My wife recorded this movie awhile back and we just got around to watching it tonight and, lo and behold, Paul Newman is driving a Porsche 356 Speedster! It looks like a real 1956 or older! Anyone know?
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The movie's from 1966 so I'm guessing it's real.
With the beehives (did you know the Vince likes beehives?) and flat sides I think it's a '56.
I had seen those pics of it going off the road some years ago and always wondered where they came from. Now I know- I'll have to watch the movie soon...
According to the “Speedster Sightings” section in this very web-site, Paul Newman drove an original Speedster in the film...
Who made the first speedster replica and who was the builder and what year?
Intermeccanica 1970 somethimg.
From Wikipedia:
During 1976–1979, Automobili Intermeccanica was formed in partnership between Frank Reisner and Tony Baumgartner in Santa Ana, California, to build Speedsters. About 600 Speedsters were constructed. Tony Baumgartner bought out Frank Reisner's 50% share of Automobili Intermeccanica and later sold the Speedster project and equipment to Classic Motor Carriages in Florida.
There is some disagreement as to dates, but the scenario seems to go like this:
Frank Reisner, Henry's father, and Tony Baumgartner each own 50% of Intermeccanica in Southern California. They start making 356 replicas. Reisner sells his 50% to Baumgartner somewhere around 1978 or 79. Baumgartner then sells 100% to CMC, who proceeds to almost singlehandedly make everyone believe that the word "replica" is synonymous with a pyramid scheme. Florida AG finally pulls the plug on a mostly defunct company that was very efficient at taking deposits, but little else.
As regards, CMC, does anyone really doubt that history repeats itself?
wow, great info. So this settles Paul Newman's speedster question. it's real. I love this forum!!