Diamonds maybe a girl's best friend but one savvy lass in England decided that she would rather have a PORSCHE....one she built herself from an old VW....
Where are girls like this stateside??? She sounds like a real catch.
A bride's welded bliss: How she built Porsche from wrecked VW for her big day
By Sadie Whitelocks - UK MAIL
15th September 2011
For Megan Ashton, it was her childhood dream to arrive at her wedding in a classic Porsche.
Now the 26-year-old has done exactly that – not by hiring one, as any bride might, but by building her own from a clapped-out Volkswagen Beetle.
She spent six years painstakingly transforming the 40-year-old VW into a Porsche 356, the company’s first production model.
The Royal Navy engineering officer paid £200 for the wreck before stripping it down to the chassis and meticulously rebuilding it virtually from scratch, donning blue overalls, getting covered in grime and grease, and spending £4,000 in the process.
The stunning vehicle now features a white leather interior with a mahogany finish, has a 356 body shell, and includes an authentic steering wheel and speedometer. It also boasts an impressive top speed of more than 100mph – and is valued at £25,000.
The proud owner was driven in it by her father to her wedding to Rob Ashton, also 26, a captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
After the ceremony at Sandhurst military academy in Surrey, her new husband took the wheel to drive them to their reception.
‘I loved every minute of it and it was such a special moment to be able to pull up on my wedding day in it,’ said the new Mrs Ashton, from Amesbury, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. ‘It was a close-run thing getting the car finished in the end, but after six years it was well worth it.
‘There were times when I didn’t think we’d get it done in time as it was such a huge project, but it meant so much. I dreamed of driving the car but got carried away buying my wedding dress, which meant it was quite difficult to fit in.’
The 356 was created by Ferdinand Porsche, son of the company founder who had designed the Volkswagen Beetle.
It was manufactured between 1948 and 1956 and shared many parts with the Beetle to save money – making the two cars easier for Mrs Ashton to fuse together.
She bought the battered 1969 VW when she was a student, then stripped it down to the bare chassis before fitting larger cylinders and pistons to the engine, increasing it from 1285cc to 1776cc.
Only the chassis, which had to be shortened, wheels and engine remain of the original car, which was also given a new registration plate.
Mrs Ashton, whose father Viv Beal, 54, runs a garage in Barnstaple, Devon, said: ‘I know people might think it is quite unusual for a girl to be interested in cars but I have always grown up surrounded by it.
‘My Mum and Dad have been buying various parts for the car for birthday and Christmas presents for the past six years – so I am looking forward to getting some girly treats now.’
Her father added: ‘We’re all into classic cars and it was a very proud day for all of us. Megan’s Porsche replica is her pride and joy.
If you had $18 Million Dollars, would you be able to part with it for this piece of Automotive history ? It is a rare and exotic girl, one that would take your breath away each and every time you drove it but is that worth $18 Million ?
For $18 Million Dollars, I could buy a $2 Million Dollar home in Maui for the winters, another $2 Million dollar home on Cape Cod for the summers, spend a few million outfitting both homes along with filling the garages with some nice wheels (classic ones of course) and still have plenty of $$$ left over to enjoy...
She is a beautiful and rare car but I am not sure I would part with $18 Million for her even if I had it.....just sayin'
Records to fall?
The 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa prototype heads the lots at Gooding's Monterey sale – will it create another record?
21st July 2011
www.classicandperformancecar.com
Gooding & Company is offering the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype and the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Auctions on 20-21 August. It's the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype that really interests – joins an elite list of extraordinary competition Ferraris that have crossed the block at Gooding & Company's auctions, including the record-breaking 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider that sold for $ 7.26m and the 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod that sold for $ 6.1m in 2010. And if it sells, the expectation is that it will be for a record amount.
The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype, Chassis 0666 TR started it all as the prototype and test-bed for the Testa Rossa line, which is arguably the most successful series of sports racing cars in history. Based on the 290MM, the prototype TR was assembled in 1957 featuring the classic V12 engine, de Dion rear axle and right-hand drive. The car debuted at the Nurburgring 1000kms where Masten Gregory and Olindo Morolli finished in 10th place. As a factory team car, 0666 TR practiced in Sweden and ran the GP of Sweden. After receiving pontoon-fender coachwork by Scaglietti, Ferrari campaigned the car in the Venezuelan Grand Prixand the 1000kms of Buenos Aires, where it placed an impressive 3rd and 2nd, respectively. It has been raced at all of the major events worldwide including Sebring, Nurburgring and Le Mans, as well as SCCA events. Restored to superb condition with its original, matching-numbers engine and 1958 NART livery, the wildly impressive historic racer has won two Best in Class trophies from Pebble Beach, a Platinum Award and the TR Cup at Cavallino, and it is one of only two factory Classiche-certified TRs in existence. With just two owners in 40 years, this car's presentation at auction this August is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If this Testa Rossa sells next month, it will be the most valuable car ever sold at auction in the world.
Also on offer is the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car, CSX2129. Completed in May 1963, CSX2129 was built by Shelby to full 'Sebring' specification as a Factory Team Car. In what would become an unprecedented year for Shelby, CSX2129 competed through the 1963 USSRC season at the hand of Bob Bondurant and, predominantly, Ken Miles. Numerous class victories and pole positions marked CSX2129's successful 1963 season playing a major role in Shelby America's win of the USRRC Manufacturer's Championship, USRRC Driver's Championship and an SCCA Championship. Successfully raced by Graham Shaw in 1964, the 289 team car returned to Shelby and was displayed at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Now fashionable in its authentic 1963 team livery, this American motorsport legend has an estimate of $ 2.4m - $ 2.8m and will be an exciting highlight of Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions.
Diamonds maybe a girl's best friend but one savvy lass in England decided that she would rather have a PORSCHE....one she built herself from an old VW....
