Plastic fantastic: 1951 VW-Porsche Devin

“The Porsche that wasn’t” could be defined as the Devin, based on a chassis derived from Porsche or Volkswagen. In this case, it is a car based on a shortened chassis taken from a 1951 Type 1.

At that time, and we are talking about the years between the 50s and 60s, there was certainly no hesitation in dismantling a 1951 Beetle that wasn’t a collector’s car but just an old car to exploit everything possible. In this case, it was the chassis that was shortened by at least four inches so that it could fit the fiberglass body built by Bill Devin in California, the American hub of motor racing and the culture that flourished around it.

The engine in the car today is from Porsche, specifically from a 356B, a normal version with 60 hp, so nothing particularly valuable. On the other hand, the car is equipped with a set of rare Lemmerz wheels from that era and a beautiful Moto Lita steering wheel, in front of a pair of speedometer and tachometer taken from a Porsche 356. All the ingredients are there, so it will be up to the future owner to take responsibility for putting them together in the right way. Find it for sale here in Saint Augustine, FL, with bidding at $120 and reserve price not met.

One thought on “Plastic fantastic: 1951 VW-Porsche Devin”

This is the same car [VIN is identical] to the Devin you featured in April 11, 2019 [White car pictured above]. The front end suggests it is a Devin “D” model. The “D” bodies were available for front engine cars as well as rear engine variants. The bodies with rear engines like the VW or Porsche had much higher & pronounced rear fender “hips” and a higher rear deck & lid to accommodate the VW type 1 and 356 engines, as seen in the photo of the gold car above. I’m pretty sure this body was designed for a front engine.

Look over the car [and photos] very carefully, this car needs literally everything, with a huge amount of labor needed. Looking at the photo of the engine in the car, the rear hatch opening doesn’t appear wide enough to remove the carbs if needed. That VW chassis is so far gone I would suggest replacing it with a later version from the late 1950’s or early 1960s, as [If my info is correct] the “D” didn’t come out until 1957. Sell the 1951 Type 1 chassis/pan to a VW collector who needs the hard-to-get early chassis and suspension parts.

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Bill McCoskey

December 1, 2023 at 8:45 pm

This is the same car [VIN is identical] to the Devin you featured in April 11, 2019 [White car pictured above]. The front end suggests it is a Devin “D” model. The “D” bodies were available for front engine cars as well as rear engine variants. The bodies with rear engines like the VW or Porsche had much higher & pronounced rear fender “hips” and a higher rear deck & lid to accommodate the VW type 1 and 356 engines, as seen in the photo of the gold car above. I’m pretty sure this body was designed for a front engine.

Look over the car [and photos] very carefully, this car needs literally everything, with a huge amount of labor needed. Looking at the photo of the engine in the car, the rear hatch opening doesn’t appear wide enough to remove the carbs if needed. That VW chassis is so far gone I would suggest replacing it with a later version from the late 1950’s or early 1960s, as [If my info is correct] the “D” didn’t come out until 1957. Sell the 1951 Type 1 chassis/pan to a VW collector who needs the hard-to-get early chassis and suspension parts.

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