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Jay Leno Drives a Hot-Rodded Porsche 356 Speedster
Hot rods come in all shapes and sizes. If you need proof, look no further than the pair of Porsches on Jay Leno’s Garage this week. The silver 912 and 356 Speedster come from the shop of John Willhoit, and each packs a punch well beyond its classic look.
The 356 model was Porsche’s first mass-market car, released onto the streets in 1948. The lightweight, simple design made for a decent sports car that whet the public’s appetite for more and enabled the next model, the 911, to quickly gain a foothold. The Speedster was the stripped-down trim of the 356, forgoing the surprisingly heavy options like roll-up windows and metal roof to drop the list price. The engine options offered plenty of scoot for the time, but even Porsche tuned the air-cooled four-cylinders for more power. The high-performance variants earned the designation Carrera.
Even that factory horsepower bump was not enough for John Willhoit, who has been modifying and tuning Porsche 356s since 1976. Over those years he and his team discovered how to take the relatively basic, four-cylinder 356 and increase its displacement to 2.2 liters, raising the output to over 160 horsepower. That same engine slips right into a 912, the four-cylinder alternative to the 911, hence the matching pair that flanks the Wilhoit and Leno as they talk.
Standing and chatting can only reveal so much about a car like the 356, though, especially one tuned by Willhoit. To get the full experience means getting behind the wheel, pushing the go pedal, and shifting the gears. Jay is no stranger to Porsches of the ’50s and ’60s and not only notices but welcomes the bump in power, specifically in the mid-range of the tachometer. A higher peak horsepower number is one thing, but more power across the board makes for a much more drivable and enjoyable car.
This 356 is a car for those who want to drive and get a little attention, but it can also hide in plain sight, making it the perfect stealth hot rod.
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The video was a good watch. It is nice to see someone who does what they do and enjoys it for all these decades. Personally I like his engine upgrades, it fits the car very well.