Restomod ‘RSR-style’ twin-turbo Porsche 356 for auction at RM Sotheby’s

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 04.08.2020

Infamous Porsche customiser Rod Emory’s crazy creation seeks new home

Monterey Car Week is consistently one of the international auction circuits busiest events, but as the world continues to grapple with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis; many auction houses have replaced their theatrical live auctions for online sales to take place in the coming weeks.

One of the main attractions at RM Sotheby’s 2020 Monterey sale, is the infamous ‘Porsche Momo 356 RSR Outlaw’ built by internationally noted Porsche customiser Rod Emory.

Emory is the lead man behind Emory Outlaw, a Californian-based Porsche specialist, restorer and customiser; and hails from a long line of prominent Californian automotive personalities. His grandfather owned the Valley Custom Shop in Burbank, and his father founded Emory Parts Obselete, a Porsche-dedicated parts supply store.

The 356 RSR Outlaw is a thorough reimagining of the classic 356. While Porsche’s factory-developed 911 RSR racers were only conceived decades after Ferry Porsche’s original creation – Emory sought to build what he thought Porsche might have come up with in an alternate universe.

A basket-case 1960 Porsche 356B was chosen to be the prime candidate for the project. It had a solid roof, but apparently not much else; however this suited Emory fine as he intended on creating bespoke parts for much of the car.

The chassis blends its OEM 356 elements with 911 components, with a significant dose of custom work to tie it all together. Suspension-wise, the pickup-points are borrowed from the multi-link 964 generation of 911, and comprises of KW dampers and Tarrett engineering sway bars.

Emory Motorsports fabricated much of the 356 RSR’s bespoke aluminium bodywork, giving the car both a wider and longer footprint, whilst also improving aerodynamics.

The imposing engine package, visible through the quasi-longtail rear end, is arguably the most technically impressive aspect of the car. Based, loosely, on the 964 engine’s architecture, Emory created an original 2.4lt sand-cast four-cylinder case which "incorporates the best features from three different iterations of the venerable 911 engine".

Emory then "designed a proportionally shortened camshaft housing which is machines from 6061 billet", while their custom crank and camshafts mate perfectly with Porsche oem units. Ignition-wise, the 356 RSR’s engine utilises a twin-plug design, and can be configured with both a distributor and carburettor, or with electronic fuel injection with individual throttle bodies.

For good measure, there are Garrett turbochargers strapped to the back with a Porsche 935-style boost controller mounted inside the stripped and caged cabin.

The car was debuted at the popular American Porsche gathering, Luftgekühlt, in 2019 and was met with divisive feedback and reaction.

RM Sotheby’s hasn’t published a pre-auction estimate for the unique Porsche, however we imagine it will pull significant bidding interest as a hugely well-known car within global Porsche enthusiast circles.

View the car at RM Sotheby’s here, ahead of their online Monterey auction from August 14-15.

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