Reimagined Porsche 356 European SL unveiled
Thornley Kelham's European Collection expands - in some style, too
The year 1951 was a significant one for Porsche; not only did it make its first appearance in the UK (imagine the allocation arguments back then), it also enjoyed a notable Le Mans success. A 356 SL (Super Leicht) went to France in the summer, the first time any Porsche had competed internationally, and returned with a class victory. Given what Porsche has achieved at La Sarthe since then, it makes the four aluminium-bodied 356s very important little racing cars.
This isn’t one of them, instead the latest reimagination from Thornley Kelham; you might remember that its European Collection has already included a Jaguar, a Lancia and a 911. This new 356 European SL pays homage to the Le Mans machine, taking a ‘motoring masterpiece’ and bringing it ‘into the modern era in terms of design, performance, drivability and usability, while being respectful to the ethos of the original.’ Like so many of these super-duper restomods, nothing has been left untouched in the pursuit of retro Porsche perfection.
At a glance, the European SL looks like a normal 356; give it some time, however, and you’ll notice it’s wider, lower and ever so slightly meaner, channelling the kind of haute couture hot rod energy seen in previous TK builds like the Aurelia. While the bodywork has used the latest CAD and CNC processes to perfect, a lot of hand forming is still employed. Smoothing all the joints and assembling every aluminum panel in precision jig ensures the SL looks modern in terms of construction but very much classic in aesthetic. There’ll be no mistaking it for anything but 356, put it that way. Just the best 356 you ever did see, with more attitude than you remember.
While the flat four is still has its foundations in the original, it’s now rated at 180hp from 2.3-litres. The 50 SL buyers will also be offered a Sport spec, which brings 200hp - ample for the retro road race look given the dry weight is claimed to be 930kg. A five-speed manual and LSD get that power to the rear wheels.
As standard, all of these 356s receive a chassis and body overhaul that ought to make them a hoot to drive. Reinforced and seam welded for strength, each SL also gets vented discs at each corner, rack-and-pinion steering plus ‘early 911-inspired rear suspension’. Those who want to take things even further are more than able to: carbon ceramic brakes (!) are an option, as is power steering and active dampers. All of which seem clumsily anachronistic for a car celebrating the 1950s, but then we also live in a world of 10,000rpm Ford Escorts and electric MGBs, so what do we know? Customer always right in matters of taste and all that.
The bespoke nature of the 356 SL will, naturally, be celebrated throughout, from materials to fitted luggage options. Just a peek at the interior here suggests it’s a very special driving environment. TK goes as far to suggest that comfort levels are ‘exemplary’, which is unexpected, but then it certainly wouldn’t be the first time that one of these money-no-object restorations has confounded predictions. Apparently this will be a ‘classic icon for a modern driver’ - it’d be boring if everyone just had backdated 911s, wouldn’t it?
“Back in the late 1990s I found myself in a position to buy something special, and that’s when I bought a 356,” said Pim van de Riet, Thornley Kelham’s 356 Programme Director. “That car started a love affair with the 356 and I wanted to deliver a car that Porsche themselves might have done were they not hindered by 1950s engineering capabilities. Our 356 European SL captures everything I love about the original, reimagined without compromise for the 21st century.”
Sometimes a price is attached to Thornley Kelham projects; not this time. Given a European RS was in the region of £600k and a donor 356 could be anything from £50k to £150k, the SL surely isn’t going to be less than half a million. Thornley Kelham will debut the 356 at Megaphonics this weekend; just keep an eye out for the big crowd, it’ll probably be there…
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