We dragged home what’s barely a Porsche 356 – a chopped up shell with missing floors, hacked panels, and a roof held on with tape. But we’ve got BIG plans. Think Porsche 356 meets modern performance.
Curated by: Melomotive (61 videos)
We’re building the Porsche that Porsche never built — a classic 356 body over modern Porsche 718 running gear. In this episode, we keep pushing further into the fabrication work and tackle one of those small details that makes a huge difference in sheetmetal: pre-stretching before running a bead. If you’ve ever run a bead into flat sheet and watched the panel pull, twist, or distort, this is exactly why. We explain what’s happening, why the metal needs somewhere to go, and how a bit of forward thinking can save a lot of fighting later. This isn’t just a Porsche build video. There are real fabrication lessons here for anyone restoring, modifying, or building cars at home. We also look at a different way of approaching problems, inspired by clever mechanical engineering thinking — not just copying what’s already been done, but asking what the panel, structure, and process actually need. The goal is simple: build something Porsche never did, using proper fabrication, smart problem solving, and a lot of trial and error. Support the build and get early access on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Melomotive Tools, coatings and restoration products: https://www.melomotive.com/ #Porsche356 #PorscheBuild #CustomPorsche #PorscheRestoration #CarFabrication #MetalShaping #RollCage #AutomotiveDesign #Coachbuilding #Melomotive Building our 356/718 Porsche restomod Why pre-stretching matters before bead rolling How bead rolling affects sheetmetal Controlling distortion before it happens Alternative fabrication thinking Workshop problem solving on a custom Porsche build Follow along for more Porsche 356/718 build episodes, restoration techniques, sheetmetal fabrication, bodywork, and paint/refinish education.