Porsche Santa Clarita debuts 'Galpinized' 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster for the 2021 Porsche Restoration Challenge

August 22, 2021 by Porsche

Imagining a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster with period-correct modifications, Porsche Santa Clarita's 'Galpinized' 356 pulls inspiration from Porsches new and old with a custom paint color, extensive styling enhancements and an upgraded powertrain.

Porsche Santa Clarita, a Galpin Motors dealership, recently completed the restoration and customization of a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster as part of the 2021 Porsche Restoration Challenge. The dealership acquired the car from its second owner, a California local who had modified the 356 for racing during his 50 years of ownership. The 356, with coachwork by Reutter Karosserie, was originally imported through famed New York importer Max Hoffman.

Porsche Santa Clarita modified the body of the 356 with shaved rocker moldings and rear reflectors, a louvered decklid, and filled, smoothed and chromed bumpers. A custom-mixed Blue-Green paint from PPG accents the tailored body, as does a set of 1960 magnesium Halibrand knock-off wheels finished in House of Kolor gold with a matte klear finish. Under the rear decklid lies an upgraded 1600SC flat-four air-cooled pushrod engine with chromed components mated to a 519 transaxle. On the inside, Porsche Santa Clarita opted for red leather with tartan inserts and color-matched Blue-Green trim. The full spec sheet and media assets can be found here.

When approaching the restoration, Galpin President and COO Beau Boeckmann opted for a full restoration with period-correct modifications, imagining the 356 as if it had been 'Galpinized' when new. Porsche Santa Clarita technician Nicolas Briseno carried out the mechanical restoration while Dave Shuten of Galpin Speed Shop completed the body and paint modifications. Galpin Auto Sports – G.A.S. assisted with the remaining restoration work.

ABOUT GALPIN MOTORS

Based in North Hills, California, Galpin Motors has established itself as one of the foremost automotive dealers in the United States. Family owned and operated since 1946, Galpin's list of automotive brands include Ford, with which it consecutively held the No. 1 dealer title for 29 years, Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda, as well as premiere brands such as Volvo, Lotus, Aston Martin, Lincoln, Jaguar and Porsche. Quality service centers, dedicated staff, and world-class amenities, such as Galpin Auto Sports (G.A.S.), in-dealership Starbucks and an award-winning restaurant, sets Galpin above the rest, offering the best buying and ownership experience of any dealer in the world. All Galpin dealerships are either number one in California or top 10 nationally. To learn more about Galpin Motors, visit www.galpin.com.