By any measure, Porsche 356s are iconic cars. Their evolution, from the first roadsters in 1948 to their eventual replacement by the 911 in 1965, spanned seventeen years of continual refinement. As Porsche is known for being a company that constantly improves their models rather than replace them every couple of years, later 356s are highly sought after by collectors. So much so that rough examples trade for tens of thousands of dollars. Take for example this 1964 Porsche 356C being sold on eBay out of Laguna Hills, California. Even though its coarse appearance would strike fear in the heart of a professional restorer, this example is currently bid to $24,500 with the reserve still not being met. Is the juice worth the squeeze here?
One of the most enduring traits of “true Porsches” is that of the engine being in the rear. Another is the strict dedication to light weight. These traits started with the 356, but I don’t believe they were initially intentional. After the war, Porsche had a hard time getting started. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had designed the Volkswagen “People’s Car” and other less peaceful methods of transportation. After spending some time as a guest of the French authorities as a reward for this work, Porsche and his company were able to slowly start production on what would be known as the 356. A number of the parts and the overall layout of the car drew heavily from the People’s Car, which was in production at the time. Porsche’s previous racing designs were usually complicated and fairly heavy. The 356 was quite a contrast.
You could argue that the 356 was limited by the parts bin, and you would probably be right. However, Porsche made the best of what was available. Porsches began to score racing victories against much more powerful cars with chassis designs that were thought to be superior. Porsche drivers managed to find a way to make the unbalanced weight distribution of the cars work to their favor. Thus, the compromises that were made to bring the 356 to life became the Porsche way. To this day, Porsche still produces a rear engine 911 that is a challenge to drive to all that don’t know the Porsche way. To these drivers, everything is as it should be.
So, you can see why many revere these cars. In a world of brutish horsepower, these little giant killers stood out. This car, being one of the later 356s built, was heavily used until parked in the late 1970s for a repaint that never happened. Judging from the condition, this was a car that was driven hard. Damage to its delicate bodywork in the front and in various smaller sections of the body will be challenging to repair. Add to that the patches of rust shown in the photos, and the costs just keep adding up. Porsche 356s rust like it is a full time job. Given the initial cost of investment and the value that properly restored cars have, there would be no choice but to strip this car down to a bare metal shell and ruthlessly eliminate every speck of rust and heavily coat every surface and orifice with rust preventing primer.
Inside, we see an interior that is in fairly good shape. The leather seats appear to have held up well considering the heavy use they must have endured. Surprisingly the carpet still retains much of its color, providing a clue that this car spent most of its life protected from harmful sunlight. The dash looks to be in good shape as well. The only obvious faults are in the condition of the steering wheel and its center section. One can hope that the box of spare parts might contain the part needed. At least we know where the bumpers are!
Under the hood is an air cooled four cylinder engine that the seller tells us turns free. An additional benefit is that the engine number is correct for this car. Finding a 356 with matching numbers is a challenge, and this will only enhance the car’s value. Displacing just 1600 cubic centimeters of displacement, or 96.5 cubic inches for those of us who speak American, this engine was rate at just 88 horsepower. While puny in comparison to what Corvettes were producing at the time, these cars weighed around 2,200 pounds. At any rate, a quick look in the engine bay reveals an engine that has all of its shrouding and vital components still intact.
Any prospective buyer will have to ask if the purchase price and the restoration costs will be worth it in the end. These are not cheap cars to restore, and the work will not be easy. Doing your own work will lessen the attack on your wallet. Buying simple parts like door gaskets and windshield rubber will drive you to subsisting on peanut butter sandwiches. An engine rebuild will have you selling plasma with such regularity that the staff will just give you a key to the place. Despite all of this, 356 owners and those lucky enough to have driven them praise these cars for being true driver’s cars. Despite the costs and compromises in design, there must be a reason why they bring so much money and have such a rabid following.
Am I losing my mind, or does this one appear salvageable? Not that it will fit my wallet anyhow.
If for some silly reason you just got to have one of these, do yourself a favor, buy a nice metal replica and laugh all the way to the bank. I have never, nor will I ever believe that the driving experience here is worth 100K. Despite what people tell you, somewhere in the back of that brain, they see a potential profit plus some fun. Dream on, the Baby Boomers are soon dust and no one will want this, people will just laugh, and there are not enough obscenely wealthy dudes to make up the difference to buy for bragging rights.
Well said.
We baby boomers tend to look at the past thru rose-colored glasses at times. Human nature I guess but the “I caught a fish this big”-like memories of the performance of some of these cars from years gone by are inflated at best.
“I got a chuckle out of the “giant killer” reference. Yes, when matched up against a Dynamic 88.
You can spend $100k on these puddle jumpers or buy an old Beetle, tweak it and get the same results.
Would love to see one of these restored to factory spec go up against a used Kia Forte…..
@Mark, You are so right. The mystic here is less about driving and more about showing off your wallet. Problem now is that the pretty girls you wanted to attract now look more like all of us these days, not so good. Now any alluring young lady is not going to have even the foggiest idea what it is and in fact if she even has a hint prob thinks it is a bug. At our advanced ages ( I am talking to you Boomers) is it not time to grow up a little? Of course we are all allowed to spend our cash as we see fit, and spending it on a fuzzy rose colored memory is fine, but how much is reasonable to remember your youth? Maybe it is because my youth wasn’t one where I hung around the Yacht or country club spending daddy’s money, so I don’t understand. Foolish me.
Spent years restoring these cars. That metal in the bent nose, if not rusty, is pretty stout stuff. Have smoothed out worse but it takes time and effort. Lot of work ahead for this one.
You and me both, Bob. Methinks this one’s going to have some serious structural rust issues, which I wouldn’t want to tackle, considering the price of admission, to start with.
Don’t forget, you can always sell a kidney to help offset the cost.
What’s a good kidney worth nowadays anyway?
Less than this Porsche!
Put a Cummings in it & call it done.
(Pretty sure that’s what the original intent of the “C” designation was anyway, right?)
Do you mean E.E. Cummings the poet /writer? Or Cummins, the diesel engine brand? Either way, that would be silly…….
I love the fact that you list a lot of 356’s. But I wonder why you post them..as it doesn’t seem to fit the profile of most people who visit Barn Finds. They always knock them, call them junk or glorified beetles..
Nice… another Porsche for sale 😜
I suggest someone bid a minimum of 65k for this Georgus specimen as most will buff right out 🙃
Man I wish I would went and scoured junkyards and ditches in the early 80s to sell these beauties today 💰💰💰💰
I can’t wait to see the next one show
up from the ocean or a pond to see what the market will bear 🐻👀👍
At the prices they get for these, the only part of “a true drivers car” is driving it on to a trailer, and driving it into a hermetically sealed garage. What speed. What handling. Listen to that idling motor. Don’t forget your driving gloves.
It is a pre-bubble Porsche seeking a high bubble in a post bubble reality.
the fun came in ’84/9 w/6 cyl up frnt!
these got nice swoopy lines tho
Run Forest run, run away fast, fast as you can!!!
IMO Porsche’s’ are ugly ducklings.
Being an F.I. Chevy guy and a max wedge fanatic, we always considered these to be fancy Beetles. I never got over it. I realize they are hotter than a pepper sprout today, but I still don’t want one.
Like the Kennedy’s, this car will bottom out as soon as all the Boomers are gone.
Fell in love with these “bathtub” Porsche’s growing up in 1950’s Watkins Glen. In 1975 I bought a 1965 C, but tried to use it as a daily driver. Big mistake. They are fun to drive, but utterly devoid of creature comforts. Driving home one day with my left arm out the window scraping ice off the windshield I was struck by an epiphany – time to sell it and join the 20th century! Still love the 356 – but I’m happy to admire someone else’s while I drive my new 718!
This car will be bid up high! These cars easily go for 6 digits when done, and this car deserves to be done up by someone who appreciates the history of the car! We are talking full no expense spared brought back to life restore!
356 and I are the same age. I love the 356 but it is overpriced, considering its condition.
Ended: Jul 09, 2018 , 11:06AM
Current bid:US $25,900.00
Reserve not met
[ 41 bids ]