Every now and again, we have to remind ourselves that collector cars were not always considered items of extreme value. They were old, used vehicles that got passed around, much like the modern-day Boxster and Mustang. Not only were they actually used as the manufacturer intended, but they were modified, upgraded, and abused. This 1959 Porsche 356 is in an interesting state, with aftermarket steel fenders, wide wheels and fat tires, and its original, numbers-matching engine. Do you bring it back to stock or rock it in its well-loved, period-modified state? Find it here on eBay for $69,500 or best offer.
I am constantly torn when it comes to modified versus stock cars. In a way, the modifications speak to an owner who wasn’t obsessed with perfection. He wanted a car he could use. The metal flares appear to be well done, and Lordy, that allowed a previous owner to stuff some fat wheels and tires inside the fenders. The car looks like a period track rat, and perhaps that’s how it was used – which would have been perfect for a 356 that was likely plenty used up by the 1980s. The bodywork still appears clean and free of rust, and the deleted bumpers just scream “racecar.”
The interior is totally livable. It’s not perfect, but you can use it as-is for decades to come, especially if you continue to drive it with no thought given to returning it to OEM shape. However, you may be tempted to bring it back to showroom specs when you consider the original color scheme: Meissen Blue over a red interior. Oh man, the conundrum just got real because that is a fantastic color combo on a 356 (or anything, really.) This is where your decision gets more complicated, because the time and effort involved in returning it to stock shape may actually be worth it.
What’s amazing is that despite all of these modifications, the engine remains numbers matching. The 1600 unit produces around 60 b.h.p., and perhaps it seemed like enough when it was still a tired sports car (if it was ever.) Or, perhaps the owner knew that keeping the engine stock and original would be the smart play when making the bodywork modifications. Whatever the reason, the fact that the engine matches the car makes the value proposition quite strong with this 356. Now, what would you do? Would you keep the modifications in place, or would you strip it back to stock and respray it in the original color scheme?
There are several ways to get bigger rubber on a 356 but this isn’t one of them. Even the pro shops building hot rods out of them don’t go this route. The race car I built out of a ’59 roadster rust bucket (had to jack up the center to get the doors open) got fat race tires without heavy modifications to the fenders. Note: That engine is putting out more than 60 hp. The carbs alone will get it up to the Super 90 hp.
IMO the flares make the proportions look odd, almost cartoony. Having said that I’d be tempted to leave as is and go back to the original color scheme. For me it depends on the age and quality of the conversion. I’d want to know more history. Of course for $69k I’d probably be looking at something other than this particular car.
Bob, I like yours as much as the one listed!