The Devin models were often named after the engines they used: Devin D (VW and Porsche), Devin SS (Chevrolet V8), Devin C (Corvair), Devin F (Triumph) and Devin Panhard. Devin vehicles were recognized as a brand by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) as they were one of the few Barchettas built outside Italy. Until the advent of the Cobra, Devins remained mostly unbeaten on the racetracks. Bill Devin used the then innovative polyester-aluminum technology, a NASA development, to reduce the weight of his racing sports cars. The 1957 Devin D presented here, which is built on a VW Beetle frame and floor assembly, was restored by Marcel Lammeree in 2010. He had discovered the car in Brussels, but had not known the brand until then. Lammeree did not find the car beautiful, but it was fascinating. He teamed up with the specialists from Franky's Classic Car Service in Bergeijk to professionally restore the vehicle. The bodywork and paintwork were carried out by Polyesterpaint in Eindhoven, and the restoration took three years and required extensive work. Lammeree removed the external hinges from the doors, hood and trunk lid and instead laminated steel reinforcements into the plastic to secure the new hinges. To match the lightweight design of the 1950s, he drilled holes in the non-load-bearing sheet metal. Ironically, he even made the car heavier by adding reinforcing beams for the holes, and the Devin is powered by a Porsche 356 ("Super 90") engine (Type 616/16) with a displacement of 1582 cm3 and an output of 70 kW (95 hp). According to the engine number, the engine was manufactured in 1963. With a weight of less than 700 kg and 95 hp, the vehicle reaches a speed of over 180 kph. The car has a 4-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, and although disc brakes would have been readily available for the Porsche, Lammeree decided to use drum brakes to preserve its original condition. The interior received a stylish upgrade with cognac-colored leatherette for the seats, doors and a matching fabric cover. Other features include magnesium rims, a so-called "spaghetti exhaust system", which ends in a single thick pipe like the Porsche 550 Spyder, and a Tripmaster with stopwatch. A modern oil filter was added without being visible. The aluminum fuel tank system was custom made to fit into the nose of the car. After the restoration, the Devin D was given a grade of 1 by an expert. The vehicle was completed in spring 2013. In the same year, a lengthy article about the car appeared in the Dutch AUTO WEEK Classics, which even made the front page: "Porsche 356 killer". The author of the article described the handling as exceptionally good, with quick engine response, direct steering and good grip thanks to the Vredestein Classic tires. He was of the opinion that the Devin D drove better than a Porsche 356, describing the handling as simple and effective and attributing this to the extensive restoration, during which all rubbers, joints and bearings were renewed, and the owner, Marcel Lammeree, was also enthusiastic, describing the Devin D as "one of the best driving cars" he had ever owned.
1988 
1966 
