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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Sima Siminski | Posted under Automotive
Porsche 356 Kit Replica Or Real Deal?
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The 356 was used in many movies some fleeting scenes while others very prominent. Movies like Harper, Bullitt, King of the Mountain, 48 Hours, Another 48 Hours, The Kid, Possession, and Anything Else all featured the 356 and there were many other movies where the scenes were brief. You can almost guarantee that in scenes where a crash or explosion was about to occur a 356 kit was used rather than a factory car. But the question remains if it looks like a Speedster is it really a Speedster? One thing is for certain there both factory and replica are fun and distinguishing the two can be very difficult without close examination. A 356 Speedster guarantees you superior performance and a whole lot of fun! The 354 was introduced in 1954 with a light weight model that was relatively bare bones. In no time it became an American race icon winning SCCA races and many others. And 50 years later in 2004 the Thunder Ranch 356 is introduced which is terrific reproduction of the original 1954 model. The new Thunder Ranch kit is based on a powder coated full tubular frame designed to insure the chassis has proper strength and the weight is reduced to provide the maximum durability. It features many functions that aren't found in any other Speedsters and one must admit these are truly outstanding features. The hand laid fiberglass is interwoven with composite materials to provide the optimum body. It has a sealed trunk and engine compartment as well as behind seat storage just like the original. You can choose from a host of custom body and accessory options as well as the twin grill engine cover, GT headrest, and the hardtop option. Plenty of choices here. And the comparison between the original 356 and the Thunder Ranch 356 is pretty impressive. Both had a 48 inch height with the top down. The Thunder Ranch had 6 inches of ground clearance and 1535 pound dry weight whereas the 356 had 7 inches of clearance and 1800 pound dry weight. When it comes to engines the Thunder Ranch has a VW Boxer Engine with 1865 cc, and a 4 speed with a top speed of 150 mph. The original 356 had a flat 4 with 1600 cc and a 4 speed with a top speed of 105 mph. The Thunder Ranch is even fitted with the authentic VDO instruments and Nardi steering wheel, as well as the 15 inch Mangel wheels. It also has a proprietary full functioning fan, shroud, and alternator designed to aid in cooling the engine optimally. The Thunder Ranch 356 kit is manufactured in California and is known for its superior quality control using exact tolerances for the bumpers, doors, engines, and trunks. The construction includes special blends of polyester resin and high stress points are reinforced providing an overall superior kit from many others on the market. Pricing depends on the kit you invest in. The Basic kit sells for just under $10,000 and includes body, frame, bumpers, doors, latches, hood and engine, fitted windshield, as well as dashboard and gauges. The Deluxe kit sells for under $15,000 and includes everything of the basic as well as the 15 inch Chrome Mangel wheels, square weave carpet, panels, doors, top frame, top boot, badges, and curtains. The turn key kit sells for under $29,000 and includes everything you'll need to build your car from racing mirrors, roll bars, exhaust, 2275 cc engine, fans, shrouds, and any customization you might request. And of course there are all kinds of options including leather seats, upgraded gauges, MP3 players, stereo, louvers, GT kit, and so much more. What ever you want it's available. So the next time you see a 356 zooming down the road whether in a movie or on your local street try to determine whether you are looking at a Porsche 356 kit or a factory build. About The Author: Sima Siminski has been a sales manager for auto showroom for more than 8 years. He loves his job and enjoys helping customers select the best product for its price. At http://www.porschebox.com, he makes information about porsche to the public to facilitate the evaluation of the different models. |
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