The auction ends tomorrow for this 1962 Porsche 356 equipped with period-correct aftermarket air conditioning. This is an interesting car as it’s also a European-market example, which had some subtle differences from its U.S.-spec siblings. Despite being every part of a project, the 356 looks more solid than many of the old air-cooled projects we see come up for sale, and the seller has listed it here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $38,000. Bidding is currently sitting at $20,456 with the reserve unmet, and the 356 is parked in Cottonwood, California.
This photo alone stands in stark contrast to most of what we see with 356s these days, as this thing still has floors. The interior doesn’t look bad at all, with all gauges still accounted for along with an OEM steering wheel. I’ve actually never noticed the housings under the dash of a 356 before, and I’m curious if those are speakers or lighting assemblies. I realize I look like a Porsche neophyte with that comment, so please enlighten me. The seller notes that the aftermarket A/C included nicely integrated ports on the dash, visible here.
The non-matching engine is said to reveal excellent leak-down numbers, and is equipped with an external oil cooler. The wiring harness is said to be in decent condition and is described as “usable”; the same goes for the brakes, but other mechanical systems (like the transmission) aren’t described here. It’s not immediately clear if the balance of work needed to be done is heavier on the cosmetics or mechanical side, so it’s best to assume you’re going to be touching everything. The good news is the bodywork doesn’t seem to have extreme needs and you already have a healthy engine in the back.
The seller notes that loads of spares are included in the sale, such as body panels, glass, door garnish, chrome trim, some interior panels, vent windows, and more. The bodywork that has been completed utilized all German-made or Stoddard replacement panels, so it seems like money was spent in the right places. The European-market 356s didn’t come with bumper guards, and there were also reflectors under the rear bumper (along with a speedometer that reads in KPH.) Preserving those details will let the world know this is a rare overseas model, and hopefully, the original color combo of Heron Gray over Black will also be kept.
Nice supercharger on that motor, oh, wait…
Those are speakers in the footwells. If you look closely there is no other space to put speakers around the dash board area. Can’t tell for sure but but they look like the factory speakers installed with the Blaupunk radios. The ACs came from Texas or California companies. We installed a unit in one of our C coupes and a couple in customer VW Beetles. They worked well with minimum power loss. If the engine is in the car on the first photo the rear suspension is way off adjustment or they were making a dune buggy.
Why would you need AC?
The Porsche was in the Nevada desert and the VWs were in Oklahoma City. Figure it out for yourself.
Thanks Bob. So when was your sense of humor removed? You see Bob, there are no windows in the car. Hence my apparently lame attempt at a joke. Plenty of air flowing through the car Bob. No need for AC Bob. Get it?
to tame that beefie engine
A/C is to stay cool,lame joke are not.
Reserve Not Met with a top bid of $25,456.
Got it Ike. No offense meant.