The brainchild of California SCCA National Champion Bill Devin, Devin Enterprises created numerous kit cars in the 1950s and 1960s. Lightweight, affordable, and easy to build, Devin’s fiberglass sports car quickly earned him a reputation on par with the more well-known European manufacturers, and Devin could be seen racing on circuits across America.
The Devin D, introduced in 1958, featured a new body style and was built on a ladder frame. It could be purchased either as a kit for customer assembly or as a complete car for racing or road use. Featuring a tubular chassis, the car was assembled primarily from Volkswagen components and could be equipped with a Porsche or VW engine. The cars arrived in a crate containing several components, including a canvas top, side curtains, padded bucket seats, a laminated safety glass windshield, brake and fuel lines, and more, all ready to assemble without the need for welding, drilling, or significant body modifications. The finished product weighed less than 1,200 pounds, with Volkswagen-built torsion bars and wishbones at the front and single-coil shock absorbers and wishbones at the rear. It could be purchased for a base price of $1,495 in the DIY version. A complete, high-end car with a 1,600 cubic centimeter engine cost over $3,350.
Devin D offered here for sale
The vehicle offered here is a rare factory-built Devin D, originally delivered to Europe by the German importer Fa. Hubert Souren KG in early 1961. It is believed to have been initially supplied as a Touring model and later converted into a Sport version, equipped from the outset with a Porsche engine and Porsche-derived brake drums, and it circulated throughout the following decade. Although the history of this particular Devin D remains largely unknown, in the late 2000s it was discovered in northern Germany in restoration condition. The 1500cc Porsche engine is missing, but it still retains the oversized 356A-derived brake shoes and its late-1960s Fahrzeugbrief certifying its provenance.
It would be a few more years before the current owner purchased it in 2025 and commissioned a no-cost restoration. The car was completely disassembled, at which point the chassis and body went their separate ways but with the same result: renewal.
The chassis was sandblasted, repaired, and repainted with powder paint, while the body was adjusted where necessary and repainted in a splendid Speedster Blue code 602. The interior was reupholstered with the appropriate textured tan vinyl, the same one used on the more prestigious Porsche 550RS. Equipped from the start with three Porsche 356-derived mechanical VDO instruments and a highly sought-after VDM WERKS steering wheel.
The entire dynamics system was overhauled, fitted with Koni shock absorbers, and the braking system itself was completely overhauled, replacing parts where necessary. A set of finned 356B-derived brake drums was installed for better heat dissipation. A new 6V electrical system was reproduced based on the original, with a reduced-ratio starter motor installed for easier starting.
Equipped with a Porsche 356-derived 616 engine, great attention was paid to its restoration, installing oversized pistons and liners and performing balance and calibration work to make it as efficient and sharp as possible. Equipped with IDF 40 dual-choke carburetors and a Sebring full-length steel exhaust, it develops approximately 120 hp, capable of competing with any sports car of the same era.
Today, this 1961 Devin D is ready for your enjoyment, fresh from a complete restoration with a very rare and prized color combination that enhances its lines and shape. It represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of 1960s US/DE automotive history in a Sport version. You can experience the same thrill and awe of driving one of Porsche’s rarest and most exotic weapons of war, the 550RS, for a fraction of the cost. You can also stand out at any Porsche event without being confused with the usual and popular Speedsters.
The car comes with photographic documentation certifying the work carried out.
For more information on the Devin D for sale in Veneto or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
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Price on request
