Over the years, I’ve gotten quite accustomed to searching through the Australian eBay pages looking for parts for my vintage Toyota HiAce project. As I’ve had to make some serious coordination happen as it relates to shipping items from one depot to the next, I’ve also learned Australia is a huge country, and it’s surprising to me we don’t see more barn finds pop up there like this recently discovered 1960 Porsche 356 here on Shannons.com website. This example has been laid up for some time and was optioned with the desirable Super 90 engine when new. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Joel S. for the find.
This particular car has been in Australia since new, optioned with the more powerful Super 90 engine when new, along with a green tinted windshield and little else. The current owner’s father purchased the 356 over 40 years ago from the first owner, and as often happens, plans to rebuild the car never materialized. While it was in its disassembled state, the transmission was stolen, but thankfully the thieves left the engine. The 356 was then relocated to the garage it was discovered in, where it had sat since the mid 1970s. Ironically, it was a gearbox problem that led to it being parked, so the thieves presumably grabbed a paperweight.
The original color combination featured Slate Gray paint over red leatherette upholstery – which looks surprisingly nice. Photos are limited of the front buckets, but they appear to be well-preserved, too. The paint is not original, as it was re-painted in silver at some point, and there is some evidence of rust in the front wheel. However, rust is far from extensive, and Australia doesn’t tend to be particularly cruel to vehicles as it relates to vintage sheetmetal falling victim to corrosion. The backseat looks like it was hardly used.
Vintage registration stickers paint the picture of a 356 that was used regularly for sometime, but never came close to leaving its home near the Queensland border. The engine is currently removed from the car, and was never rebuilt after it was originally pulled along with the transmission. That Super 90 mill is a desirable engine, so hopefully it can be carefully rebuilt to retain as many original parts as possible while leaving the scruffy exterior of the car as-is. The seller says the car is likely one of the only un-restored 356s in all of Australia, a likely claim given how rarely they pop up from the land down under.
The top picture makes me conflicted. Sheer excitement of seeing a 356 in there and then wondering what poisonous reptile/insect/plant is lurking inside this Australian barn.
A very wise cautionary move. I have been to Australia several times. On my first visit years ago, I just about left soon after I arrived. I was told by a local that every spider,ant, snake, insect, a few plants and several animals are poisonous. But if you are careful, you should be OK, Besides, the country, the folks and the good local beers make up for it all. Oz Land, nothing else like it !!
Yeah, we have highly trained ‘nasties and Aussie critters” waiting at the International Airports to jump on and poison any Yankee silly enough to come to our shores.
Mates, I’m a 74 year old Aussie and I have never been bitten by anything bigger than an ant. I have travelled the length and breadth of Australia many times over.
The serious critter you have to look for here is the drop bear. He drops out of tall trees onto your head and sucks your brains out. Nasty critter!!
You have been warned!!
I’m pretty sure I ran into aforementioned bear just prior to buying that xjs that emptied my wallet
Yeah Fossil, and don’t forget to tell them they need to bring a saddle so they can ride a kangaroo to the local store down the track to pick up the groceries like the missus does each week, provided the flood stops or the temperature gets below 125 degrees in the shade, that is. In flood season there could be a problem with the crocs, you gotta be careful then if you’re near water the mongrels have been known to take a leg or two off !
Lmao. I saw an episode of American choppers where they visited Australia and the locals had them convinced they were real.
‘ripe for restoration’…
Super 90 with a black fan shroud?
Amendment: Please note Porsche Australia have confirmed the engine is the original number for the car but is a Type 616/1 1600 unit, not a Super 90 motor as stated in the catalogue.
Is that a steering wheel on the right hand side?
Yes, the steering wheel is on the correct side!
Yeah Jack and we drive on the left side of the road as well, come on all you ‘girls’ surely you can get used to driving on the right of a car can’t you, I drive my LHD ’62 Imperial on our roads all the time and there’s nothing to it, it’s all in the mind. It’s amazing how close you can get to those white marker posts on the side of the highway without hitting them!
How much do you want for it and is it right hand drive or a left driver ?
Car’s right hand drive. Go to Shannons and look at the lower right picture. Barn picture’s worth hanging on a wall.