Wanderlust

Tag: Rod Emory

  • Emory Motorsports Introduces the World’s First All-Wheel Drive Porsche 356 “C4S”

    Emory Motorsports Introduces the World’s First All-Wheel Drive Porsche 356 “C4S”

    Dubbed the ‘AllRad,’ the Newest Emory Outlaw Pairs a 356 Coupe Body with a 911 All-Wheel Drivetrain to Create Most Capable 356 Ever Made

    [source: Emory Motorsports]

    NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Recognized for building iconic 356 Outlaws® for the last three decades, the Emory family’s automotive legacy began in 1948 when Rod Emory’s grandfather, Neil Emory, founded Valley Custom Shop in Burbank, CA. Located just a few miles from where Emory Motorsports currently creates its stunning Porsche creations, Neil earned a reputation for sleek, stately, European-esque channeled and sectioned coachwork on the American cars of the day. It’s in that same refined spirit that Emory Motorsports presents the effortlessly cool 356 C4S, a stout AWD build with a novel mix of 356 and 911 technology. The result is a truly one-of-a-kind ride, pairing 911 performance with the quintessential 356 Emory Motorsports aesthetic.

    “Our build philosophy has always been to bring the best of certain eras together in our cars,” comments Emory Motorsports Co-Founder Rod Emory. “The Emory 356 C4S is really the first ‘RS’ that we’ve built, while being the world’s first AWD 356. Our goal was to create a special Porsche that never existed, but should have. The end result is that the 356 C4S really presents the highest performance level possible in a 356. The car’s owner was so pleased with the car he calls it his ‘AllRad 356.’”

    Commissioned by a discerning client who wanted to drive the Emory 356 C4S to East Coast ski areas in the winter, the decision was made to artfully combine a 1964 Porsche 356C body with an all-wheel-drive 1990 911 (964) C4 chassis. The meticulous four-year build began by laser-scanning the 1964 body and the 1990 chassis. Points of intersection were analyzed in the CAD environment with decisions about how to marry the two made in the virtual and real-world spaces. 

    Emory Motorsports’ goal was to retain all of the original suspension pick-up points from the 911, but two challenges existed: the differences in wheelbase and rear track from the two Porsche platforms separated by 26 years. The decision was made to retain the 356’s wheelbase, which required shortening the 911’s center tunnel. The 356’s steel body was then subtly widened to match the 911’s rear track. Adjustable KW coil-over shocks mate perfectly to the 911’s architecture and provide optimal ride quality and control.

    For the powertrain, Emory Motorsports retained the C4’s G64 5-speed AWD manual gear box. The driveline now incorporates a rally-style differential bias with independent front-to-rear and side-to-side manual torque control. The disc brakes are standard 964-issue with plenty of stopping power. The custom 16×7 black powder-coated wheels are pure Emory Motorsports ingenuity, inspired by wheel designs from different eras.205/60R16 Pirelli Ice Zeros give superior all-weather grip.

    The 356 C4S is powered by the proprietary Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” engine. Rod Emory and renowned engine builder Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing collaborated over the better part of a decade to create an original four-cylinder cast-aluminum block, based on a dry-sump engine design. The new engine incorporates the best features of three distinct iterations of the 911 powerplant. Custom billet cam housings, camshafts, and crankshafts are designed to work with OE Porsche engine components. 

    Dual Weber 48 IDA carburetors feed this twin-plug engine, rated at 200 horsepower. This 2.4-liter Outlaw-4 employs a crank-fire ignition, and full-flow lubrication with remote filter and cooler. Exhaust flows through custom headers and a stainless-steel muffler. 

    The carefully tailored bodywork includes a widened rear section, a flattened hood with its handle deleted, a louvered deck lid, and body-colored rally lights. A competition fuel filler leads to an 18-gallon GT FuelSafe fuel cell. Yellow headlight lenses and a Ray Dot mirror round out the distinctive exterior features of this build. Body color is Graphite Blue Metallic (graphitblaumetallic; metallic uni; M5G / A7; Porsche) an OE 2016 Porsche color.

    Careful observers will note the car’s titanium roof rack. Per the client’s request, the rack was conceived in CADto accommodate carrying bikes, skis, or other gear on road trips. The one-off drip-rail clamps were 3-D printed in chemically pure titanium, then welded to the custom-fabricated rack by the car’s owner. His fabrication skills extend from his titanium bicycle manufacturing (Independent Fabrication, https://ifbikes.com).

    On the inside, Emory Motorsports injected Porsche racing inspiration. The RS-style driver’s seat provides functional contrast to the Speedster-style passenger seat. The interior is elegantly rendered in green leather, and occupants are held fast by 4-point competition harnesses. A removable roll cage provides additional safety for spirited driving conditions.

    Other interior details include green square-weave carpet with rubber floor mats. Tactile interfaces include a MOMO Heritage steering wheel, a 911 shifter with Outlaw shift knob, and a Tilton pedal assembly. Total curb weight for this rally-inspired package is 2,150 pounds. For more information on custom Porsche 356 Emory Outlaws and Emory Specials, please visit EmoryMotorsports.com.

    About Emory Motorsports

    Founded in 1996 by Amy and Rod Emory, Emory Motorsports initially provided turnkey prep, repair and logistics for vintage Porsche racers. Simultaneously doing custom street-car builds, the company quicklybecame recognized as one of the world’s leading Porsche 356 customization and works car restoration resources.

    Rod Emory’s automotive roots date to 1948, when his grandfather Neil Emory founded Valley Custom Shop. An innovator in body sectioning and channeling, Neil Emory created the bodywork for the infamous land-speed record-holding SoCal Streamliner. Rod’s dad, Gary, created the first Baja Bug while working as parts manager at Chick Iverson Porsche in the 1960s. He later founded Parts Obsolete and became the go-to source for hard-to-find OEM Porsche parts.

    Rod acquired his grandfather’s sheet metal skills and echoed his dad’s enthusiasm for design, applying his unique skill set to the Porsche 356 and early 911 models. Purists initially labeled the Emorys as ‘outlaws’ when they attempted to enter shows in the 1990s with subtly customized cars that retained their Porsche DNA, but combined OE parts in unique ways. The Emorys happily championed the Porsche ‘outlaw’ movement, going so far as to create and protect the widely recognized “356 Outlaws®” brand. Since then, Emory Motorsports has created some of the most stunning Porsche 356s ever built. The company also meticulously restored what is now regarded as the most historically significant Porsche ever, the 356/2 SL “Gmund” that took a class victory at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans – Porsche’s first victory in international competition.

  • Emory Motorsports Creates Ultimate Outlaw Early Porsche, the 356 RSR

    Emory Motorsports Creates Ultimate Outlaw Early Porsche, the 356 RSR

    • At Nearly 400 Horsepower And Less Than 2,000 Pounds
    • This Is The Most Insanely Hot-Rodded 356 Ever Built

    [source: Emory Motorsports]

    NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — When car enthusiasts hear Batmobile and German car in the same sentence, they normally think of the BMW 3.0 CSL. Emory Motorsports’ latest creation will update that association to Darth Vader and Porsche 356.

    Third-generation car customizer/renowned early Porsche expert Rod Emory pulled a lifetime of automotive expertise together to create an exotic 1960 Porsche 356 RSR. As a grandson of one of Los Angeles’s first hot-rod shop owners, the son of the Baja Bug creator, and a former Top Fuel mechanic and competitive off-road racer, Rod was able to leverage every ounce of his automotive DNA in this builder’s dream project.

    “It started back in 2012 when I had my friend Greg Macey sketch a concept I had had in mind for quite some time,” Rod Emory says. “The idea was to create an homage to the Porsche works 935 cars of the 1970s while retaining our Emory 356 Outlaw styling. Greg did phenomenal sketches, which we posted on Instagram. MOMO CEO Henrique Cisneros reached out and asked what it would take to turn the concept into reality. Once we zeroed in on the details, we had a second rendering done by Avedis Djinguelian to serve as a more representative style guide to the finished product. The actual build time was about four full years.”

    As with other Emory Outlaw and Emory Special builds, the project began with the perfect donor car: a 1960 356B T5 coupe whose roof was undamaged but the rest of the body panels were destined for scrap. 

    With fresh experience combining a 356 body and 911 chassis in the world’s first AWD 356 (the Emory/Independent Fabrication 356C4S project), Rod’s crew knew where to nip/tuck to combine the best of the two Porsche sportscar iterations, some 35 years apart in age. The result is a seamless super-performance concoction whose 356 silhouette is artfully preserved, thanks to its factory greenhouse and doors. This car is an example of Emory Motorsports’ highest-performance “RS” designated cars.

    All of the car’s now-removable nose and tail bodywork is hand-formed aluminum, as is the aluminum deck lid with custom stainless hinges and one-piece aluminum bonnet with oil-cooler air outlet. To relieve wheel-well air pressure, Emory Motorsports added louvers and front fender stand-offs. Other custom air-management modifications include stainless mesh grilles for the cooling ducts and intercooler air inlets in the steel section of the rear fenders. Final exterior touches are modified Porsche 911 rocker panels and Plexiglas side and quarter windows. The body color is a custom blend of PPG hues that Rod Emory calls Meteorite Matte Metallic.

    To merge the Porsche unibodies, the difference in wheelbase was essentially split (85 mm) with a clever redistribution of the length. However, all of the stock 964 suspension pick-up points were retained. Also, the engine frame section was tailored to a length appropriate for a 356-correct air-cooled four.

    Speaking of which, the exotic Emory-Rothsport twin-turbo Outlaw-4 engine produced a whopping 393 horsepower on Rothsport Racing’s engine dyno – incredible in a car that weighs only 1,950 pounds. This proprietary engine block, developed by and only available in Emory Motorsports builds, is a collaboration between Rod Emory and Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing. The “Outlaw-4” engine’s architecture is based on the dry-sump Porsche 3.6L powerplant from the 1990s. To get the crazy power, Rothsport Racing created a purpose-built fuel-injection system with a one-off intake plenum and twin-plug distributor, managed by a Motec computer. The RSR race-inspired twin-turbo system uses two Garrett GT28R ball-bearing turbos with Turbosmart wastegates, backed by custom intercoolers. A dash-mounted 935-style boost control knob allows dialing up as much as 1.2 bar boost from the turbos. 

    Other Outlaw-4 details include a full-flow oil system with remote filter and cooler, plumbed with XRP lines and fittings. Also, Rothsport Racing fabricated a custom 3-2-1 stainless-steel exhaust system, which ends with a muffler-less straight pipe. The fuel system includes an 18-gallon Fuel Safe fuel cell, cradling a Radium FCST fuel delivery system.

    The 356 RSR’s suspension was designed around the extreme power-to-weight ratio. Ride is controlled by KW coilovers with 1.5 inches of on-demand lift to negotiate driveway aprons. Eisenlohr Racing Products front camber plates and mono-ball mounts make for additional adjustability. Flatter cornering is made possible by Tarett Engineering swaybars. Also, the 964 non-power rack-and-pinion steering and brakes were retained, albeit with custom Coleman Racing rotors and hats. 

    Competition components were one of the project’s springboards, but street-legality was the goal. Rod Emory has an affinity for the MOMO 5-spoke wheels with centerlock hubs from the Porsche works 935. Wheels like those were at the top of his must-have list. One bespoke set of MOMO Heritage center-lock wheels were created just for this car; fronts are 17×7 and the rears are 17×8, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

    The MOMO influence continues into the interior. Rod Emory is a huge fan of the 911 RSR MOMO Prototipo steering wheel, and MOMO recently unveiled a distressed version for a historic effect – complete with a quick-release hub. The adjustable Tilton pedals feature custom MOMO billet pads. The shifter knob is also a Porsche 917-inspired MOMO unit atop a Rothsport Racing shifter. Seats are custom and are modeled after the 911 RSR. They are covered in fire-retardant Spanish Red Veltex fabric with custom-embroidered MOMO logos. Occupants are kept in place by easy-adjust and quick-release 6-point MOMO competition harnesses. Safety is also improved by a custom Emory Motorsports removable rollcage.

    The 356 RSR has a few other cues that celebrate Porsche’s competition history. The amber fiberglass footboards and dash caps were inspired by the 917 and 935. The car’s marine-grade rubberized Hardura flooring is the same material used in Porsche GT cars. The floormat’s backing has sound-absorbing insulation.

    “People had strong reactions when we debuted the 356 RSR at Luftgekühlt this past May,” Rod Emory said. “It was too over-the-top even for some of the forgiving purists – something we’re used to after being branded Outlaws by the period-correct owners decades ago – but the car definitely attracted a lot of attention and now serves as a benchmark for what we can do with Porsche’s extremely flexible platforms.”

    For more information on Emory Motorsports, please call 971.241.7017 or visit EmoryMotorsports.com or @rodemory.

    MOMO 1960 PORSCHE 356 RSR SPECIFICATIONS

    Vehicle: 1960 Porsche 356B T5 coupe / 1990 Porsche 964 C2

    Engine: Emory/Rothsport Outlaw-4 2.4L boxer

    Power: 375-400 hp @ 1.2 bar

    Transaxle: G50/03 five-speed manual transmission

    Differential: Quaife limited-slip

    Suspension: KW adjustable coil-overs with hydraulic lift, Eisenlohr Racing Products upgrades, Tarett Engineering sway bars

    Chassis: 356 wheelbase lengthened 85 mm 

    Wheels: 17×7 MOMO Heritage front, 17×8 MOMO Heritage rear

    Tires: Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R

    Body: Extensively modified with removable aluminum nose and tail sections

    Paint: PPG Meteorite Matte Metallic

    Accessories: MOMO distressed Prototipo steering wheel, MOMO 5-point competition harnesses, MOMO shift knob, Tilton pedal with MOMO pads, custom seats, amber fiberglass interior panels and air-management ducting, removable rollcage, Fuel Safe fuel cell, Radium FCST surge tank, XRP plumbing

    About Emory Motorsports

    Founded in 1996 by Amy and Rod Emory, Emory Motorsports initially provided turnkey prep, repairs, and logistics for vintage racers. When Rod Emory began doing custom builds, the company eventually evolved into one of the world’s leading resources for Porsche 356 customization and restoration.

    Rod Emory’s automotive roots date to 1948, when his grandfather Neil Emory founded Valley Custom Shop. An innovator in body chopping and channeling, Neil Emory created the bodywork for the infamous land-speed record-holding SoCal Streamliner. Rod’s dad, Gary, created the first Baja Bug while working as parts manager at Chick Iverson Porsche in the 1960s. He later founded Porsche Parts Obsolete and became the go-to source for hard-to-find replacement parts.

    Rod applied his grandfather’s sheet-metal fabrication skills and dad’s Porsche obsession and design sensibility to the 356 models. Porsche purists labeled the Emorys as ‘Outlaws’ when they dared attempt to enter shows in the 1990s with subtly modified cars that combined OE parts from different models. The Emorys happily became champions of the Porsche Outlaw movement. Since then, Emory Motorsports has stunningly rejuvenated more than 180 Porsche 356s and a few early 911s. The company also meticulously restored what is now regarded as the most historically significant Porsche ever, a 356 SL Gmund that took a class victory at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans – Porsche’s first international race win.

    Emory Motorsports Partners

    Birdwell Beach Britches: https://www.birdwell.com

    Dannmar Equipment: https://dannmar.com

    Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas: https://www.gaudinporschelv.com

    Gunnar Racing: http://www.gunnarracing.com

    Levrack: https://levrack.com

    Mechanix Wear: https://www.mechanix.com/us-en

    Miller Welders: https://www.millerwelds.com

    Milwaukee Tool: https://www.milwaukeetool.com

    MOMO: https://momo.com/en-us/heritage/

    Mothers: http://www.mothers.com

    Period Correct: https://periodcorrect.com

    Porsche Design: https://www.porsche-design.us

    Pirelli: https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/car-light-truck/home

    Rothsport Racing: http://www.rothsport.com

    Rustoleum: https://www.rustoleum.com

    Vans: https://www.vans.com

    Vintage Electric Bikes: https://www.vintageelectricbikes.com

  • Emory Motorsports Reveals 1959½ Porsche 356 Speedster

    Emory Motorsports Reveals 1959½ Porsche 356 Speedster

    “Transitional” Speedster Brilliantly Illustrates The Why and The How of  Rod Emory’s Porsche 356 Philosophy

    [source: Emory Motorsports]

    NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – Rod Emory has refined Emory Motorsports’ ‘Outlaw 356’ recipe by paying close attention to detail and by staying true to the principles of form and function. The secret ingredient (and their de facto mission statement) is the preservation of Porsche DNA, whatever the cost. All of the company’s four distinct “product lines” utilize this mandate, but differ according to the desired user experience. This unique 356 Speedster was built to experience the sun in the grandest Outlaw tradition.

    “Each 356 that we put back on the road is a piece of Porsche history, and we work very hard to preserve that creative spark,” comments Rod Emory of Emory Motorsports. “The best part of my work is bringing new life to cars that might otherwise be destined for the junkyard.” The donor car for this particular project is a case in point: a 356 coupe whose roof was seriously compromised in an accident. Because the roof was not repairable, It provided Emory Motorsports a superb canvas for developing a truly one-of-a-kind 356 Outlaw that echoes everything enthusiasts have come to adore about the classic Speedsters of the era.”

    While Emory Motorsports encourages the preservation of ‘survivor’ Porsches, ones that have been carefully looked after, Rod also enjoys bringing a variety of deserving 356 basketcases back to life in brilliant fashion. This 1959½ “Transitional” Speedster succinctly illustrates this concept. 

    Porsche enthusiasts know that the ‘Speedster’ model was made between the years of 1954-1958, being replaced by the Convertible D in 1959. When Rod Emory gained a client looking for an open car concept, he knew that making a Speedster-like car from a coupe was entirely feasible. The perfect donor car came along and Emory Motorsports’ skilled team of artisans and fabricators set about fusing the ‘Outlaw’ and ‘Special’ design categories that Emory has championed for its clients through the years.

    Because the 1956-61 A and B coupe sans roof lends itself nicely to a “Speedster treatment,” Emory Motorsports hand formed a racing-inspired aluminum tonneau cover and headrest fairing, perfectly mated to the integral headrest hoop and cage. Other exterior touches include body-hugging bumpers and an unusual reverse-louvered deck lid. Typical bonnet modifications include deleting the handle and adding fuel-filler access for the custom 18-gallon tank. The period-correct  Aquamarine Metallic paint (aquamarinmetallic; metallic UNI; 5607; Porsche)was applied by Little Shop of Kustoms in Desert Hot Springs, California. This Outlaw enjoys a race-bred finishing touch, the iconic hand-painted Mobil Pegasus on the front fenders. 

    The Emory 1959½ “Transitional” Speedster is also significantly more powerful than its original 1600cc forbears. The proprietary Emory-Rothsport Outlaw-4 engine, co-developed with former Porsche GT racing crew chief Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing, is standard equipment. This 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter displacement engine, fed by Weber 48 IDA carbs, delivers 205 horsepower. Spark is issued via an MSD ignition box through a bespoke twin-plug distributor, while the dry-sump engine is cooled in part by 14 quarts of oil in a 911-style full-flow arrangement. An aluminum-case 901 4-speed transmission delivers exhilarating speed for this lightweight platform.

    The Outlaw Speedster’s chassis (and every Emory 356 Outlaw) was specially prepared to make maximum use of more than triple the standard power. Rear suspension was updated with modified 901-style IRS. Adjustable Koni dampers control the unsprung weight, and a pair of sway bars limit body roll during spirited cornering. The brakes were also upgraded to custom rotors and calipers that have 911-level stopping power. Power gets to the ground via 195/65R15 Dunlop SP 5000 tires on 15×5 Tecnomagnesio wheels, which are tastefully finished in satin-black powdercoat with brushed wheel hubs.

    The Speedster aesthetic calls for a pristinely spartan interior which is clean and functional. Charcoal square-weave carpet gives the Hydes red leather upholstery additional pop. Speedster-style seats and dashboard seamlessly combine the old with the new. A 904-style triple gauge with speedo and tach provide a few extra data points to keep the driver informed while on the road. The interior is rounded out with black knobs and escutcheons, a Derrington steering wheel, and padded headrest.

    Reflecting on the Transitional Speedster, Rod Emory continues, “Porsche enthusiasts will notice that this build does not wear a “Speedster” emblem. This is a nod to the car’s coupé beginnings and to the idea that we are celebrating the best of what this car still had when we found it. The “1959½” designation also signifies how this car straddles model years and body styles. This Outlaw 356 illustrates just some of what is possible with our talented crew here at Emory Motorsports and the result is bringing new life to a car that would have been lost to history.”

    For more information on Emory Motorsports, please call 971.241.7017 or visit EmoryMotorsports.com or @rodemory on Instagram.

    #rodemory #emorymotorsports #emoryoutlawspeedster 

    #356outlaw #porsche356 #speedster #outlaw4

    EMORY MOTORSPORTS 1959½ SPEEDSTER

    Engine: 2.4-liter Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” engine, full-flow oil system with remote filter and cooler, MSD twin-plug ignition with custom distributor, custom sport muffler, custom headers.

    Power: 205 HP

    Transaxle: 901 aluminum-case 4-speed.

    Brakes: Proprietary 4-wheel discs with parking brake.

    Suspension: 901 independent rear suspension with custom-narrowed trailing arms, Koni adjustable shocks, front and rear swaybars.

    Tires: 195/65R15 Dunlop SP 5000

    Wheels: 15×5 Tecnomagnesio with powder-coated satin-black finish, brushed wheel hubs.

    Fuel: 18-gallon custom GT Fuel Safe cell.

    Body: Hand-formed aluminum tonneau cover and headrest fairing, welded-in rollcage with headrest hoop, hood-handle delete, body-hugging bumpers, reverse-louvered deck lid, through-hood fuel filler, headlight grilles.

    Paint: Aquamarine metallic, hand-painted Mobil Pegasus.

    Interior: Hydes red leather upholstery with carpeted seat backs, Speedster-style seats, padded headrest, 2-point competition harnesses, charcoal square-weave carpet with rubber floormats, black knobs and escutcheons, Derrington steering wheel, Speedster dashboard, 904 triple gauge.

    Weight: 1,850 pounds.

    About Emory Motorsports

    Founded in 1996 by Amy and Rod Emory, Emory Motorsports initially provided turnkey prep, repairs, and logistics for vintage racers. When Rod Emory began doing custom builds, the company eventually evolved into one of the world’s leading resources for Porsche 356 customization and restoration.

    Rod Emory’s automotive roots date to 1948, when his grandfather Neil Emory founded Valley Custom Shop. An innovator in body chopping and channeling, Neil Emory created the bodywork for the infamous land-speed record-holding SoCal Streamliner. Rod’s dad, Gary, created the first Baja Bug while working as parts manager at Chick Iverson Porsche in the 1960s. He later founded Porsche Parts Obsolete and became the go-to source for hard-to-find replacement parts.

    Rod applied his grandfather’s sheet-metal fabrication skills and dad’s Porsche obsession and design sensibility to the 356 models. Porsche purists labeled the Emorys as ‘Outlaws’ when they dared attempt to enter shows in the 1990s with subtly modified cars that combined OE parts from different models. The Emorys happily became champions of the Porsche Outlaw movement. Since then, Emory Motorsports has stunningly rejuvenated more than 180 Porsche 356s and a few early 911s. The company also meticulously restored what is now regarded as the most historically significant Porsche ever, a 356 SL Gmund that took a class victory at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans–Porsche’s first international race win.

  • Emory Motorsports Designs Custom 1960 356 Porsche for Music Icon John Oates

    Emory Motorsports Designs Custom 1960 356 Porsche for Music Icon John Oates

    Legendary Hall & Oates Guitarist Unveils His Car Alongside Celebrated Porsche Outlaw Builder Rod Emory During Porsche Cars’ 70th Anniversary Party

    [source: Emory Motorsports]

    NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Having sold some 40 million records worldwide, Hall & Oates are considered the world’s best-selling music duo in history. The record-breaking band was famously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, but what many fans don’t know is celebrated guitarist/vocalist/composer John Oates is also a long-time Porsche fan. 

    The consummate collaborator, Oates contacted Emory Motorsports Founder Rod Emory about creating a truly one-of-a-kind classic Porsche. As a longtime Porsche enthusiast and collector, Oates wanted the perfect Porsche 356. Working closely with Emory, Oates made it clear he wanted to preserve the elegant styling of the 356 but imbue the car with more-modern performance and other custom touches. Rod found the ideal donor car, a 1960 356B Cabriolet, and went to work alongside Oates on the build. 

    Long known by enthusiasts for creating the Porsche Outlaw movement with his custom 356s, Rod Emory also offers his clients more-subtle Emory Special builds. Growing up in a family of auto customizers and designers, Rod Emory created John Oates’ Emory Special using many of the same customizing techniques – and many of the same actual tools – that his grandfather Neil pioneered dating back to 1948 when he founded Valley Custom in Burbank, California. Known as one of the seminal minds in the golden age of hot-rodding, Neil built a reputation for stately, understated coachwork that Rod employs to this day at Emory Motorsports. 

    Oates’ 1960 356 Emory Special is no exception. The overall design further enhances the original 356 body with seamless, subtle alterations. Working together, Oates and Emory succeeded in restoring and designing one of the most beautiful 356 cars to ever grace the road. Bespoke cars like the Oates 1960 Emory Special are built to order by Emory Motorsports, beginning with damaged donor cars that Rod secures from all over the country. During the build, body modifications are done to change the 356’s profile while still retaining its iconic design language and proportions. 

    “When people hear custom, their minds tend to go to the outrageous, but our work is all about restraint,” explains Emory Motorsports Founder Rod Emory. “John’s 356 is perfect example. The body began life as a 1960 356B Cabriolet, which had a removable hard top. We replaced the car’s damaged nose with 356A-style bodywork, but leaned it back for a sleeker appearance. We also modified the windshield frame the same way. The removable hard top was tailored to create a more streamlined roof profile, and we integrated body-hugging 356A-style bumpers. Everything is presented in the same way a new 356 would be rolling off the line. The key difference is the subtle changes Emory Motorsports makes to the original design.”

    Emory Motorsports surrounds vintage sheetmetal with later Porsche-performance DNA for Emory Special and Emory Outlaw builds. John Oates’ 1960 356 is a prime example. Power is supplied by the new Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” engine. Emory collaborated with Porsche GT racing team crew chief Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing to create an all-new air-cooled four-cylinder engine block, based on the dry-sump Porsche 3.6L Type 964 engine – but also incorporating the best features of three generations of the 911 powerplant. Custom cam housings, camshafts, and crankshafts are designed to work with OE Porsche engine components. 

    The Outlaw-4 engine makes use of the 3.6L twin-plug and dry-sump design features for the sake of performance. However, the new engine takes advantage of MSD computer-controlled ignition, augmented by a custom distributor and full-flow oiling with remote filter and cooler. John Oates’ engine is the 2.4L Outlaw-4 configuration with custom headers leading to a 911 sport muffler. It is fed by a through-hood fuel filler atop a custom 18-gallon GT Fuel Safe cell. The Outlaw-4 engine is mated to an early Porsche 911 901l aluminum-case 5-speed transmission.

    Chassis modernizing was also part of the plan from the outset. Emory adapted early Porsche 911 independent rear suspension with custom-narrowed trailing arms. Adjustable Koni shocks control the ride, and Emory added front and rear swaybars to control body roll during aggressive cornering. Handling is also improved with a proprietary Emory four-wheel disc-brake system, which stops the 205/55ZR16 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires on custom 15×6 billet alloy wheels. The wheels were powdercoated black and have mirror-polished hubs. 

    John Oates worked directly with Rod Emory to map out the interior cabin. Hydes cognac leather is showcased throughout. The Speedster-style seats received basketweave inserts and 2-point competition harnesses. German square-weave carpet in is augmented by traditional rubber floormats.

    Other interior features include the mid-1960s Porsche 904-style triple gauge, accented by a Derrington steering wheel, an Emory Outlaw shift knob, black control knobs and escutcheons, and the radio-delete option. A removable rollbar was added in case Oates decides to track his 356.

    Final exterior details really set this car apart. To complement the removable rollbar, Emory created interchangeable hard and soft tops. The re-profiled OE hardtop is pictured; the car also has a custom soft top for summer cruising. 

    Finished in Graphite Grey Metallic RM paint, Oates’ 1960 356 Emory Special has a few additional bespoke body modifications. These include a hood-handle delete, body-hugging bumpers, body-mounted driving lights, and a signature Emory reverse-louvered deck lid. The 200-horsepower car weighs 1,850 pounds.

    John Oates debuted his Emory Special 356 in late October at an intimate party and private concert at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta as part of the marque’s 70th Anniversary celebration. For more information on Emory Motorsports, please call 971.241.7017 or visit EmoryMotorsports.com.

    About Emory Motorsports

    Founded in 1996 by Amy and Rod Emory, Emory Motorsports initially provided turn-key prep, repairs, and logistics for vintage racers. When Rod Emory began doing custom street builds, the company evolved into one of the world’s leading resources for Porsche 356 customization and restoration.

    Rod Emory’s automotive roots date to 1948, when his grandfather Neil Emory founded Valley Custom Shop. An innovator in body chopping and channeling, Neil Emory created the bodywork for the infamous land-speed record-holding SoCal Streamliner. Rod’s dad, Gary, created the first Baja Bug while working as parts manager at Chick Iverson Porsche in the 1960s. He later founded (Porsche) Parts Obsolete and became the go-to source for hard-to-find replacement parts.

    Rod applied his grandfather’s sheetmetal skills and dad’s Porsche obsession and design sensibility to the 356 models. Porsche purists labeled the Emorys’ cars “outlaws” when they dared attempt to enter shows in the 1990s with subtly modified 356s that combined OE parts from different eras. The Emorys happily became champions of what is now known as the “Porsche Outlaw” customizing movement. 

    Emory Motorsports has created some of the most stunning early Porsches ever built. The company also did a meticulous Pebble Beach Concours-recognized restoration of the most historically significant werks Porsche ever, a 356 SL Gmund that took a class victory at the 1951 24 Hours of LeMans – Porsche’s first international race win.