Far from your typical barn find, this 1960 Porsche 356B 1600 Super Roadster, offered here by Gullwing Motors for $149,500 in Astoria (Queens), New York, is in very respectable condition, though it’s been off the road since 1990 and will need “mechanical commissioning” Even though it looks good, the Porsche probably hasn’t been started for almost 30 years, and is going to need a careful wakeup call. At the very least, a gas tank flushing and/or replacement, new brake and fuel lines, and more. You don’t know what you’re going to find when you bring cars back from storage. My recently acquired 1993 Saab 900 Turbo convertible spent 10 years in a Poughkeepsie, New York garage, and we discovered that mice had nibbled the printed circuit boards on the back of the instrument panel.

The Porsche 356 has undergone a meteoric value increase, alongside the 911. As an example, a gorgeous, ready-to-go 1964 356 SC disc brake coupe featuring a rebuilt motor with zero miles was offered for just $72,000 in the now-defunct Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car in 2008. Admittedly, not a convertible, but still. There are signs that the Porsche market is cooling, but it’s still hot to the touch. This car may need a complete, sympathetic restoration, but that doesn’t stop the vendor from asking nearly $150,000 for this example, which according to the documentation was sold new in San Antonio, Texas in October of 1960. Information is fairly light, but the numbers match, and the car is in its original color combination of silver paint with red interior. Both the paint and the interior were redone at some point in the car’s life. The floors are said to be solid, which is a big consideration with the 356. With the perky 1.6-liter engine (first seen in the 356A), this car should be a delight to drive.

The car has had only one owner since 1966, and this is its first foray onto the market since then. From what we can see, it was very sympathetically stored. The exterior looks very good, with the exception of what looks like a discolored (it could just be dusty) rear window in the largely intact convertible top. The car’s red interior appears to be vinyl. The carpets and door panels look like they’ll respond to a good cleaning, though some hardware is missing.

The 1600-cc engine is right where it’s supposed to be, and looks complete and well preserved. This will be an easy restoration and will result in a really fun car for show or go. One hopes that the new owner won’t let it sleep for decades, but will get it back on the road where it belongs.  The big question for the prospective buyer is the car’s mechanical condition. It won’t be known until after the very big check is written. Are you willing to take a chance? Feeling lucky?