---
title: "Jay Leno Drives A 356 Speedster Replica That Is Possibly Better Than The Real Thing"
description: "Volkswagen floor pan, Subaru engine, Design by Porsche, Almost no real Porsche parts included."
date: "2016-11-29"
modified: "2016-11-29"
authors:
  - name: "Bradley Brownell"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/bradley-brownell"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/porsche/6228/jay-leno-drives-a-356-speedster-replica-that-is-possibly-better-than-the-real-thing"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "People"
tags:
  - "356"
---

# Jay Leno Drives A 356 Speedster Replica That Is Possibly Better Than The Real Thing

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/speedster_replica_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

This 356 Speedster replica has heated seats, working HVAC, and the owner claims around 200 horsepower. That sounds like a complete win to me. The Speedster was always built to be a racing car, but these days they're all collectibles that have been tucked away in collections. More than anything, this is why I am encouraging people to go the route of a replica, because they can be driven without worry and they can be modified without worry. This Subaru-powered car has a lot of extra power, modern usability, and still retains a lot of those old-school good looks.

Jay simply pulled this guy over on the street to talk about his car, and Tom Murtaugh was more than happy to oblige. His fiberglass-bodied 356 is quite interesting, looks the part, and drives like a dream. Keen eyed viewers will note that this 356 replica also features some pretty aggressive Toyo R888 r-compound tires, which would probably make this quite the exciting car to drive on a canyon road. It's not a \*real\* Porsche, but it's a fun facsimile. You can't fault a guy that puts 12,000 miles on his replica in three and a half years. Well done Tom. You're a hero in my eyes.

https://youtube.com/embed/3sqC-2Ue5Ts

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