History back to original owner/builder on this 1958 Devin / Porsche Special
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Seller states:
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 706 4028 Mechanica 33 8 4946 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false 1958 built Devin with history dating back to original owner/builder, who provided period pictures and information regarding the car’s earliest history.
Originally built on 1953 VW chassis with body ordered directly from Bill Devin.
First VW powered, but soon after modified by original owner/builder as a Devin/Porsche Special with 356 Porsche engine, 1955 Porsche/VDO tachometer & speedometer, LeMans quick release filler, Raydot mirrors, cut-down windshield, and a paint change from dark blue to Porsche silver.
The car was then auto crossed at events in shopping center parking lots around Champaign, IL and at the Vermilion County Airport in Danville.
It stayed with its original owner until 1962, when it was traded along with a Thunderbird and some cash to a dealer for a Ferrari.
3 brothers in IL were the next owners.
When they purchased the Devin from a dealer, the 356 engine had already been replaced with a VW engine.
The brothers installed a Corvair engine mounted via a Transvair frame.
The car was driven on the street, sometimes with the front wheels not touching the ground apparently.
It was taken off the road sometime in the 70’s, then sat until it was purchased by its next owner in 1990, with no engine or transmission.
The Devin continued to sit unused in IL until it was sold again in early 2009, when its new owner (in Atlanta) took on the work of getting it back on the road.
The original, now rotting ’53 VW chassis was replaced with a ’67 chassis.
The original body, Austin Healy Sprite seats, 1955-dated Porsche/VDO and other gauges, LeMans filler, VW gas tank all remained.
A 1776cc VW engine, transaxle, new exhaust and brakes were all installed, along with new wheels and tires.
The only part of the original body that had been cut up – the lower rear section for fitting the Transvair frame – was repaired.
At this time a hole was cut in the rear decklid to accommodate the single carb engine set up.
The Devin was then sold that same year to a Florida dealer who registered the car as a 1955 Roadster.
Soon after, it was bought by the creator of the Devin Registry/devinspecial.com website.
This is when the Devin’s history came together and the original owner/builder was found, along with early pictures of the car from the 1950’s and later.
I purchased the car in early 2011.
What attracted me to this particular Devin was its relatively unmolested body, the fact that it was Porsche powered early on, and its history including pictures and information from the original owner.
(A Devin finished in period, still left relatively unmolested, and with any kind of original documentation is hard to find.
Not that everyone is into that sort of thing, but that’s what I liked.) Current Condition My intention was to restore the Devin mechanically, including swapping out the 1776cc VW engine with a 356 engine to take it back to its earlier Devin/Porsche Special days.
I was going to leave the body basically as-is.
Given my original plans for the car, I never drove in on the road after I bought it.
As it currently sits, the 1776cc engine turns over and drum brakes and transmission all seem to be in good working order.
The car has no shocks front or rear, and the upper shock mounts on front torsion bar have been cut.
The car steers and rolls freely on newer wheels and tires that are in very good condition.
Presently, the doors have been removed (though put back on for the current pictures) with all hinges and latches still present and in working order.
All the gauges, including the 1955 dated Porsche/VDO tachometer and speedometer have been removed and come with the car.
The original Austin Healey Sprite Mk I seats (installed on adjustable tracks) have been removed and will need new foam and recovering.
As for the body, the rear decklid had been cut to accommodate the single carb engine set up, and some minor repair is need where one of the hood hinges attaches to the body.
Aside from that, the body is solid and uncut.
Car still retains its original doors, hood, dash, hinges, latches.
One of the original hinges is cracked, but I have 2 new re-chromed hinges that are exact replacements.
Original silver paint is very tired and worn through in many areas, though my intention was to leave the paint and body (aside from the rear decklid and hinge repairs) as-is.
For the right person this a fairly straightforward project that could yield a unique, period Devin/Porsche Special with some cool photos and documented history dating back to its original owner/builder.
Local Inspections are welcomed.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within 24 hours, and full payment is due within 7 days of the close of the auction and can only be paid to Seller by Cash (in person), Cashier’s Check, Money Order, or some other form of certified transfer in US dollars.
MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN.
SOLD AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
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