so<\/em> many looks,\u201d he says. That experience inspired an idea: to buy his own Speedster replica (\u201cSpeedster\u201d is the open-top version) and cover its maintenance costs by sharing it on Turo.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdrien is one of those people who climbed aboard the Bitcoin train early on. He had \u201cseveral\u201d Bitcoins back in 2012, and managed to sell them off right as the Bitcoin craze was peaking. So he had some money laying around, and nice 356 replicas were within his budget. \u201cI call it my Bitcoin car,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve been trying to get a vanity license plate that says that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
As is common for Speedster replicas, this car consists of a fiberglass body fitted onto a VW Beetle frame (the 356 was designed by many of the same people who created the Beetle, and they share many of the same parts). The body was in great shape when Adrien bought the car just over a year ago. Its glossy black paint is well cared for, accentuating the low-slung, swoopy shape that\u2019s unmistakably Porsche. Add in the short, raked windshield, leather hood straps, and old-school badges, and you\u2019ve got a classy machine that\u2019s sure to catch eyes everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adrien, a car guy who\u2019s done more than his fair share of wrenching, rebuilt the 1.6L engine himself. With added dual carburetors and a couple small tweaks, the little air-cooled engine hums right along now, complete with a small power boost over its original output. \u201cI would guess it does anywhere between 70 and 90 horsepower. So there\u2019s still not much in the power department.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
By modern standards, the performance is decidedly un-sporty, according to Adrien. It has the underpinnings and tiny engine from an old Beetle, and positively no driving assists to speak of. But it does have upgraded front disc brakes. And thanks to its fiberglass body and economy of dimension, it weighs under 2,000 pounds. So feedback is amplified and the driving experience is satisfying \u2014 steering is direct, the wind is in your hair, and visibility is 100 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, it\u2019s a great place to sit. The custom Bentley brown leather diamond-stitched seats sit over a brand-new carpet. People notice it. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest eye-catching car I\u2019ve ever experienced,” says Adrien. \u201cDefinitely beyond any Lambos and Ferraris.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Replicas have a reputation for being unreliable, with questionable construction and cheap looks. But this one is a quality build, and Adrien knows how to take care of it himself. His other car? A Tesla Model 3. \u201cIt’s fun. I have what I consider to be the pinnacles of both digital and analog.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extreme purists may turn up their noses at such a replica, claiming it\u2019s a fraud, a hollow imposter wearing a counterfeit Rolex and dubious Yeezy Boosts. But driving one is freeing \u2014 you have none of the worries and costs of maintaining a collectible classic (plus, Bluetooth!). If it\u2019s done right, it has all the presence and style of the real thing. And if it puts a smile on your face, who cares?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n