--- title: "That Homemade Porsche Kart Now Has a 5.8L Mercedes-Benz V12" description: "Goodbye Boxster S flat-six, hello S600 V12-powered madness." date: "2021-02-04" modified: "2021-02-04" authors: - name: "Máté Petrány" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/mate-petrany" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/39087/that-homemade-porsche-kart-now-has-a-5-8l-mercedes-benz-v12" categories: - "Builds" - "Culture" - "News" tags: - "Mercedes-Benz" - "Mercedes-Benz M158" - "Mercedes-Benz M275" - "PorscheKart" - "V12" - "Wesley Kagan" --- # That Homemade Porsche Kart Now Has a 5.8L Mercedes-Benz V12 ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* Up until now, [DIY engineering mastermind Wesley Kagan's]() PorscheKart featured most of a first-generation Porsche Boxster S' drivetrain, only to do better on the race track thanks to shedding heavy parts like the body and two-seater interior. Since finding more room in his garage for other projects, Mr. Kagan also built a 1973 C3 Corvette originally thought to be powered by a naturally aspirated Mercedes-Benz V12 (M137) derived from the 1998 S/SL 600. However, when he got wind that his Corvette could get a *twin-turbocharged* Mercedes-Benz V12 instead, the already-built naturally aspirated twelve-cylinder slotted for the 'Vette quickly found its way into the flat-six open-wheeler. You know how these things happen. After [3D-printing a semi-functioning V12]() designed in just two and a half hours just ahead of making a [Freevalve-headed Mazda Miata four-cylinder]() do its magic, it's perfectly normal to realize that a fairly-compact 5.8-liter V12 could fit a custom PorscheKart—especially with individual throttle bodies already added and 24 spark plug cables on order. Yep, this briefly produced Benz twelve happens to be a twin-spark unit. ![message-editor%2F1612448448652-120002148\_346306789854295\_6072826000280371537\_n.jpg]() **Instagram | wesleykagan** On the other hand, the later, twin-turbocharged Mercedes-Benz M275 is such a great V12 that a dry-sump AMG version of it (the M158) serves as the heart of the mighty [Pagani Huayra](), which is now tuned to 827 horsepower [for the Imola track special](). Knowing this, Wesley Kagan now wants to see this V12 in his 1973 Corvette project. As the C3 goes twin-turbo, the PorscheKart ends up with twice the number of its original cylinders, all while maintaining the weight figure of [a 1953 Porsche 550 Spyder](), the lightest endurance racer built by the factory. Sure, the exoskeleton of the [Porsche-based open-wheeler]() had to be cut to remove the rear subframe. On the plus side, this 60-degree, all-aluminum SOHC V12 from the other side of Stuttgart features three valves per cylinder to produce at least 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, which should be more than enough to make this the sketchiest budget-homage to an early '90s Formula 1 car. ![message-editor%2F1612449883165-theporscheboxsterf1cargotav126-21screenshot.png]() *Instagram | wesleykagan* ![message-editor%2F1612449732325-theporscheboxsterf1cargotav127-36screenshot.png]() *Instagram | wesleykagan* Mr. Kagan intends to use the stock Porsche clutch and gearbox assembly with this significantly more powerful and torquey V12, hoping that the Boxster S was just as overbuilt for its 3.2-liter flat-six as the 911s before it. The welding master will also construct a firewall this time, along with a much needed taller rollbar. Meanwhile, that 1973 Corvette waiting for its turn should pack no less than 493 horsepower, all while we keep waiting for the cam-less Miata engine to rev beyond our wildest dreams. Stay tuned for that, and remember: all engines fit, eventually. Except for [Cadillac's twin-turbo Blackwing DOHC V8](), that is. https://youtube.com/embed/OWu84S2LCQ0 *Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author As a fan of old cars, new cars, trains, planes, buses, and you-name-it, Máté can sometimes be seen driving an Autobianchi around Budapest, much to the amusement of the children, mostly. When not time-traveling, he continues to report from the future to his American colleagues, often talking about Lotus, Ozzy Osbourne, or both. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()