Are we looking at a potentially very good deal here? This is a 1962 Porsche 356 in claimed project-grade condition, but it certainly looks like it’s very close to being a road-going driver given the way it’s presented here. The seller seems to be one of those rare owners who actually tries to undersell the car a bit, and the price is excellent for a 356 without major rust and wearing a very desirable color. The 356 is listed here on eBay for $49,500 or best offer and comes with new floors, a running engine, and original Champagne Yellow paint.
We’re so accustomed to seeing 356s offered at eye-watering prices – even in project form – that this car seems somewhat too good to be true. I am honestly trying to see what I’m missing, as it even comes with the added bonus of the rare headrest option on the bucket seats. It’s hard to say whether the paint itself is original or just the color is, but the painted dash confirms it as being a factory Champagne Yellow example. While there’s some trim missing and the occasional blemish, this 356 seems to present incredibly well in the photos. Do you see any major red flags?
The steering wheel is original to the car, and you can see the dash color correlates with the exterior. The black seats and door panels are a nice match for the yellow paint. In addition to new floors, the seller also mentions that the brakes have been gone through and sorted out. Although the engine is running, the seller advises not to drive it, which is prudent for any project. The other photos of the interior show a decent headliner and back seat and the aforementioned brand new floors. The 356 really does look like a nearly-finished project, at least if you’re building to driver-quality standards.
In fact, the seller proposes that this car would make for a good outlaw build, and while I am generally all about having more cars not end up as pristine specimens that are used solely to sit on the lawn at a country club, the color of this 356 makes it far more compelling to me as a total restoration candidate. This is a very pretty shade of factory paint, and I personally would love to see the interior brought back to Concours specs with the body cleaned up where necessary. For the asking price or a lower offer, you’d also have some room in the budget to do it right and not lose your shirt. Which path would you take?
I would take this 356B and sort it to the next level, it’s too close to being a nice driver example.
Take a rough 356 to run the Outlaw route, IMHO.
I think this one could be a tasty deal…..
👍🤓
Agree . This car is solid and a good runner. The original paint got less original with the off color on the driver’s door but a good shop could properly repaint it or blend it into the front and rear fenders. Good ones are hard to find any more as I personally know of several that went away for all sorts of reasons. Saved as many as I could but just couldn’t keep up.
Picture’s not real good but it looks like this car has a Z Bar on the rear suspension that solves the decamber problem famous with swing axle cars.
How can 50K be considered a bargain price? Half of that will buy you a better car in the form of a replica. I miss these being a two grand used car. Once considered buying one myself, but decided our daughter needed braces instead. Today she has a beautiful smile (just like her mothers) (being from England, my smile is not quite as nice. Oh, the teeth are all still there, thank you very much, but crookeder then I like to show the world. I don’t show my teeth when I smile. Has a more homesy appeal to it)
Not sure this is Champagne Yellow? It may have started out that way on 1962,
but a repaint in the past 60 years made it more yellow…not unattractive,
just sayin’
Sill not a fan. Humpbacked styling, park and tail lights plucked from the Bosch parts bin. Rant over, the yellow suits it, and it’s a change to see a decent 356 here, rather than some tetanus infested looks-like-deck-cargo-on a submarine POS.
The park and taillights did come from the Bosch parts bin, the one that held the lights that were exclusive to the 356s only. No other cars with the same lights. Agree it’s nice to see one that didn’t look like it was fresh from Ukraine.
Definitely not champagne yellow on it now. And it’s not original paint — look at the overspray on the jackpoint.
And the paint has the orange-peel look of a poorly executed paint job
The Nardi is not a factory fitted steering wheel. Agree that it’s not original paint color – I feel like I see Ivory on the dash edges. Looks solid but given the work left to do I’m not sure I’d call it a bargain at $50K. Not for a T6B. Worth a look in person if you’re seeking a 356 at a reasonable price. i.e., under $100k.