A bizarre sports car out of the 1960s is being auctioned in the UK right now with the bidding at a low £6,600. Essentially a mix of Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 356 components, it is almost new with only 755 km (469 miles) under its belt.
Responsible for the project is none other than LaDawri, a California-based coachbuilder that made a name for itself making custom GFRP body kits for cars half a century ago. The background of this particular creation is lost to the time, unfortunately. The seller claims that Roger Bray, a renowned Porsche restoration specialist, was able to identify select parts as genuine.
The whole runs on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis with the Porsche 356 providing its suspension, brakes and 15-inch wheels. The sports car also donated its four-cylinder flat engine, which worked in tandem with the Beetle’s stock manual transmission. Judging by the specs on the engine housing, it used to belong to a 356 1600 S model and pumped out around 75 PS (74 hp / 55 kW) when new.
The auction holder points out that the actual mileage may differ from the one shown on the odo, as evidenced by multiple signs of wear both on and inside the car. Having said that, they might as well have appeared as a result of neglectful storage. Other than that, the listing warns that the car is not drivable in its present state, its drivetrain and chassis needing a major overhaul.