Early Porsche projects tend to draw steady interest, especially when they offer a mix of originality and later updates. This 1963 Porsche 356B coupe, now listed on Bring a Trailer, falls squarely into that category. It’s a non-running project with a replacement engine, some visible wear, and a clear path for someone willing to take it on.
Originally built by Reutter, this coupe left the factory finished in Silver Metallic. At some point, it was repainted red, which is how it presents today. The seller notes that the paint shows cracking across the body along with a rust bubble on the lower portion of the right door. Exterior features include a luggage rack, driver-side mirror, vent windows, removable headlight grilles, and body-color bumpers with chrome overriders.
The car sits on 15-inch vented steel wheels fitted with Porsche-crest hubcaps and Kumho tires. Braking is handled by factory-style drum brakes at all four corners, consistent with how these cars were originally equipped.
Inside, the cabin is trimmed in beige leather across the front bucket seats and rear jump seats. Interior features include an AM/FM radio, an analog clock, and a painted dashboard that matches the body color. The seller mentions wear on both the carpeting and the driver’s seat, which isn’t unusual for a car of this age.
Instrumentation is provided by VDO gauges, including a 120-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 5,500-rpm redline, along with a combination gauge for oil temperature and fuel level. The odometer shows 84,000 miles, though the total mileage is unknown.
Power comes from a 1.6-liter flat-four sourced from a 1968 Porsche 912. The engine number is provided, but the car has been sitting and is not currently running. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle. The listing notes that the right rear axle is broken, which will need to be addressed as part of the restoration process.
There has been at least one structural repair, with the front suspension pan reportedly replaced at some point in the car’s life. Now offered by a selling dealer with an Arizona title, this 356B presents itself as a straightforward project. It’s not a preserved original or a finished restoration, but it does have the core pieces in place.
For someone looking to get into a Porsche 356 without paying top-tier prices for a completed example, this one offers a starting point, with plenty of work still ahead.
BaT comment writers are picking this car apart, which means it will sell for a less unreasonable figure. The front floor pan looks a little dodgy (gunked up with waterproofing), and the drivetrain problem could be costly to fix, but structural rust is the most important factor here. The 912 engine is no big deal. Buyers should see the car in person, but on the surface it’s probably going to be a decent buy.
The axle replacement is easy but rust is another story.
$25,500 with one day to go.
I like to look at all Porsche auctions and ads. While I will never have one, I am usually NOT surprised at how far off I am in my initial thoughts of their values. They certainly are a moving target, but fun to look at anyway!
Early 912s used 356 engines, I believe.
The 912 did use the same engines as the 356 but it had cylinder heads with bigger ports and the larger carbs. When stationed in Europe in the mid ’70s we took our ’64 coupe with us. It was a great car for ripping through the Norwegian mountains or running flat out on the German Autobahn. One day we got a call from the president of PCA Germany Region that the factory had one more 912 engine left that they would install for $1,800. I immediately called the factory and I was the first in line. They lined up a hotel next to the factory, gave us tours of the museum and assembly line while putting in the engine in the race car shop. At that point “original” didn’t mean a darn thing to us. We didn’t need a new engine but couldn’t miss the opportunity. This red car should be a fun driver.
It would have been a super 90 engine. The Porsche idea even then was to get the new body shape on the road and by using that that engine it spread rhe desire. Reasonable, not cheap but reasonable. I turned wrenches at Lou Gregg’s autohaus Porsche in Fairborn dfor four years in rhat era. We did a lot conversions — putting a 1600 cc 356 engine that fit perfectly into a Karman Ghia and gave it some real punch. So did the better biger 356 drum brakes… We had a shop ’56 Beetle with a super 90 engine and driving it between Mid Ohio race track and Fairborn Ohio to fetch parts for a competitor, I was stopped by an Oho State Patrol officer for something like 75+ on a country road. He was mystified. “Would you like to see,” I asked. and he said yes, so I opened rhe rear engine coverer and a clean Porsche engine sat there. Tell you what, he said, Im going to write you for a noisy muffler. ..all you have to do is sign the ticket and send it .back. …please slow down. Best walk away encounter in 60+ years of drivining fast cars. Thanks in general to the late Mike Valentine, who reduced the issue on the highways.
Sold for 46,700