The Tygan Speedster – A class(ic) act
By Michel Cruz
Photography by KH Photography
One of the perks of writing articles about cars is that you can occasionally drive the type of bolide you would normally never get to take for a spin. I make no claim to being a latter-day Niki Lauda or in any way related to the Stig, but I have thrown the odd car around a bend in my day and even pulled a hair-raising stunt or two. Until I got into the Tygan Speedster, however, I hadn’t driven a ‘real’ car. Now not all my cars have had power steering, power assisted breaks and traction control. In fact, I can still remember flooding the carburettor with the choke on a cold winter’s morning or having to push-start an unwilling car, but none of the vehicles I had driven before—no matter how fast or recklessly—prepared me for the real McCoy. In this case, a picture-perfect replica of a 1958 Porsche 356.
The famous ‘baby’ of Doctor Ferdinand Porsche, and closely related to the ubiquitous Beetle, the 356 is a marvel of design. Its flowing lines are nothing short of art, yet together with the car’s compact size they also add a tender and likeable aspect to its appearance. Angus McCubin, one of the partners in the Dorset-based company that so lovingly recreates these classic sports cars, can be proud of The Tygan Motors Company’s workmanship, for it is every bit a Porsche 356. “We work to painstaking detail to ensure that our clients get, to all intents and purposes, an original Porsche 356.” The added advantage, however, is that the car is brand-new and free of the ailments that usually accompany the 50-something year-old originals.
The fact that the car has, so far, proved particularly popular with ladies is reflected in the rather elegant pearlesque blue body paint and cream white leather upholstery with period style chrome levers. I spent quite a long time in the cockpit just taking it in and coming to terms with the wonderful controls. Then, following Angus’s instructions, I turned the ignition key, pressed the starter button and lowered the handbrake down its 45 degree slope. The sweet prattle of an 1800cc boxer engine started up behind me as I pressed the floor mounted clutch down, pulled up the lever attached to the gear knob and shifted it into first. The Speedster is remarkably smooth, but take it onto a winding mountain road and the uninitiated is in for the driving experience of his/her life.
While this is no Ferrari or Lamborghini super car, and the 1800cc boxer propels it to a relatively modest 160 km/h, the Speedster requires a knowing hand to navigate it through tight bends and sweeping curves. Nannied by modern cars, most of us don’t know what it’s like to really steer a car round a bend, instead of letting the car do most of the work and con you into thinking you’re the one in control. The hard steering and breaking take a bit of getting used to, but boy is it fun learning. I started driving at a ridiculously low speed but by the end of the day was having a whale of a time, using all my senses and enjoying the elements. By the time I stepped out of the car, it was with sincere regret. A big grin had spread across my face and I could have spent the next few days coming to grips with this wonderful car. In other words, driving a classic sports car is every bit as good as it’s cracked up to be, and when it’s a gentle beauty like the Speedster, you have the added bonus of people stopping to look, smile and wave at you.
The Tygan Speedster certainly does the Porsche 356 proud, perfectly reproducing everything from its look, feel and sound right down to the dashboard, bucket seats and, of course, it’s unique handling. Produced from a combination of specially made parts, it’s a fun and remarkably affordable way to enjoy the classic looks and driving experience of the car that not only led the way for the famous Porsche 911, but was the model on which the marque built its enviable sporting pedigree. “Our cars’ improved safety and more up-to-date technology comes not at the expense of the driving experience,” says Angus, who has found an eager market for his sports cabriolet in areas like California, the French Riviera and…Devon and Cornwall.
| Design | * * * * * |
| Engineering | * * |
| Performance | * * * |
| Comfort | * * * |
| Price/Quality | * * * * |
Tygan Speedster 1.8 Boxer
Strong points: looks, finish, classic appeal and drive
Weak points: it takes a real driver
Details:
The Tygan Motor Company
www.tygan.com
Tel: +44 1308 867 815
