Named after the famed Portola Road Races in Oakland, California, the 50 hp Pope-Hartford Portola Roadster is considered by many to be the marque’s finest hour. With only one genuine example extant, enthusiasts seeking the ultimate sporting Pope-Hartford driving experience have subsequently assembled automobiles that evoke the model.

This 40 hp Portola Roadster was assembled by Frank Taliaferro of San Diego, California, circa 1979. Mr. Taliaferro was inspired by the original 50 hp Portolas, and modified a Model 31 Touring car for the project. Upon completion, the roadster was driven in several editions of the Baja 500, a 500-mile Brass Era tour organized by collector Bill Evans in Mexico during the early 1980s. A subsequent owner commissioned a restoration of the Roadster, which included a repaint and a rebuild of the 300 cid overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine by Tom Holthouse, utilizing aluminum pistons.

Stan Lucas acquired this Pope-Hartford Roadster in 2015, with reportedly 200 miles on the restoration at the time, according to a past description on file. During Mr. Lucas’ ownership, the car was exhibited at the San Marino Motor Classic on two occasions, in 2015 and 2016. For the early car enthusiast seeking a high-horsepower, open roadster for use on tours and other exciting events, the search ends here.