“So a priest and a bank teller walk into a bar….” Out of that pairing, who would, you imagine was more likely to own a Porsche 356? Well, in the case of this barn find 1962 Super 90 coupe, the priest should be your answer. Supposedly sold new to a priest in Germany who later emigrated to the U.S., the 356 remains in largely undisturbed condition with desirable colors and the upgraded Super 90 motor. Find it here on Gullwing Motorcars’ website for $56, 500 firm.
Slate Gray with red interior is a very pretty combo, and while I doubt it’s original, the Porsche looks to retain its factory color scheme. Hubcaps and bumpers appear sound, as do all lenses. The seller says the 356 was acquired as part of the company’s European delivery program, which allowed a U.S.-market car to be purchased overseas, enjoyed on fine European backroads, and then shipped back home when the priest was ready to end his overseas travel. It would seem this particular priest didn’t take their vow of poverty seriously.
The interior remains in nicely preserved condition, and I’d wager not much work is needed here in the interest of continued preservation. A professional detailing could bring this cabin back nicely, and while I doubt the floors are free from corrosion, the seller makes no mention of this common 356 troublespot needing attention from the next owner. The three-spoke steering wheel and factory radio are other details we love seeing in preserved specimens like this.
The 356 has the desirable Super 90 motor under the engine lid, but it’s not numbers matching. The seller indicates he has knowledge from the previous owner that the engine now residing in the engine bay was a factory replacement. Those are always the next best option if the original mill is gone, as it may indicate an engineering fault from the factory if they approved full engine replacement as opposed to the motor just finding a new home in something else when a prior owner got bored. So, will the priest’s Porsche fetch a good number?
The Super 90 was the hot ticket 356 back in the early ’60s. I remember people driving them around and me and my car nut friends thinking how lucky—-I mean rich—-they were. IIRC these little furrin’ cars cost between $4 to $5 K new, which was a lot of money back then.
This car almost certainly has a rusty bottom. The rust that you can see on the back end of the car suggests there is more underneath. That and the fact that it spent time in Germany and presumably the northeast US (Gullwing is in Queens, NY) are tipoffs.
I would proceed with great caution here—assuming I was OK with the high asking…
Back in 1963 a new Stingray was much cheaper and by far better in every way, why not buy that then? (and now!) Could it have been that little bug in your ear telling you to display your wealth? As I recall from my younger days, a Vette would attract girls in the neighborhood but a fancy rich mans car would attract knock out girls, the kind most of us only dreamed about. After all, cash is the oldest and most reliable aphrodisiac known to man. To me, that explains 99.
9% of the attraction of a Porsche.
Not to be blasphemous, but how the hell does a priest come up with the money to buy a car – let alone a 356 S90???
Priests can and do receive gifts from family and friends, sometimes parishioners who ‘loan’ things with no intention of having them returned. Some priests are fine with that others would not accept such a gift. It depends on the priest and their order (Basilian, Franciscan, Capuccian, etc).
Like
Order priests (Basilian, Franciscan, Jesuits, etc.) take vows of poverty and have few worldly possessions, other priests do not. Diocesan priests do not have to take vows of poverty, some have family money and some are given gifts as you suggest.
The priest in the small town I grew up in bought a new 1970 Torino Cobra Jet 429. 16-year-old me lusted after that car every time I saw it. Even though I wasn’t Roman Catholic, I probably should have gone to Confession.
Way back when I was an altar boy, our Catholic Priest had a blue Roadrunner and ski boat. No, I never got a ride in the car or the boat.
I read the ad. He’s not specified as a Catholic, only as a “priest”. It’s quite possible (likely, even, given he was a German emigre) that he was a Lutheran priest. No poverty vows there that I’m aware of. Same can be said of Episcopal or Anglican priests; some of them are quite well-off as a matter of fact.
Euromoto, That’s correct. Let’s face it, many churches, large and small, have lots of money, honey. And the Board of Directors take very good care of their priests, pastors, etc. Our church has only about 500 members and our 3 pastors live quite nicely and drive very nice cars. But, back to the Porsche, nice car. But, even though it has sold, I don’t think it is worth that kind of money .
Most of the time expensive cars are gifts from family. I remember a priest in our parish driving a brand new Chevy Impala convertible that he explained that way…While him and his priest buddies piled in the conv. and went golfing the nuns whyo taught us were locked up like prisoners.
It might not be a US market car. The corduroy seat inserts and the rear reflectors under the bumper, instead above the taillights, if original, would make it a Euro car. The heater would also be different, a look underneath the car would tell me.
It’s hard to tell if the wheels are 4.5 or 5.5 x 15. The later ones would be aftermarket.
It’s definitely a beautiful and somewhat rare color combo, but the price seems a bit optimistic, needing restoration.
I know things have changed, but I sold my number matching black on red 1963 S90 in 2012 for $33.5 after owning it for 25 years.
I paid $1800 for my first one, a ’58 Normal, and I thought I had paid too much, but the fresh set of Michelins & Koni shocks sold me.
OK, so the priest is definitely Sicilian (?)
For the love of god this lil devil looks very nice and of course the flipper probably “ Lucifered” it from the original owner and will need some acts of contrition and donate half his profit to the church ….🙃💰
😳
I bet the padre kicked butt back in the day with this
super 90 burning up the streets!
We’ve seen far worse. By comparison, this 356 is in decent unrestored shape for it’s age. Replacement motor is likely due to the first one worn out. Some photos of it washed and in the sunshine would be appreciated as well as some photos of underneath the car. Rare, in the day, for someone to step up to the price of a Super 90. BTW, it is wearing the European two-color, orange/red tail lights.
A great car!
A great post! Thank you!
A Priest and a Rabbi are walking down the street, well, you know the rest.
One our local priests actually drove a Barris built, chopped ’51 Chevy custom. It was Father Larry Ernst (google him to see the car). One of the most famous and well know Barris customs.
Great post and I thank you. There is a never ending romance with Porsches and reflected in the price. I’m probably crazy enough to do this. I would send the car to Porsche Classiche, the factory restorers in Germany and end up with a jewel.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s…Torino Cobra Jet 429”. I’m sure that is one of the lost commandments. ;-P
Prolly a US Army preist.
Took my vow of poverty the second I got home from Vietnam and bought a 65 Corvette coupe. I vowed to always remember the only thing worse then to die was to die with money in your pocket……………..I’ve had 4 Porsches in the last 30 years but my blood runs Red, White and Blue for America’s car from 67 on back……Incidentally, the 65 was mint and really cleaned out the cookie jar for $1,950 to buy it in 69…………..
There was a country song a few years ago, sung by David Ball, about a soldier in Vietnam who bought his new Corvette BEFORE going to the front lines. Very sad storyline, and if I’m not mistaken, a true story. I am acquainted with the songwriter.
I would have bet on the banker! Priests take vows of poverty. In 1965, you could get a car thru Auto Europe. They would arrange for a license, and drive the car to Rotterdam. About 200 Miles. Thus, it was a used car, and customs duty was low. I bought a ‘66 912 that way for $4200. Cost about $500 to ship to port of Los Angeles.
I guarantee more preachers have private jets than bank tellers do. Jesse Duplanits has 4.
SOLD! Wow, that didn’t take long. Porsche buyers are generally very knowledgeable about the brand and someone who knew what they were looking at grabbed that baby before anyone else ever had a chance. Good for them. And on to the next…
If the priest was a military chaplain the explanation for him being able to buy and own such a fantastic automobile is simple. The priest didn’t buy it…..the Captain, Major, Lt Colonel or Colonel did!!
When we moved to our current town, we eventually found out that our parish priest bought a new Caddy every two years! Come to find out he came from a wealthy family, only accepted $1 of his pay each year, putting the rest back into the church, and it was the family $$$ that paid for the Caddys! Talking with him or seeing how he acted, you’d never suspect that man of the cloth was also a man of money.