1959 Devin D

Roadster
Chassis number: DD5-12

Bill Devin was an SCCA National Champion from California. His company, Devin Enterprises, built a number of kit cars in the 1950s and 1960s. These fiberglass sports car were lightweight, easy to construct, and affordable.

The Devin D could be purchased as a complete car or as a kit to be assembled by the customer. It featured a tubular frame and used many Volkswagen parts and could be fitted with either a Porsche or Volkswagen engine.

The kits were delivered in a crate and came with many components, including brakes, fuel lines, laminated safety glass windshield, upholstered bucket seats, soft top, and side curtains. Very few modifications, bodywork, drilling, or welding were necessary.

This particular example was once part of the estate of Bill Devin. It was allegedly in the process of being restored by him but was never finished. It was sold from the Devin Estate to an individual in Italy in 2003 before it was acquired by its current caretaker in 2014.

This Devin is powered by a Type 616/7, 1600-cubic centimeter four-cylinder engine from a Porsche 356 B. It has a four-speed manual transmission, a wheelbase that measures 83 inches, and four-wheel drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster

This Devin is the eighth car out of 10 in the rear-engine D series built at the Devin shop, which was current between 1958 and 1963, and is the only one of the 10 with a Porsche 356 motor. Thirty other Ds were sold as kits. The D was so light and nimble that when Porsche discovered that Bill Devin was buying motors from the local Porsche dealership, the factory ordered the dealership to refuse any further purchases. Porsche was concerned that the D, which only weighed around 1200lb, would be a threat to their Speedster. Like other Devins, the D is a steel tube chassis bonded to a fiberglass body combined with various 'VoPo' front suspension parts along with a coil-over swing axle rear suspension.

Roadster
Chassis number: DD5-12

California-based Bill Devin was an SCCA National Champion and one of the first American 'kit car' makers. His fiberglass-bodied cars were simple to construct, lightweight and affordable. The Chevy-powered Devin SS was a potent sports racer, but most were VW-powered. A few had Porsche engines.

Fitted with a 365 Super 90 Porsche engine, this car was sold to an Italian collector from Devin's estate and received a period-correct restoration in Italy using rare Tecnomagnesio wheels, a Porsche 356 speedometer and tachometer, rally gauges, VDO temperature and oil pressure gauges and a Vilem B Haan aftermarket steering wheel.

It competed in Italian and Swiss rallies for 15 years before returning to North America.

Roadster

The Devin D used a Devin chassis and body with suspension components from Volkswagen and power from a rear-mounted engine from either Volkswagen or Porsche. The 'Monza look' was borrowed after a visit to the Scaglietti factory in Modena revealed the Ermini 357 design.

by Dan Vaughan

The Devin SS cost around $10,000, which was expensive for many privateers. In response, Devin created the D as a less expensive alternative. The rear-engined racer was powered by either a Volkswagen or Porsche engine. Other components such as brakes and transmission were from Porsche and Volkswagen. The suspension was a Volkswagen unit holding the 83-inch ladder frame in place. The car was delivered as a completed vehicle or in individual components. The frame and body cost just under $900. A complete car with a Volkswagen engine cost just under $2,000 while the Porsche-powered vehicle costs about $3,355.

The Devin C was a continuation of the Devin D. The Corvair was introduced in 1959 and Devin saw an opportunity to adapt its engine, mechanical components, and running gear to create a new vehicle. The Corvair engine was heavier, which helped in the addition of a few hundred pounds to the vehicle. A new chassis was created for the C but it was very similar in design to the D. A collection of parts to complete the car would set a buyer back $2050. A finished product cost $4500.

The Devin C and D were successful in club racing events.

by Dan Vaughan