It Started Before the Car
In 1960, John Tyler encountered a photograph of the Abarth GTL prototype that would quietly define a piece of his life for the next five decades.
Tyler convinced his employer, Sunray Oil, to sponsor one of the 21 soon-to-be-available Abarth GTLs.
However, upon the car's arrival, Tyler realized the production models had drifted from the prototype’s pure lines.
The ideal shape he had fallen for remained, in his eyes, unrealized.
A 356B, Chosen With Intent
In 1964, Tyler took delivery of a Porsche 356B, not as an end, but as a foundation.
His goal was never to build an outlaw.
It was to recreate a specific idea Porsche had briefly explored, then abandoned.
Nothing Was Assumed
Throughout the late 1960s and early 70s, Tyler reached out to engineers, racers, and insiders, searching for details that were never published.
Progress was slow, but he eventually found success.
The Letter
In December of 1973, Tyler received a letter from Manfred Jantke and Jürgen Barth of Porsche.
Included in this letter were the original test papers for the 356B that served as the prototype for the Abarth Carrera.
The pursuit was no longer speculative.
Built to Last
In late 2003 and early 2004, the engine was fully rebuilt and the carburetors replaced, guided by direct technical input from respected Porsche specialist Vic Skirmants.
Every decision favored fidelity over improvement.
Nothing flashy.
Everything foundational.
The Shape He'd Been Chasing
Only after decades of groundwork did the project reach its defining moment.
In 2005 & 2006, the rear of the car was completely reworked to reflect the Abarth Carrera prototype.
For the first time, the proportions Tyler saw in 1960 existed in full scale.
This wasn't a redesign.
It was a delayed arrival.
Inhertance of a Legacy
In September 2009, the car was sold, accompanied by its entire history.
Included were hundreds of pages of documentation, correspondence, technical notebooks, original parts, spare components, awards, and other artifacts.
This was not a reset.
It was a handoff.
A Second Steward
Under new ownership, the philosophy remained intact.
Updates since 2009 have focused on drivability, reliability, and comfort.
Engine refinement, suspension upgrades, braking improvements, electrical overhaul, and subtle ergonomic enhancements.
The story continued, without being rewritten.
More Than an Outlaw
This car is not built to shock.
It is the physical record of a single, uninterrupted pursuit.
Outlaws are created.
This one was earned.
