WILHOIT Restoration Open House

[John Z Goriup]

Not to hijack other threads on the subject nor step on any toes, I'm submitting my own thread on this Open House during the recent L.A. Lit Show weekend.

In my view there's no question that John's world-famous 356 specialty restoration facilty has raised their bar and is turning out the best work they've ever done. That's saying a lot , since I have been of the opinion a long time that this shop has never done anything less than outstanding world-class work on the cars they choose to do. I think it's a true testimonial to John Wilhoit's enthusiasm, integrity and skill that he seems to be able to extract ever more admirable results from his organisation's crew of technicians and specialists. Well done and Thank You.

I always come very early because it's so much easier to get the best possible car photographs and not have to battle the crowds that gather later in the day only to be seen and for the delicious lunch and refreshments. Like so many of the best Open House events during the weekend, the caliber of visitors cars in the parking lot bears silent witness to the quality of the gathering.

Before the front gate was even opened, I ran into another ' early bird' visitor's car, Scott Hendry's ( owner / founder of Scott's Independent ) fabulous new personal '70 911E ( photos #1 througth 4 ) which he restored / built at his shop over the last couple of years - an immaculately clean and original sunroof, air-conditioned Coupe in Tangerine with Pepito cloth seats and a very healthy ST-spec 2.5 liter, 10.3 : 1 compression ratio twin-plug motor making over 200 footpounds of torque and a 915 transmission.

Scott's car is followed by another stellar example of a Withoit-built 356 from last year ( photos #5,6 & 7 ) - in this case a local enthusiast's Stone Grey '64 356 with one of Wilhoit's 2132 cc. motors..................what a splendid example of a very special Outlaw.


JZG

[John Z Goriup]

Another set from what has become one of my and a lot of other enthusiasts favorite venues to visit during LA Lit show weekend.

Photos #5 & 6 show a plain-bearing 2-liter, 4-cam motor on the test stand all set up to be started and run later in the day, but unfortunately there was so much else to see and do that I reluctantly left before the entertainment erupted into the impressive baritone noise Dr. Fuhrmann's masterpiece produces.

JZG

[John Z Goriup]

Another set from an intensly enjoyable morning at Wilhoits - ( photos # 1 & 4 go together )

JZG

[John Z Goriup]

The final set.

Thanks for looking,

JZG

[runsub5]

Well done, as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[StephenAcworth]

Wonderful photos and write up - thanks John Z. One day I hope to make it to LA for this weekend (and Luftgekühlt)... it's a little far and the timing is bad for me, but photos like yours make me understand the NEED to visit!

[Nine17]

My goodness, such wonderful exposures come out of that Leica! Good seeing you in L.A.

-- David