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A Porsche 356 project, customized for a music legend.
The creator of the Porsche Outlaw movement, Rod Emory of Emory Motorsports has built some stunning bespoke cars over the years. The company’s custom projects include gems like the Pebble Beach Concours-recognized restoration of the class victory-winning 356 SL Gmund, a car that made history in Porsche’s first international race win at the 1951 24 Hours of LeMans. One of Emory Motorsports’ most recent projects is equally impressive. Commissioned by legendary Hall & Oates guitarist and vocalist John Oates, this Oates Emory Special 1960 Porsche 356 is as gorgeous as you’d expect it to be. While the iconic musician has made history with Hall & Oates, selling more albums than any other music duo in the world, he is also a longtime Porsche enthusiast and collector. John Oates worked closely with Rod Emory for this build to create the perfect custom Porsche 356 project.
Using a 1960 356B Cabriolet donor car, the team built a bespoke gem that blends classic elegance with modern performance. The project focused on subtlety and harmony. “When people hear custom, their minds tend to go to the outrageous, but our work is all about restraint,” explains Rod Emory. The team replaced a damaged nose with a slightly modified 356A-style bodywork. Likewise, the windshield leans back. Combined with the body-hugging 356A-style bumpers and the modified removable hard top, the car has a beautifully streamlined silhouette.
The Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” engine was made in a collaboration with Porsche GT racing team crew chief Jeff Gamroth. For this Porsche 356 project, the air-cooled four-cylinder 2.4L engine features custom headers that lead to a 911 sport muffler. It also comes with a Porsche 911 901l aluminum-case 5-speed transmission. Other specs include the Emory four-wheel disc-brake system and Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires as well as bespoke alloy wheels.
The interior boasts Hydes cognac leather upholstery, a mid-1960s Porsche 904-style triple gauge, and a Derrington steering wheel. Exterior features include interchangeable hard and soft tops, body-mounted driving lights, and a Graphite Grey Metallic RM paint. The Oates Emory Special 1960 Porsche 356 made its debut in October 2018 during Porsche’s 70th Anniversary celebrations in Atlanta. Photographs© Emory Motorsports.
