zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever
This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever-September 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:13:01

All photos from Mecum Auctions

Every now and then, something really special emerges from the aether and goes up for auction, and I think this is one of those times. In August at Monterey, Mecum Auctions is going to be putting on the block a very rare (one of three) In case you, like 99.99 percent of the human population of Earth, are unfamiliar with this vehicle, imagine an embiggened Volkswagen Type 2 bus with Art Deco-like detailing and a Porsche 356 engine driving the, shockingly, front wheels. It’s weird and glorious, and, very likely, stunningly slow.

Let’s break down that long name a bit— It’s a Porsche because it was (originally) Porsche-powered, with a 1500cc flat-four from the 356, making about 60 horsepower or so.

The “Tempo” part comes from the Tempo company, who, right after the war, was , driving the front wheels. That’s the chassis this thing is built on, and why the engine is in a little cabinet just behind the front seats:

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

The original Porsche 356 engine has been replaced with what appears to be a Volkswagen 1600cc flat-four with twin carbs—I have in my ‘73 Beetle, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never once thought, man, I sure wish I was hauling a refrigerator and bathroom and stove with this engine! Still, the twin carb setup should give it roughly equivalent power to the original Porsche engine, somewhere around 60 HP.

The Mikafa part of the name refers to the former aircraft manufacturer that transitioned to making camping trailers after the war, and offered motorhomes, usually . When Mikafa decided to source some Porsche engines for their motorhomes, they added the “Sport” part to the name, both because the 356 powerplant had more oomph than the Austin one, and as an act of beautiful optimism.

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

This camper is absolutely charming. The front end hints at its Porsche innards with big round Hella headlights from the 356, along with Porsche badging. There’s plenty of Deco-style linear trim bits to give the thing a certain Flash Gordon land-rocket quality, and the interior, full of warm honey-colored wood paneling and stripy fabrics, is very well appointed, with a fully functional bathroom, refrigerator, stove, and kitchen sink.

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

The cab up front has a dash with a mix of Porsche 356 and VW instruments and switchgear, and there appears to be an Eberspächer gas heater in the passenger footwell.

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

It’s not in perfect shape by any stretch, but it appears well-maintained and usable, with just enough patina and wear to make me hope that whoever buys this amazing thing will actually use it.

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

I’m kind of a sucker for campers like this, but it’s likely this will go for more money than I could possible generate even if I parted myself out and sold off all the useful bits. The Austin-powered one from 2017 went for over $130,000, and with the added cachet of air-cooled Porschitude, I suspect this one will go for as much or more.

Image for article titled This Amazing Porsche 356-Powered FWD Camper is Up for Auction and May be the Slowest Porsche Ever

If anyone reading this ends up as the new owner, I’m just going to ask right now if we can feature it in an upcoming episode of , because, well, you know why.

(Thanks, Matt!)

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
The Auto Industry Is Once Again Begging The Government For Help
The Auto Industry Is Once Again Begging The Government For Help
The auto industry is going back to the well, GM’s contempt for its dealers is plain, and Japan. All that and more in for April 6, 2021. Automakers’ relationship with the federal government in the U.S. is usually pretty fraught because of the federal government’s regulatory powers. When it...
Sep 9, 2025
Jerk Rolls A Wheel Down A Hill Into Highway Traffic; Causes Motorcyclist To Crash
Jerk Rolls A Wheel Down A Hill Into Highway Traffic; Causes Motorcyclist To Crash
A motorcyclist escaped serious injury after hitting a on an interstate in San Diego, California, last month. According to witnesses, the wheel was not from a car on the highway, but launched by some jerk in a gray shirt from the top of a hill. Servando Lopez of San Ysidro,...
Sep 9, 2025
The State Of Two-Door Hatchbacks In 2021 America Is Very Weird
The State Of Two-Door Hatchbacks In 2021 America Is Very Weird
I’ve always liked the body style known as the two-door hatchback, or as it’s often and confusingly known, the three-door. One of those “doors” is a hatch not really meant for people, but whatever — I still like them. You know the type of car I mean. These were...
Sep 9, 2025
You'll Get To Drive The Toyota GR 86 In GT Sport First Later This Year
You'll Get To Drive The Toyota GR 86 In GT Sport First Later This Year
Earlier this week we got our first good look at the , Toyota’s take on the second generation of the rear-wheel drive, boxer-powered coupe it co-developed with Subaru. Toyota happens to share a close partnership with Gran Turismo, and the manufacturer’s Gazoo Racing division has wasted no time in...
Sep 9, 2025
GM Says The Electric Silverado Will Get Over 400 Miles Of Range (Updated)
GM Says The Electric Silverado Will Get Over 400 Miles Of Range (Updated)
We got our first earlier this year, a truck that GM without a whole lot of visible movement. On Tuesday GM dribbled out a few more details. The range is the headline number, with GM it will be over 400 miles on a full charge, or at least that...
Sep 9, 2025
Florida Man Steals Police Car, Leads 100 MPH Chase While Handcuffed
Florida Man Steals Police Car, Leads 100 MPH Chase While Handcuffed
is at it again, this time achieving a feat that’s left police confused. A suspect who was already in handcuffs behind his back managed to steal a police car and led a chase with triple-digit speeds through Kansas. reports that the Florida resident, Joshua Swartwout, is alleged to have...
Sep 9, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved