1959 PORSCHE 356-A CONVERTIBLE D REPLICA

Even Ferry Porsche himself might have been fooled by Intermeccanica’s faithful reproduction of his 1959 356-A convertible.

An original Porsche 356 in immaculate condition is today out of reach unless you have up to half a million dollars, if not more, at your disposal.

However, owning Ferry Porsche’s wonderfully small, simple and lightweight sports car – the precursor to the iconic 911 – is more attainable for those who are content with a replica.

And among the world’s assortment of ‘replicar’ companies producing copies of the 356, Canada’s Intermeccanica is widely considered the best.

The company began building limited-volume cars in the early 1960s, around the time the original 356 was starting to be phased out in favour of the 901 that would – thanks to objections from Peugeot – become the 911.

In the mid-1970s, Intermeccanica turned its focus to replicas, starting with SS Jaguars before recreating 356s using 12-inch-shorter VW Beetle floorpans before switching to an in-house square-tube chassis in the mid-1980s while still using VW running gear.

This 1986-build Model ‘D’ is based on the 1959 356-A Convertible D – one of the rarest 356s today. It continues as the company’s range-topping replica, sitting above a 1958 356-A Speedster (Intermeccanica Model ‘S’) and a 1955 ‘Bee-hive’ Speedster (Pre-A Model ‘S’).

Intermeccanica not only designs and manufactures the Model D’s tubular steel chassis but also fabricates the one-piece, oven post-cured fibreglass body (instead of the original’s steel). The suspension is assembled by the company using a mix of high-quality original restoration parts and components manufactured by the company.

Original elements include the curved windscreen and roll-up side windows, while Intermeccanica prides itself on applying “original, restoration-grade detail and materials throughout”.

The interior also attentively follows the beautifully simple layout of the 1959 version, including instrument dials and three-spoke steering wheel.

Intermeccanica promises “ample” cabin space for those over six feet tall, regardless of the roof being in place. The Stayfast fabric top is designed by Intermeccanica and features a large, zippered rear window.

To complete this highly faithful reproduction, this (left-hand-drive) model is powered by a 1600cc air-cooled VW flat-four, teamed with a four-speed manual gearbox.