A handsome replica of the famous Porsche 356 sports car (1948-1965), the Chesil Speedster is hand crafted by skilled artisans at Westfield Sports Cars, near Dudley, West Midlands. Since production commenced in 2005, there are over 500 Chesil Speedsters in existence.
The Speedster closely resembles the 356’s model year of 1957 with its distinctive lines which never fail to impress. When Ferdinand Porsche built his first sports car, he took parts from the VW production line such as the chassis, engines, transmissions and running gear. To this day, Chesil does the same.
As well as looking, sounding and driving the same as the original car would have, the Chesil Speedster incorporates several improvements which make ownership an even more attractive proposition. Upgrades in safety and performance can be found in the engine, electrical and braking systems, whilst a carefully considered improvement in interior comfort and accessory level creates a more practical car, without compromising its classic status.
TUI 626 is Chesil Speedster #3, which was manufactured and built by Chesil Cars Ltd in June, 2005 – the donor car for which was a 1969 1.5 VW Beetle, as recorded on the V5C.
The Speedster was acquired by the present owner directly from Chesil Cars in October 2016, becoming the car’s sixth keeper. It has been lovingly nursed in the intervening five years and has been driven a little over 2,000 miles in that time.
Its original specification is expansive and includes a green hood and matching hood cover, wind-up windows commensurate with the 50’s period, a handsome Moto-Lita wood-trimmed steering wheel, new-style seats clad in pristine cream leather with green piping, a dashboard clock, heated windscreen, 12V power point, Pioneer CD/MP3 radio, spare wheel and jack, a Thatcham immobiliser, an auxiliary heater and classically-badged throughout.
The present owner has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Speedster, but it is now time to pass her on to another owner for the next chapter in its charmed life.
Along with the V5C, the car comes with a current MoT, two sets of keys, the Owner’s Manual and service/parts/maintenance documents. There is also a small notebook of repairs/parts meticulously maintained by the current owner.
The smart and tidy interior presents an exceptionally high standard and the sun-dressed cream leather seats and door cards afford an air of 1950’s Californian lifestyle and glamour.
The original owner specified a rear bench seat, along with a set of white-faced instruments, dash-mounted clock and Moto-Lita split-riveted wooden steering wheel, all of which finish the interior aesthetic to honour its period charm.
Along with the smart and tidy interior, the car’s exterior is highly presentable. The pearlescent ‘Glacier Green’ paintwork gleams to a high standard as does the brightwork and gold-coloured classic badging. The light lenses are clear of the usual sun-bleached fog and all electrics are said to be in full working order.
Pictured are one or two niggly nagglies around the exterior of the Speedster, namely the ends of the rubber insert on the bumpers have incurred stress splits, the rubber surrounds of the rear indicators are perishing and there is a scuff mark on the trailing vertical edge of the driver’s door. Barring those rather low-cost anomalies, the exterior is in exceptionally good order.
Powered by an air-cooled, twin-carb 1.8-litre engine, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, the car drove exceptionally well on the short five-mile journey to and from the photo location. The high-ratio ‘box enabled a quieter, almost becalmed engine note when underway and is definitely a car for cruising, rather than bruising. The brakes are servo-assisted and the Speedster comes with a long MoT until August 2022.
As an ode to the iconic Porsche 356, the Chesil Speedster oozes glamour and style reminiscent of 1950’s Hollywood archetypes such as James Dean, Warner Bros, MGM, 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures.
True roofless aficionados know there are many reasons for having a convertible on your driveway but, bragging rights aside, most are sensory. Exposed as you are to nature’s elements, there is the heightened sense of motion, the rush of passing scenery as dappled shade flickers over your Ray-Bans. Bliss!
Couple that sensory overload with this beautiful, classic retro-styled sports car and you begin to fully appreciate the appeal. Be assured that TUI 626 will continue to attract ‘Ooohs!’ and ‘Ahhhs’ wherever it goes and serve its new owner well for years to come. And hopefully, not just on Sundays.
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2005 Chesil Speedster
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