Enter the Devin D Porsche

[Okrasa Kid]

Now for something completely different! – The Devin D Porsche

I joined the forum in June 2013 and have been happy to just chill out and enjoy the banter. Things ratcheted up last year when I brought Chris P’s black 993C2S however my air-cooled obsession goes back a long long way. I’m the guy that’s attracted to the most obscure quirky stuff built by visionaries, gurus and out right nutters - think 1952 Tempo Matador that kinda stuff!  So here goes my first serious post

Over the decades the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle has been a donor car for plethora of low volume coachbuilts, a diverse array of kit cars and homebuilt specials. It is generally not appreciated however that Porsche also lent drivetrain components to a small number of specialist manufacturers and homebuilt racers, although only in rare cases was this factory sanctioned.

Names such as Pooper, Glocker and Elva maybe familiar to some but there were other more obscure names such as the coach built Beutler based on 356 running gear and specialist race cars such as the Dolphin, Bobsy and Platypus some versions of which utilised Porsche drivetrain components to great effect often humbling the factories own formidable racers!

Another manufacturer was Devin Enterprises founded by the enigmatic maverick Bill Devin. At the firms zenith in the late 1950’s and early sixties Devin was the largest producer of fiberglass cars and bodies in the world. Bill Devin to his credit invented the belt driven OHC (sadly he didn’t patent it!) and the fearsome Devin SS sports car which featured a fuel injected Corvette V8 and De Dion rear suspension with inboard discs. According to Carroll Shelby the Devin SS was superior to the Cobra, sadly (again) only 15 were produced before it became apparent the project was not financially viable. 

In an effort to broaden their market in the late fifties Devin Enterprises produced the Devin D (D stood for Deutschland). The Devin D was offered in both kit and factory assembled form with Devin raiding the parts bins of VW and Porsche and later Chevrolet (Devin C) for drivetrain components and ancillaries.

In its day a complete Devin D kit, less the stock VW or Porsche components sold for US$1495.  A complete factory assembled car with standard VW 1192cc engine retailed for US$2950 and with a Porsche 1600cc engine for US$3350. Porsche drum brakes were also an option (definitely required with Porsche power!).

Bill Devin sourced his Porsche engines from his local Porsche dealership buying industrial motors and converting for automotive use. Unfortunately his supply of Porsche motors abruptly ceased after the factory threatened to cancel the dealerships franchise if they continued dealing with Devin. Apparently some enterprising SoCal racers modified their Porsche powered Devin D’s to Super 90 spec’s and in doing so started to embarrass the factories lauded quad cam offerings.     

My Devin D is an uber rare genuine factory built car (chassis number DD 9-17) one of the very last to be built in 1962 and just one of 49 ever built.

The Devin is powered by a Porsche 356 A motor (P 70165) which has been rebuilt and subtlety upgraded with 40mm PII Solex carbs, mild sports cam, ported heads, lightened flywheel, electronic ignition and stainless steel merged headers. The motor is tractable and pulls well in a vehicle which according to factory specs weights just 1180lb (535kg). The Devin has been converted to 12 volt.

DD9-17 like all Devin D’s is equipped with a period VW swing axle gearbox , VW trailing link front suspension and unique Devin designed coil over shock absorbers at the rear over a 82inch (2082mm) wheelbase. My Devin also features refurbished Porsche 356 B drum brakes which provide more than ample stopping power for such a light weight car.

The Devin’s fiberglass body is in good condition (not concourse) and has at some point been resprayed pearlescent white from its original white.  The interior is original, unrestored and in good condition for its age. Seats are covered red naugahyde with matching carpets.

DD 9-17 features a genuine rare 356 Carrera 160mph speedometer. All other gauges are excellent reproduction Porsche 356 gauges from respected North Hollywood Speedometer.  This Devin also comes with a rare removable soft top roof, support bows and side windows.

Noteworthy, DD 9-17 still has its first service sticker in the inside of the driver’s door dated September 1962. I also have a scanned page from the Bill Devin’s log book showing DD9-17 delivered to the King Motor Company.  This was provided to me by the person who acquired assets from the late Bill Devin’s estate.

Very few factory built Devins were delivered in the late fifties/early sixties and even less survive today. These cars are now being sought after by collectors and historic racers, being eligible for several vintage race categories. This car harks back to what many consider the golden era of American sportscars and specials.

I have owned this car for eight years having imported it from Southern California in 2008.

In 2016 DD-917 will receive a light restoration. I have a state of the art twin plug 1883cc 912 based motor in the garage. 160+old sckool hp and 535kgs be afraid 911’s………. be very afraid!

Please follow links below for examples of the marque. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBp30E2kzVs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SDZXzzxWL0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZ5KjYyc_o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGSznSbMvgM

For more information on Bill Devin and his cars go to the Devin Registry

http://www.devinspecial.com

And next for something just as obscure and totally and utterly bonkers (and with a Porsche connection!) enter the Autodynamics Dearborn Corporation Deserter GS GT Series 2 – stay tuned “The Kid”

[OBRUT]

Very cool. I'm a big fan of the Devins and like specials.

was your delivered with a 356 motor?  Any period race history?

[Airhead]

I have a state of the art twin plug 1883cc 912 based motor in the garage. 160+old sckool hp and 535kgs

That will definitely be a case of the tail wagging the dog David.

[Okrasa Kid]

"Very cool. I'm a big fan of the Devins and like specials.

was your delivered with a 356 motor?  Any period race history?"

 

Although a 1600cc Porsche motor was an option from what I can ascertain not many factory built Devin D's were delivered with this powerplant. At the time it was a very expensive US$400 option which necessitated in the interests of safety a further expensive investment in Porsche brakes as the tiny VW drums weren't up to the job. 

Bill Devin saw the D more as an accessible low cost roadster which could be assembled by the factory or at home by anyone reasonably mechanically competent. Add Porsche drivetrain to the equation and it became a quite different proposition. In part this was part of the reason Bill was reluctant to take the car racing although it held great promise with privateers and home builders. It is this group of enthusiasts whom were most likely to swap the VW power plant for the Porsche flat four. 

Research into DD 9-17 revealed my car was initially delivered with a Okrasa modified VW motor sporting twin carbs, big bore kit and hot cam. Sometime during its life the motor was replaced with a 356 motor and and thankfully big 356 B brakes. I am not aware the car has any period race history.

In recent years Devin D's have become sought after by historic racers (check out the pics below). Properly set up with a stove hot 356 motor, decent brakes and suspension setup they are quite formidable and are not embarrassed by more fancied and expensive competition from Stuttgart.   

Cheers

David

 

 

    

 

 

 

[Okrasa Kid]

'That will definitely be a case of the tail wagging the dog David."

 

Perhaps I should be afraid rather than a bunch of 911 owners!

Seriously thought I'm told when properly set up these cars handle well.

[D-banger]

Are you planning to do historics at all?

[Okrasa Kid]

"Are you planning to do historics at all?"

Not sure at the moment - the priority is to sort out the suspension properly as the car with the standard factory suspension setup can be a little nervous at its limits with the Porsche motor - you don't have that problem with a standard  VW 25hp 1192cc!!!

Once the suspension is done she goes in for a light resto and aero screen which changes dramatically the profile of the car.

Cheers

David