop whatever they doing like a herd of gazelles hearing a lion in the bush, all eyes and ears would turn towards the sound and we would run to the edge of the dirt trail and wait to see if we really heard what we thought we heard. A ‘63 Corvette with racing tires that stuck out past the fenders and side-pipes blasting the exhaust sounds across multiple canyons. It was every kid’s dream car! As Charley would drive along this curvy section of road, his high powered head lights and blaring engine would come in and out of view and range.

No joy there Dave. That was the weekend my first camera was stolen along with the film in it. No photos from that weekend, just good memories.

Kurt