These are the stories that make you smile and wince at the same time, as seeing a longtime owner part with a treasured car is always an emotional experience. Of course, then we have sellers who repeatedly refer to the caretaker as an “old man” – surely, he’s going to see the listing – which leaves a pretty lousy taste in your mouth, knowing full well the previous owner likely didn’t receive a fair price. At the end of the day, that’s the individual who did an admirable job preserving this rare 1959 Porsche 356 Convertible “D” roadster for the long term, apparently sinking $100,000 into its upkeep over his 40 years of ownership. Find it here on eBay with bidding up to $120,100 and no reserve.
“Got too old” is one of the more insulting things you can say to someone, particularly a car enthusiast who clearly knows a thing or two about significant vehicle preservation. Yet that’s how this seller describes the course of events leading to the Porsche’s long-term slumber. I just hope that people who throw around careless phrases like that someday have to see their collection broken off, piece by piece, with someone half their age saying, “Gee, it’s a shame you got too old.” Anyhow, the Convertible D is a rare bird, and certainly deserving of the $100,000 in maintenance the previous owner claimed to have spent. Fewer than 1,500 were made, and it’s considered the spiritual successor to the Speedster.
With Speedster sales waning, Porsche knew it had to build a model to satisfy the weekend racer crowd while also improving the basic Speedster formula. Revised windshields and rear glass; actual side roll-up windows; vinyl tonneau cover; door pockets; coupe-style seats with extra padding compared to Speedster seats; and the option of a 1600 Super engine or 1600 “Normal”, with a mere two ordered with the four-cam Carrera engine. When you take all these changes into consideration, it’s clear Porsche wanted to build a Speedster-like car with some additional creature comforts to bring more owners into the fold.
What’s ironic about all of this is how much complaining many of us do about what Porsche has “become” in terms of the size and the weight of its cars. I still believe the company is a long way from home at the moment, but it’s also a bit of history repeating itself considering what the Convertible D must have appeared to be compared to the original Speedster when viewed by the hardcore enthusiasts of the day. While it’s sad to see the rare convertible leave the garage of an owner who clearly cherished it, hopefully it will go to a new caretaker who will pass it on to a next-generation enthusiast instead of ending up in the hand’s of the neighborhood eBay flipper.
Every car in a garage is NOT a “garage find”.
It’s apparent the seller has absolutely no concept of how to use proper syntax and punctuation. His description of the car is a massacre of the English language. It is a very nice car, though.
He never used a period which makes for irritating reading. Yuck
We’re so happy for your intelligent criticism 🙉
He also does not understand dangling modifiers
😂
So basically the ad says this ‘I’m a creep and a self-imposed middleman. I ripped this car off from the old guy in the pictures and now I’m looking to make my nut for the year off of somebody with more money than sense.”
Ugh.
Agree 100% with Jim, plus they use a picture of the previous owner wearing what looks like his PJ’s as his lead photo. When I first saw this post thought it was the older gent selling his pride and joy, not so. I guess flippers bring cars to the market that many of us would not have had a chance at, but still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
For the price I’d make sure I completed a personal inspection and that the seller was the registered owner.
Like it or not, this seller has a knack for finding good cars. This is the 3rd time in the last two months one of the cars he’s selling has been featured on this site.
Steve R
So, you all know for sure the reseller ripped off the old guy? Where is your proof? The old dude might be selling her on commission, ever think of that? Not every private auto sale involves a grifter and a sucker, only most. I myself think that any man who looks that good and confident of his masculinity in those pajamas must be smart.
Well for one thing , he says he “purchased it from the old man” , so there’s that.
I’d bet the seller was told a great story about how the buyer always wanted one of these cars and will treasure it forever, and as soon as the deal was made he trucked it to a repair place , and put for sale signs on it. Showing a picture of the smiling owners the ad leads me to believe the seller is a huckster . He could easily have written that it was a 2 owner car sold only because owner couldn’t drive anymore , but he had to include a picture of the poor guy .
Well, it could have been worse. “10k original miles, no low-ballers, I know what I have”. Sheesh. A gutter snipe selling a car as nice as this.
If it was a California car it’s whole life why the new license plate?
If a car sits long enough for it to drop out of the DMV’s computer system they automatically issue it new license plates when it’s re-registered. There are ways to get the old plates re-issued, however, you need to be persistent and jump through their hoops, plus find a DMV employee willing to help. Based on the sellers story, he should be able to provide the cars history upon request, if not, that’s a good reason to walk away.
Steve R
Maybe gramps can finally afford some new jammies now. Better yet a robe for when he goes out to the garage….
Can account for two of the 1,500 Convertible D’s made. In the ’70s we rescued a rust bucket on it’s way to the scrap yard and in the mid eighties found a rust free but severely wrecked stripped shell. Built he ’70s car into an SCCA race car and used the wreck to replace panels on the ’60 Roadster race car we rescued and restored. Before you get too excited, the wrecked car had the left front spindle pushed up to just behind the tachometer. There wasn’t a straight panel on it. Also used it to restore a ’57 Speedster so it had a life after death so to speak.
Wouldn’t it be great if BF took a stand against unlicensed dealers (aka flippers) and DIDN’T promote their ads here on this site?
You know, instead of simply wringing their hands about the sleaziness of these guys.
Flippers provide value-add to the car hobby. They’re simply takers.
Wow, that’s the most biased un-true statement of the year…not all flippers are slim raised jerks with no morals ya know. And if you took a stand against unlicensed people listed on here , your content would drop 95%, so before you bash all flippers, think about who’s out there finding all those barn finds first!
Defending flippers… isn’t that simply precious.
I’m with you, RX-7.
It’s called free enterprise with all that it entails. Buyer beware and if it doesn’t sound right to you, you are free to pass and move onto something else.
Without “flippers”, who are out there beating the bushes and looking for these hidden gems, we would never get to appreciate them.
As far as Barn Finds goes, most of us enjoy the variety of postings here. If you want strictly “Barn Finds” and “No Flipper Content”, you are invited to start your own website.
I spent a good many years in the antiques business where, as a dealer, I stayed in business by buying an item as low as I could and selling for a profit. So every item I bought I “flipped.” That is how I made a good living. I get a little annoyed when comments are made deriding “flippers.” There isn’t one of these commentators here who, if they were to find a classic and bought it dirt cheap, wouldn’t sell it for as much as they could. It seems most of the comments posted against flippers are from guys who are just annoyed they can’t find a classic car for peanuts and sell it for a huge profit.
This is an extremely offensive ad. It is basically using the previous owner’s age and disability to promote the car. I have owned a matching Porsche Convertible D over the past 45 years (bought when I was 16). I would be horrified to finally let go of my pride and joy only to find that my image was being used in an ebay ad to line the pockets of a flipper! Sad, just sad…
As a “geezer” who has been around a long time, it is the free market at work.
Have a great day.
There is a right and a wrong way to do things and I agree this is the wrong way! Although none of us know what the flipper paid for the car if the older fellow was happy who cares it was his car to sell or not sell. We will all be faced with this in some form in our lives and my goal is just to handle it as gracefully as possible! For me I have one car that I drive in the summer it will go over 200 MPH and is a blast. My true love is military trucks and I have a warehouse full it will hurt much more to sell them but time changes many things. Let’s wish the older fellow well and hope that we are all in the same position some day, it could be worse!
Only thing the breathless seller in all his dictatorial exuberance, minus punctuation; left out was whether or not his, Blue Suede Shoes were included in the sale. He’s a big thanks, but no thanks! By the way, his nickname is,
“Flipper”.
“Up for sale for the very first time is this beautiful 356 cabriolet ”
The way I count, it’s the 4th time!
Can’t we all just get along?
I am also an “Old Guy”, and have papers to prove it. If I sell something at a mutually acceptable price I get the cash, and am free from the responsibilities and expenses related to what I sold. The new owner assumes those- as well as the potential for enjoyment, profit- or loss. It’s called Capitalism, and it works surprisingly well.
If you don’t like the seller because: 1) He makes a profit. 2) He uses improper punctuation. 3) He called an elderly person old. You have the option of not buying it. My experience is that once I bring my new found purchase home the sellers imperfections are not a problem. I hope that the chronologically advanced seller (AKA: Old Guy) got a good price and can enjoy the proceeds in his long and pleasant retirement. / The seller makes a profit for his efforts. / The new owner enjoys and cherishes their new acquisition. Cue patriotic music: 🎶🇺🇸🎶
Finally someone tell it like it is
I could not have said it better myself Binky! I am in total agreement!
Agree 100% with Jim, plus they use a picture of the previous owner wearing what looks like his PJ’s as his lead photo. When I first saw this post thought it was the older gent selling his pride and joy, not so. I guess flippers bring cars to the market that many of us would not have had a chance at, but still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
His eBay username, “WhatWouldJesusDo” (WWJD702). So maybe the seller is honest and legitimate.
Jesus would own a Demon.
Item location:
Henderson, Nevada
The first owner could have benefitted from the advice of someone very experienced dealing with classic cars like this one. Wayne Carinie ( misspelled ) I watch his show Chasing Classic Cars and he appears to be very knowledgeable in this field.
Hey guys I have a question. I bought a 1950 B2 Power Wagon I paid for it with the intention of reselling the truck. I did a complete tear down to the frame and rebuilt every component of this truck to way better than brand new, the body is being professionally redone including the interior. I have at least a couple hundred hours of labor into it and tens of thousands of dollars in hard costs. The truck will likely end up on Mecum or possibly Barret Jackson when done! Does THIS make ME a flipper?
Nope ! you bought a vehicle for a low price and you put a lot of money in it to restore it and then selling it. You didn’t buy it and post it on Facebook marketplace with pictures of it on your trailer before it leaves the sellers yard , and include a picture of the seller to prove a point .
Give the elder gentleman a break! If you didn’t notice he is in a Walker and his wife is dressed. It is probably a task just to get dressed to go out to the garage and take a photo. The gentleman probably stays in his pjs all day to stay comfortable as he is confined. The car probably sold so he or his wife wouldn’t have the hassle to go with the process. Let’s think things thru before you spout off.
Its not the older gentleman people are talking about , its the fact that a lot of flippers include a picture of an older person (which may or not be the cars owner) when they list an car for sale , I guess to prove to a prospective buyer that the car was owned by an old person . Whether its true or not, the flipper comes off looking like a huckster who conned an old person and is looking to con another buyer
I agree Grey Wolf. I broke my neck last November, still in a wheel chair. You nailed the PJ comment. I have 3 manual vehicles in the garage I might never be able to drive again. Back to the car, SMOKING HOT! If only it was an automatic, Lol. Take care, Mike.
Sorry to hear about your neck, Mike.
I hope you have a full recovery.
Thanks Dennis!
I wish I lived closer to you Mike.
I would be happy to make sure that the legs of all of your cars have been regularly and properly stretched!
You I trust Dennis, most of my seedy friends around here, no! LOL, take care, Mike.
The only real Flipper was the Dolphin onTV. And I liked that show
When I see the sloppy over spray on the data plate it makes me wonder about the rest of the work.
I’m a wannabe flipper, but I don’t make much money, I buy too many projects that need fixed before I sell them, and I never get around to it. Holy crap, I have 29 cars! Time for a Barnfinds collection auction.
I asked the seller on eBay if he’d throw in the old couple as part of the deal. He hasn’t replied back.
I’m probably the same age as the “old guy”. I don’t have any clue why there’s so much fuss about a hopped up VW with dodgy brakes. Pay what ya think it’s worth or look for something else.
As an old guy, and a lifelong car guy, I feel the ‘old guy’ probably had a good idea what he had, a reasonable value to him and received around that amount. I’ve bought cars people said I paid too much, sold cars I was told I was asking too much or not enough, through the years. Fact is, 50 years, 100 years 200 years from now,none of this matters. What does is, did you enjoy your life, did you smile, laugh, love? Did people share time with you, did you pass on a thing real when you left? Not objects but love of the joy you can share about cars, planes, boats, etc? If so, you did it right! If I’m lucky enough to get a few more years, a few more of my cars back on the road, if you see a photo of me in my pj’s, smiling sitting by my old Pontiac, a redhead beside me, know I enjoyed every minute!
I remember when these were very common. When I was in college a guy in the same apartment had one. Another had a 911. He would start it and give the cold engine full throttle. He had a box of burned out pistons in his storage space. I asked if I could take one? Still have it sealed in polyurethane as a paper weight. Speedsters were everywhere, and were abut $1500. A friend had a German racing silver 1600 coupe, and unlike the nerdy writer who said the E-Type was the best for collecting crumpets, my friend said it was the Porsche! At one time 356s were just used cars and I see photos of them being driven on salty, snowy roads.
Ended:Apr 15, 2021 , 8:23PM
Winning bid:
US $150,000.00
[ 43 bids ]
A business ethics professor once said it best.
“Stealing from a blind man is still stealing”
Wayne Carini is an ethical dealer and credit to the car business // hobby.
There are many people out there dealing like him. Deal with a gentleman of good character and it will be a win, win deal…
So the owner spent $100,000 on the car? I doubt he let it go for peanuts as he had to know what it was worth. If the flipper gave him $100,000 for it and took his chances, good for him. No way he bought this car for pocket change.
I buy low mileage Town Cars and Marquis from donation places. The people donating them are usually well off children of older folks who either passed or don’t drive. They think of the cars as old junk. I recently sold one on Ebay and stated that I had a POA and the death certificate of the original owner. I did that prove that it was what I claimed it to be. Obviously a $2500 car is different than a $150,000 car but the principle is the same.