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Any 356 Convertible D is interesting because it was the replacement for the outgoing Speedster and not many of them were ever produced. So when Paddy M. sent in a link to one for sale, we took notice. The ad here on TheSamba is a head scratcher though. The seller claims that the car is an unrestored “survivor”, but then goes on to mention that it has been repainted and that the engine has been swapped out. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but any car that has been repainted and has had the engine replaced can’t be considered unrestored, let alone classified as a survivor. At least the original engine is included. Take a look and let us know what you think. Thanks for the tip Paddy!
This car reminds me of Grandpa’s axe: aside from a replacement head and handle, it’s just the way it was when he was hacking his way through the woods….
The sellers/flippers have included all the essential buzz-words (except “barn find’). And one can’t really say they are wrong. The 356 is a “survivor” in that it doesn’t have a cheap interior re-do, extra gauges, a flare kit and fiberglass fenders!
Like almost all Porsches these days, it has been priced out of the “driver” category. For me, that makes it uninteresting. Maybe some fanatic will step up.
Not sure who is stupid enough to pay that for one but heck even if I had the millions, I would tap out on most any car around $50 or 60 grand, beyond that I would not feel safe driving them and that takes all the fun out of it for me.
The term Survivor can mean what ever the person using it wants. Here it is trying to show some sort of additional value of not being fully restored i would guess. After all it did survive all these years in 1 piece!
As if the $189k asking price is not enough there is a $500 tail to it. It just tells you they are trying to squeeze the last drop out of it.
I had this exact same Porsche but was a 1958 in mint condition (no rust whatsoever) new top and interior and included a luggage rack on the back. I also traded out the original engine for a 1600S. I had a small wreck with it–nothing major so I sold it for $350! That was 50 years ago. If I’d only known what they’d be worth today, although I think the asking price is about $100,000 over its value.
If you wanted a Speedster and missed the boat this is a way to go for less than $250-$400K. It has a Speedster look more or less, plus some extra displacement, for less than you might otherwise expect to pay.
Is it a real survivor? Maybe….sort of.
Unrestored? Seller says “mainly unrestored” and “some body panels may still be original paint” The “original Numbers matching engine….will be part of the sale”, so you could get it back to even more ‘original’ if you wanted to….assuming the original engine runs, or can be made to run, or can be saved with enough effort and $$$. No info on that, unfortunately.
Seller says “has lived its whole life in sunny and dry Arizona”…..except for the fact that it’s currently registered and located in Oregon.
Seller has offices in CA, WI, and Germany and seems to specialize in selling cars into Europe. Car is in OR and you are supposed to “study all the photos closely to evaluate the condition of this car!” I think they are hoping to sell the car into Europe where anything Speedster goes for big money, and the absence of a close up inspection and test drive isn’t a dealbreaker.
By the same token, Since when does a paint job make a car restored? or a engine exchange for that matter? I think it’s more un-restored than restored.
In the automotive field, “Survivor” is not correct for this car ………………………………..
unless of course you have been indoctrinated into the PC way of thinking that ” it is whatever YOU think it is ” .. “everyone is a winner, so here is your winner’s trophy” .. … ” YOU didn’t build that ” … everyone ( and everything ) is really “equal” …and there shouldn’t be any “Survivor Class” or ” Best in Show” either.
Pathetic……….NO Standards anymore…….
so I guess an inch can be ANY length you want it to be.
Sorry folks. This is NOT a “survivor”. It HAS been partially restored. This is NOT original by any stretch.
Seller: Get over your self. Buyers: beware.
It’s only original ONCE.
No one has said anything about the picture of the rust. It appears in one picture that the rust worms are attacking a part of the underparts pretty good. From Sunny Arizona? I’m not an expert, but I sure would get one to look at it up close and personal.
“Survivor”. In this case, I think it just means it still exists. That word is used way too much when dealers are selling cars. It’s nice but not 190K nice.
I suppose it all begs the question: Does the AACA, PCA and/or any other authoritative single- or multi-marque club have a good definition of terms such as survivor?