Face Off: Project Porsches

Porsche Face Off

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We are all well aware of the epic spike in prices for early Porches, as has been well documented here. What we’re now beginning to see are 911’s and 356’s coming out of the woodwork in every configuration and condition, an epidemic of sellers looking to cash in on the fast rise in values and devil-may-care attitude of buyers who believe they’re ahead of the inevitable bubble. While it’s not how I’d spend my money, it sure does make for some interesting finds showing up on eBay, like the subjects of this week’s Face Off: a 1971 911E here on eBay with bidding over $10K and the reserve unmet, and a 1962 356 B here on eBay  for $22,700. Let the battle begin!

Porsche 356356b

From a staging perspective, I already like the 356 better. I don’t know where it’s squirreled away at the moment, but it looks like a very fun showroom. This particular 356 does not have the cherished Certificate of Authenticity, so you’re buying a bit of an unknown entity with this example. Coming from an estate sale means the current seller bought a project the heirs didn’t want to bother with (or had no idea what 356s were pulling on the market these days), or perhaps they saw the motor sitting in boxes and felt like it was too much of a project. I can’t tell quite how bad the rust is based on the photos, as it looks like some work was already started – but no matter what was done, there’s a long road ahead of the next owner.

Porsche 911911c

By comparison, the 911E in Alabama looks like it has sat for about the same period of time as the 356, with a heavily weathered interior and rust blistering through the paint in multiple spots. I will say this: this seller has also advertised the car in an intriguing environment, with plenty of other projects in the background I’d gladly waste a few dollars on. The original color of this 911 was Albert Blue and I agree with the listing description that it deserves to be repainted in that stunning shade. Same family ownership for 30 years is nice to see, but geez – how many of those 30 years did it sit forlornly outside? Still, it doesn’t appear to have been modified or mercilessly beaten on, but I’m sure we’ll all still be amazed at how much this project Porsche will go for.

Porsche 356 and 911

While this week’s Face Off pits two familiar candidates against each other, it’s a worthwhile discussion considering the selling price for either car will be higher than they’ve likely been in the past. But when the bubble blows up, which one will you wish you invested in? Does the 356 have a better shot at maintaining its value than the early 911s? Let us know in the comments below.

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Comments

  1. Mark E

    I know which one I’d get…if I was looking at late’80s-early ’90s prices, that is… >_<

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  2. DolphinMember

    Ouch…and ouch. Too much metalwork in both for me.

    The ’71 sets a new record for me. I haven’t seen rust perforation on a roof before where the car is mostly intact and hasn’t already mostly crumbled into a pile of red flakes. Maybe the metal guys on here can say how hard it would be to fabricate a replacement roof. I’m guessing it would be real hard to get it to look perfect. OTOH maybe the factory makes replacement panels.

    Me? I’d take the multi-tens of thousands it would take to buy either of these and buy myself a few fun drivers that I could chose from on any given day.

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  3. 1977ChevyTruck

    I’d probably go for the 356. Why? Well, to me the 356 conveys more a “gentlemen motorist” image, while I see the 911 as the car of a “rich a-hole”.

    Just my opinion, don’t mean to insult anyone, but that is what those models seem like to me.

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  4. alan

    Really now, what can percentage of that 911 can really be saved?

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  5. Doug M. (West)Member

    Tough choice if you had to do one of these two. I agree with Dolphin that I have never seen a roof just plain rust clear through prior to the whole car dropping into a pile! That is strange. On the 356 (probably my choice) I would think the estate-sale-buyer-flipper could at least remove the $17,700 price out of the window before he lists it on Ebay for $22,700!! …but maybe that’s just me?

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  6. Horse Radish

    Cheeper’s creepers.
    That poor 911 made tingles run down my back.

    WHY NOT to own a Porsche of those years in a humid environment, or why they were all gone after a decade………….

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  7. jim s

    i too am going to go with neither. to much rust/money.

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  8. kelvin

    you guys need to wake up, I just restored a 1970 911E and sold it for over 90K, this 911E is actually very solid, the 911E is a high speed refined grand tourer, those roof holes (probably from a wet car cover on it) can easily be patched by a good metalworker, the Europeans realize these are artworks and Americans are letting them go back overseas because they are to naive to pay there true value!

    Like 0
  9. Antony Mann

    Im a 356 new owner…already sold in bad condition in Europa..))
    lot of people looking for 356…the market value always to growe..

    Like 0

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