The first ever Porsches were more or less modified Volkswagen Beetles, and in the year 2013, someone in Austria decided to recreate history, but in reverse. Instead of putting new coachwork on a Beetle chassis, they put its body on a Porsche chassis, and the results are pretty interesting.
Offered for sale by Schroeder-Classics, this Frankenstein’s creation was made by CarMaxx Classics in Austria. And apparently they really loved it, because they described the result as their “heart project” on Facebook recently.
The body comes from 1303, or Super Beetle, and as you can see, it doesn’t look too over-the-top. That said, there are some giveaways that this is a modified vehicle, like the big Porsche wheels, the air intakes along the side, and the widened rear wheel arches.
Read: Porsche 914 Restomod By Fifteen Eleven Design Comes With 400 HP Cayman Engine
Despite the looks, this car’s underpinnings are all Porsche. The engine, transmission, floor pan, chassis, brakes, power steering, gas tank, trunk, and more all come from a 2000 Boxster S, meaning that this is more than just a Super Beetle, it’s a Super Duper Beetle.
From the factory, the 2000 Boxster was powered by a 3.2-liter flat-six that made 247 hp (184 kW/250 PS). However, according to CarBuzz, modifications like an improved control unit mean that it now makes 270 hp (201 kW/274 PS), which gets it to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just five seconds — or about a second and a half faster than the original Boxster S.
Schroeder-Classics reports that as a result of the Porsche underpinnings, it doesn’t drive at all like a Beetle, it just happens to look like one. Instead, this feels like a Boxster, albeit one that I imagine has an unusual seating position.
Although the transformation was completed a decade ago, the car has driven just 1,243 miles (2,000 km) since being completed. It’s not clear if that’s a ringing endorsement of the way it drives, but it certainly is indicative of its excellent condition.
However, what’s just as surprising as the powertrain is the price tag. The seller is asking for €195,000 (about $209,900 at current exchange rates) for this impressive restomod.
