Evan D. found yet another rusty Porsche 356. This one is listed here on craigslist for, well, crazy money. They are asking $23,950 to be exact. This one, at least, is in one piece. With any running examples over $100,000 and really nice ones twice that, perhaps the price could almost seem reasonable. It’s in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sadly, it’s the nicest one I’ve written up lately. The engine is included but dissasembled. There are lots of extra parts included. Thanks to Evan for this interesting find.
From this view, you can almost imagine driving it, maybe even imagine what it sounded and felt like.
Every other view, though has rusty holes visible. With this much rust that you can see, it’s hard to imagine how much rust is hidden. The body panels are available, but they are expensive. An aftermarket nose, for example is $3,500. It will take someone with the means to properly restore this one and they will need to complete it before the Porsche bubble bursts. So, can you imagine what it must have been like to drive this Porsche when it was still nice?
Ad says, “rust in all the usual places…” including more than a few in unusual places.
Duct tape will cover up those holes.
Great candidate for a Outlaw or patina build. Price actually seems reasonable. Stick a built VW motor in there while you rebuild the 356 motor and drive the wheels off!
You gents need to pay attention to Beverly Hills Car Club. They have been known to get unfortunate fixer-uppers there.
You have not been here ;long to follow the “BHCC’ history on this site ?
Seller is a straight shooter and all around great guy.
It’s a seller’s market, that’s the reality.
Will the stream of old, busted, rusty 356s and 911s ever end? They made a lot of them—-for cars that are collectible and valuable—-but the supply isn’t unlimited.
What I’m trying to figure out is what will end first: the vintage Porsche bubble, or the supply of old, busted, rusty cars.
That’s where they all went.
When I lived in Germany for a few months in the eighties I always wondered what happened to these thousands of 356 and 911/2 Porsches.
They were desirable enough for people to fix them, but not many were around.
That’s because they trickled over to the US when the dollar was $1 to 4 German Marks (2 German Marks was 1 Euro). The buying power was too big for Germans to keep the cars.
So now, some 30 years, later the trend has reversed.
As slow as they trickle out of barns and garages all over the US they get gobbled up by Germans (or 2, 3, 4 or 5 middlemen/flippers) and are going back there (or even other places (France, etc). Eventually the trickle will slow down and only the worst will be left behind. Kind of what we are seeing now……
Well I can’t argue with these old 356s going back. That’s where they came from, after all, but when I was driving over there I never saw one. In fact, I never saw a 911 that was more than a few years old. Maybe newer generations of car fans over there should have the chance to see the old, significant cars that have become famous and desirable.
They become investor quality garage queens.
They only see nice sunny summer days and linger in heated garages or warehouses.
You will NOT see too many driving around……
The ’62 and ’63 is one of my favs, yes, I know I’m odd man out. But this one…….not so much.
Even though they make repro. Panals for these rust buckets. The the skill and labour time to install them is Hugh. I would not be surprised that four to six hundred hours to fab in the new metal. That would not have the interior redone, or any mechanical work done. It continues to amaze me how much money is going into these glorified VW Beatles. Once done there not even that great of a car, there not that fast and they don’t handle that well either I really don’t get the attraction.
Several SCCA Champions drove these and they are still raced in vintage classes.
They handle just fine. With an aggressive setup they are even better and will show the taillights on the right road where horsepower isn’t going to win the race.
It is not a cheap car to get into but they are quite an experience and the craftsmanship is a tribute to a bygone era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbFu1r_erw0
The difficulty is NOT in finding another rusty 356, but finding one that’s NOT.
like buying Apple during it’s IPO,
for christmas I gave myself a rust free ’08 997,
I can wait!
A good argument for going with a replica p car.