WHAT IS IT?
Submitted by owner Domenic Savides
This is a 1961 Porsche 356B T5 Coupe. Ever since I was young, I admired the shape and spirit of this car—it always felt like the genesis of the modern sports car: impractical, yet completely irresistible. In my early 20s, I bought a replica that I still own and enjoy. As time went on, owning the real thing became more realistic. I first found an original ’63 T6 B Coupe, which I loved, but I couldn’t ignore what it lacked—more power and better stopping ability. That’s when I set out to build my version of the perfect 356 outlaw.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
“The Best?”
That’s a tough claim to make. I’ve always believed beauty—and performance—is in the eye of the beholder. But why this car stands out to me? That’s a story worth sharing.
While there are some wildly modern and pneumatically aggressive outlaws out there, I took a different route. I wanted to retain the soul of the original stock engine, just with a bit more power and purpose. Enter John Willhoit, who supplied the engine and suspension components. For braking, I turned to CSP in Germany for a slotted and drilled disc brake setup.
The build was assembled locally here in Los Angeles by David Navon at Air Cooled Classics. The car is bumperless, a choice I feel gives it a cleaner, more refined outlaw aesthetic. Custom touches include drilled door handles and pedals, and a period-correct color—PTS Auratium Green—originally used from ’57–’59, adding a subtle nod to its outlaw identity, since this is a ’61.
It’s still running a 6-volt system, with the only exception being a high-torque starter to support the more powerful engine. Inside, I swapped the traditional 356 upholstery for houndstooth—a design element found more commonly in later 911s—because why not? This is an outlaw, after all.
I also sourced rare, original parts from overseas to bring a level of authenticity that honors the spirit of the car: a steering wheel from a Carrera 4-cam, GHE headlight guards from a GT, and genuine Bosch fog lamps once shared with Mercedes models of the era. (Yes, I even kept the beat-up old boxes they came in.)
To make it truly one-of-a-kind, I fabricated my own rear engine grille using mesh I found online—designed to complement the headlight guards and add another layer of detail. Every inch of this build has something unique to say.
At the end of the day, I built this car to drive. There’s a thrill in driving a slow car fast—and this 356 embodies that perfectly.
That is a STUNNING COLOR!!!
Aye, ranking the best 356 on the planet? How crazy are we? Who thought this was a good idea. I will say this for this particular example, that upholstery choice, the pedals, the leather lined carpets, and the perfect front pockets, whoever did this interior deserves a medal. And don’t get me started on that green paint. This is a hell of a job, but we’d have to start an Outlaw category no? Otherwise we’re going to have a Crusades-type battle on our hands with these. Gorgeous.
I’m with Lyn on this. Trying to name the best 356? The ultimate fool’s errand. Nice outlaw tho. The Best? Naw.
I’m also with Lyn. This is a pretty impossible task with a 356 except if it has the name Road Scholars as the restorer. It’s even more difficult for a 356 Outlaw as there are names like Emory in the mix. Nice car though, especially the interior and paint color but hard to call it the Best on the Planet.
Yup…raising my hand with what Lyn and Rob stated. Define “best one.” Best outlaw/hotrod? Best preservation? Best restoration? etc. etc. If I was in charge, there would be a 4th gauge that would register smiles per miles and the one with the most would be the best. Just my $0.02 worth.
Very pretty car, naming any Porsche the best is a mighty tall order when you have Road Scholar and the like doing restorations, not to mention how many beautifully preserved ones there are out there!