After spending the first half of his life immersed in automobiles in one way, shape, or form, Bill Devin founded Devin Enterprises in 1954 to make fiberglass-bodied race cars. The first car was launched after he sold his Ferrari 250MM for cash plus a Deutsche-Bonnet. Simultaneously he bought the stock of a defunct Panhard dealer, which supplied him with several chassis and engines. He re-engineered the Panhard chassis and used the D-B as a template to create a fiberglass body. The result was the Devin-Panhard. With that modest success logged, Devin began making a veritable parade of fiberglass bodies that could be customized by the owner. Depending on the body style, Devin’s cars were built with engines – mounted front or rear – from MG, Corvair, Porsche, Volkswagen, Alfa, and others. Manufacturing entire cars in-house was a natural next step. One of these was the Devin D – it sat on a VW chassis and was powered by either a Porsche or VW engine. That’s the Devin we have here, a 1963 Devin D, currently equipped with a 1500 cc Porsche 356 engine. This car is in the hands of a knowledgeable seller located in Saint Augustine, Florida, but its past includes a fifty-year owner who kept the car substantially original.
Factory records were never great, so no one knows – yet – which engine Devin installed in this particular car. When the current owner purchased the car, it had a VW mill and was titled as a “Volkswagen Roadster”. What you’re looking at is a Porsche 356 1500cc flat-four, with Zenith PO2 carbs, a lightened flywheel, and matching case numbers. The engine is stamped 616/20 and was destined for Argentina to build a Justicialista – a fiberglass vehicle made in vanishingly small quantities. Though the seller has owned this motor for several years, its running condition is unknown. So this is a bit of a “two-fer” – an intriguingly original Devin with an oddball motor. I’d love to get this thing started and see what’s what in there.
The interior retains its original seats (with “L” and “R” stamped onto their backs), factory gauges, and according to the seller, factory steering wheel. The weather equipment, including top, tonneau, and side curtains, is still present. The wheels are Porsche 356. The seller believes the paint is original as well.
Just when your heart surges because you’ve found a Really Cool Car that might fit into some corner of your overstuffed barn, you discover there’s a catch. This Devin’s “catch” is chassis rail rot. The seller reminds us that the solution could be “… simply copy the existing chassis with new steel” and assures us that plenty of enthusiasts have documented adventures in Devin chassis repair online. Well, then, no problem! If you’re handy with welding equipment or have a favorite hot rod shop, you can find this Devin here on eBay, with bidding at $13,500, reserve not met. Let us know how you would plan its restoration.
Wow, this car is rare in the world of VW’s but needs everything, literally. Sorry, not worth anywhere near $13,000 in it’s current condition.
Someone put a lot of time designing that chassis. Interesting design and what looks like good workmanship but is now an overpriced, crusty example of what used to be a neat car. I’d tackle this restoration but not for anywhere near the asking price.
If the Devin body is fiberglassed to the chassis, it would be a nightmare.
If the chassis is just a shortened VWpan, get another pan and start over,
Either way, a big job lies ahead.
I always like this sort of vehicle because someone spent time and thought on it’s making, very often with limited resources. One thing I would try too change is the offset steering column. Be very interested too see this car when it returns to the road. My own and last project a Dutton Legerra is nearly ready for MOT might make it an every day driver. Kindest Regards Roger S
A little search thru barnfind’s previous listings yields a couple of Devin D projects with Porsche engines. One sold for nearly $40k and the other sold for nearly $30k. The $30k car also needed chassis work. Restored Devin D cars have sold at auction for $100k. These little cars have been very desirable collector and vintage race cars for a long time.
https://barnfinds.com/lets-go-racing-1959-devin-d-porsche/
https://barnfinds.com/rare-racer-1959-porsche-devin-d/
beautifullsurf is apparently the seller-
I keep coming back to this listing. Interesting little car that could be shown, taken to bug-ins, maybe Porsche track days, autocrossed, road raced, even bracket raced, not to mention driven daily when it’s nice out, and be unique, economical, and fun across the board.
Will a 74″ driver fit in one of these?
I’m a little over 5’9″ and fit easily in this car. Melton, I know guys your height who have owned and driven a Devin D. The seats aren’t adjustable so it’s one size fits all. There is plenty of room width wise as the car is rear engined and there is no transmission tunnel. I’ve seen blocks added to the pedals for shorter folks. If you were really tall you could trim the fiberglass where the seat sits and put it further back. It would take a bit of fabrication but it’s very doable.
My friend Cav Taylor,Revesby Garage near Boston Lincolnshire. Specialises in air cooled VWs the Devin would soon be sorted.We have a show every year WE Call it Skeg Vegas can just see me driving in crowds gathering round the Devin. It’s a great show lovely people. Cav has just shortened a floor pan chassis .We also did a stretch beetle 4 doors. Kindest Regards Roger
Yes, I’m the seller. And also a very longtime enthusiast of the Devin marque. We Devin enthusiasts are always trying to spread the stoke and help educate the general public on these cars.
The Devin D has a Bill Devin designed and built tube frame chassis. It’s not a VW chassis. Bill Devin was one of the major players in Southern California sports and race car scene during the 1950s and 1960s. This car is one of approximately 50 Devin D cars built.
If you want to learn more, check out https://www.devinspecial.com/
Devin is still in business. They still race and also manufacture parts and bodies for these cars. Check them out at https://devinsportscarsllc.com/
Good info. Thanks.