“Barn find” Porsche 356s prices have shot up recently, and poor condition doesn’t seem to be holding them back. This 356B Roadster has already been bid to $85K and the reserve hasn’t been met. Sometimes it seems like people might be thinking that there just aren’t many barn find 356s left to save, but there always seem to be a few on the market. You can find this one here on eBay with time to go before the auction ends next week.
Someone is willing to pay the better part of a hundred grand for a car that looks pretty good for a barn find, but has significant rust underneath and an uncertain drivetrain. Is this a reasonable price for a later 356, one that’s not a highly collectible pre-A car from 1948-55? I guess the answer to that question depends on how much you like 356 Porsches, or whether you think this car is easily restored, or where you think the 356 market is going… or all of the above. It is a Roadster, which is probably second only to the Speedster in sportiness and appeal among the “regular” 356s, and that likely has a lot to do with what people are willing to bid.
On the other hand, although the topside of the car looks pretty good for a barn find, a couple of the underside photos show rust perforation, so the car will need some major cutting and welding in of replacement floor panels. While this has become fairly routine with many of the barn find 356s that have come out lately, it still requires the knowledge and skill to do a proper job that will stand up to the scrutiny of fans of the early Porsches, not to mention the stresses of going down the road. Then there is the engine, which hasn’t been fired up and run in a long time, so there is the risk that some very expensive rebuilding work might be needed.
The good news is that the topside and interior aren’t nearly as far gone as the term ‘barn find’ usually implies. Then there is the fact that the seller is well known in Porsche circles and has sold many Porsche parts, with 100% positive feedback on ebay. Also, the car was originally sold by Brumos of Jacksonville, which is a very famous dealer in Porsche circles. Does all of that make this car worth upwards of $85K though?
“Does all of that make this car worth upwards of $85K though?” Rhetorical question, I know, Dolphin- but not to me or anyone I know. It’ll probably take about the price of a USA starter home just to begin the spending on this project, plus I’m guessing at least two years time. And the tow hitch isn’t exactly a selling point or add confidence, does it? Enough!
most of the rust seems to be in the trunk.
Adam Wright one if not the most knowledgeable and honest guys I know in the 356 biz. You can take his words to the bank. Done several deals with him. He’s always fair and a damn nice guy.
The last barn find, I hope not, I like finding the barn finds. The last Roadster before this one was a matching numbers Super 90 that had been off the road since the 70s, it sold last year for $125,000, would probably go for more now.
Adam Wright
Unobtanium-Inc
Nice! Thanks for sharing Adam. Good luck with the sale and please keep us updated on any future discoveries!
Trust me, they are still out there. I know of vintage P cars sitting in garages here in SoCal that would make vintage Porsche lovers fall to their knees. The silly owners don’t drive them and don’t care to sell……..whata’ ya gonna do. I’ve known these guys for years, they have holes in their jeans and threadbare tee shirts………….and don’t give whit…………………….
When I was doing the 356 thing I would get a real kick out of Adams stories and his buddy that could lift engines.
Well one thing I’ve heard of people doing in this situation is to go to the owner’s house and spread out so many hundred dollar bills….wait, that was years ago….I mean, so many thousand dollar bills on the hood of the car. I’ve never done that but I know of people who have, and came away with the car. I guess when you actually show people the money it can work.
I’ve done that myself on a 1969 Pontiac GTO. It still didn’t work. I also saw a guy in the 90’s bring a brown bag that had 80k in it to buy the #2 Mustang GT350 my friend had. It didn’t work for him either. But maybe there are folks out there that can do it. And hopefully those folks will restore and enjoy the cars. And not be the blame flippers I see all over Ebay.
Hey Adam–calm down bud! Too many $$$ signs flashing in front of your eyes. The new car dealer adds “provenance”?? Is this a joke? Should we laugh or cry?? Can you please explain how this “provenance” you’ve created works and what it adds to the car’s value?? When we sell our classic cars, we should mention the original dealer selling the car? Some are like rock stars??? That really matters??? Uh…duh?
joe………… It’s a paper trail……..it matters. Not for all cars of older years, but a few marques.
It certainly is in the Porsche culture to have that provenance.
These are things one learns as time goes by.
To answer your question, the provenance of this Roadster is in the fact that we were able to trace the original dealer (via the Kardex), to the original owner, and every owner after that. Not many cars can claim a perfect chain of ownership, so yes, that’s provenance. And as to the “rockstar” status of Brumos, most dealers were just that, Brumos was a racing force going all the way back to Brundage, ( I know, I have personally interviewed Jan Brundage, the son of Hubert, about the early days), so in terms of dealers they are a Rockstar. Not sure how or where you sell cars or what your clients expect in the cars you sell, but our clients like cars with history, so I research as much as I can to provide it for them. You have to give the client what they want, that’s business 101. As far as $$$ signs flashing, this is one of three Roadsters we have bought and sold this Fall, so too many $$$ flashing to get caught up with just one car.
Hi Adam,
I have a 1960 356B T5 and the motor # does not match. What is a fellow to do? Seek to find it? (Needle in a hay stack where you cannot even find the haystack?) or do a mild outlaw? Pulling motor now and not sure if it is the 1600 Super.
Please advise.
an interesting car with a lot of people bidding on it but this is going to go for a lot of money. and then it needs a lot of work/more money. i do not see it ever being a daily drive. so please review jesse/bf past post on the karmann ghia. nice find.
At least this car has all sorts of potential unlike many of those pieces of rust that have been posted lately. Even at the inflated prices these 356’s are seeing, one could probably purchase a nice car cheaper than trying to rebuild something that is 10% complete and nothing but rust. Parts and labor on a 356 restoration will add up quickly. One could do a light restore on this car and still have a mostly original 356.
Have y’all seen the 356 kit cars? I usually don’t like kit cars, however some of those 356 body kits for a VW look pretty decent, and would make a nice driver. If I owned a truly nice original 356, I would probably have a replica to drive around, have fun, and not worry about, while the original car stayed safely tucked in at home, probably under my bed…
Joe, Adam knows his stuff and is fair as fair can be and is allowed to make a living. Unearthing this stuff is his livelihood and not an easy or undaunting task. I wish I could do what he does 24/7, but I can’t. We all make a living doing what we do. Doesn’t make Mr Wright any different, Correct? There are many unscrupulous scroundrels out there in this we call a hobby. Adam isn’t one of them. You owe him a big apology dude. You know not of what you speak.
A complete history adds value to any car. Even us redneck muscle car guys know the value of an unbroken chain of history.
Love the 356. I have a friend that owned two, sold this blue one a few months ago. When it was parked in my garage, the value of my house doubled!
I think it is great that Adam makes his living this way and no insult was intended at all! Lighten up friends!! Clearly Adam has lots of happy clients and is providing a great service in these Porsche “finds” which is terrific. Thanks Adam for clarifying that you were referring to the chain of ownership from the beginning, which is nice to have and a clear selling point. The wording in your ebay listing, maybe, should be corrected to reflect this, because it only refers to “the provenance of having been originally delivered to Brumos, one of the most important Porsche dealers in the make’s history” and not the fact that you have the complete chain of ownership. Still, if it sat on Brumos’ lot for a short time, but had no special modification by the dealer, and wasn’t part of their racing program etc., it really doesn’t matter or contribute to any “provenance” over whether the car was delivered to a well-known and big Porsche dealer in NYC or CA or even Iowa for that matter. I’d rather have the “provenance” of one or two owners rather than a string, or no rust, or an engine that at least was tested out and starts and runs well after all these years. But this is a very nice example and will make someone very happy.
Just to pile on ( on Adams side), in forty years of indulging myself in my love of”old cars” from Packards to P-cars, if I can trace the car through the few as possible owners to where it was sold, I generally find that what I’m looking at in terms of the cars condition reflects the fact that I can trace the “provenance” or in Okie speak, “ernrship”, of the car.
So my ’70 P car sold in Newport Beach with 2 owners before me, one for 27 years, me now for 14 years, made it more attractive to me when I bought it and I am certain should it slip from my cold dead hands before then, the buyer will be happier too.
Or not.
Charles…I was going to say the same about the v w based kit cars…I hope the ride and quslity are there for much less money….anyone know?
Car sold for $120,000 to an old customer on the west coast.
A good deal both ways, I think……what SCM would call ‘well bought and sold’.