The Porsche 356 replica market has been strong for decades now, but why settle for a replica when you can have the real thing? That is what this project car is, and I have to thank our eagle-eyed Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting this 1962 Porsche 356 B Cabriolet for us. Located in Trenton, New Jersey, it has been listed for sale here on eBay. The listing has been set to open at $50,000 in a No Reserve auction. There have been no bids to this point, but 24 eBay users are keeping an eye on it.
It would appear that the Porsche started life finished in Oslo Blue, but both time and rust have exacted a heavy toll on this classic. However, the owner has commenced the restoration process by fitting fresh new front floor pans. There is no reason to get too stressed over the remaining rust in the vehicle because, in spite of the fact that addressing it is going to be fairly labor-intensive, the good news is that every piece of fresh steel required to complete the job is included in the sale. In addition, a hardtop that appears to be in good condition is currently fitted to the Porsche, and the frame for a soft-top is also present.
The interior is currently dismantled, but the Blue exterior and Red interior trim make for an interesting combination. The seats are present, but it looks like there is some restoration work ahead to return it to an immaculate state. Still, trim is readily available, so it is just a matter of sourcing it. Items like the original radio are still present, but it looks like corrosion has also had an impact on a number of chrome trim items, and these will require restoration or replacement.
It looks like the 356 is mechanically complete, but the motor is partially dismantled. I think that this is the standard version of the 1,582cc flat-four engine, which would produce 69hp in good health. This is hooked to a 5-speed transaxle, driving the rear wheel. The lack of horsepower didn’t make for a particularly fast car, but what it had it delivered willingly. The fact that the Porsche weighed a positively featherweight 2,061lbs also helped its cause enormously. The engine is going to require at least total reassembly, but they are a pretty simple engine, and this should not be an enormously expensive process.
For the person who has a hankering for a classic European cabriolet, this Porsche 356 project car could be a great prospect. It will require some pretty extensive restoration work, but it is a basically complete car with all of the steel required to return it to sound structural health. With the values of these continuing to show a slow but steady increase for many years now, this could be a great project car that could also be a strong long-term investment. It would be like having money in the bank, but it would be a lot more fun.
Going to bring crazy money as only these old Porsche’s can
Crazy, $50k for a rusted out non running VW? Just wait until the stock market corrects and the playboys go home licking their wounds. this car won’t be worth $3k
The kind of person that plays in this market is not going to hurt too badly in a market correction. I guess to each his own, but for me, a nice little polished up well running replica is what I would want. A fraction of the asking price of this old heap, and it will run circles around it as well. 68 HP on a good day? Thats a joke kiddies. Besides, why do we play in this hobby anyway? Is it to drive or to invest? If it is for the memories, wouldn’t a nice replica give the same memories? Unless it is the exact car you or someone you knew had, I see no difference in the memories created.
No reserve? Really?? Missused at very best!! Any time a seller posts a minimum bid, especially a 50k dollars opening bid, they certainly are placing a reserve on the sale of the vehicle. Start at 500 dollars and then I would agree. Two too many zeros!!
No reserve but a starting bid of $50k. Isn’t that a reserve?
Wake up people no pond jumper is worth any where this kind of money love American made cars
The devil is, as they say, in the details. And even if you had an encyclopedic knowledge of these cars you can’t always see a cracked case or transaxle, only magnafluxing will work. Pass, at that price; take that same amount and buy real estate somewhere.
Expensive to rebuild, I know from restoring my 912. Parts prices in Germany where you would expect them to be reasonable – $ 2,200 for a set of pistons & cylinders, same again if you need new con-rods etc etc. Love working on these cars and looking for another project, bodywork is tough for me – unfortunately I’m just not that talented and couldn’t tackle this magnitude of bodywork. Hope the new owner can get it back on the road and I’ll keep dreaming.
This is a rare model with the asking price in the clouds. The last 356 restoration we did required over 150 hours of welding and we didn’t replace that much metal. That pile of parts in the corner is going to take a young welder into his old age to install.
5 speed????