[What'saCobra?]

There was an early 80's fellow in the LA basin that got plenty of grief from the local porsche club when he did one of the very early 1973-ish RS copy/conversions, using a real but rather ratty porsche. Although today they are much more popular and welcome (originals being awfully expensive), at the time they were verbotten by his betters and other cognizanti. He was sorely angered.

The Spyder Becks were newish at that time and he was so torqued at his treatment, he did an absolutely beautiful 550 knock-off with a REAL porsche 4-cam engine! i don't think it was either easy or cheap.

You could not believe how un-hinged the REAL porsche people became when they discovered the completely un-authorized and sinful application of that masterpiece (if very very busy) engine. i never saw the particular car, so cannot comment on the installation, but he was pretty good, if not a professional.

Although the engines were not as wildly priced as today, they were still very rare and special. Seemed to the believers that he was to be ex-communicated from the faith, if not boiled in coal-tar.

He thought it was all hilariously funny and claimed it was a great driver, although he criticized that the engine was more than a little temperamental and difficult with which to live. Not so long afterwards he got a nice offer on the engine alone and replaced it in the Spyder with a hot SCCA special 4 cylinder.