Survivor cars are among the most special and desirable classics ever to come up for sale. We all know why – getting the chance to see a car in its original form, undisturbed by overly-ambitious restorations or modifications that seemed like a good idea at the time, is a rare opportunity. When you find a survivor that is also equipped with desirable options and colors from the factory, it puts the car right over the top. This 1959 Porsche 356 1600 Super is a survivor in the best sense of the word, used in New England since new but never subjected to road salt and snow. It has never been restored and is listed here on eBay for $132,000 or best offer.
The 1600 Super spec was an optional upgrade for 356 shoppers, and checking that box bumped horsepower to a very respectable 75 b.h.p. This put the 356 into a new territory as it related to commanding respect from American sports car buyers, as it was no longer just a warmed-over Beetle. The car shown here also sports a few other features that make it an absolute darling of a 356, with a period-correct luggage rack, Tag Heuer Monte Carlo stopwatch gauges, and of course, the details that come standard on an early car including the teardrop-style taillights and chrome bumpers with overriders.
Features aside, you have to love the color scheme of silver over red leather and corresponding door panels, which are all in fantastic condition. The seats had to have been redone at some point; though the seller does not come right out and say this, they look a little too fresh for a car that is otherwise unrestored. The dials and knobs on the dashboard all have a lovely patina about them and further attest to this car’s originality. Despite being in Maine, the seller is adamant the long-term owners never took it out in winter time and that there is no rust to be found on the body or chassis. It also received an undercoating treatment early in its life.
The 1600 Super engine is a very special motor in the air-cooled world, and as mentioned earlier, one of the more desirable options offered in the 356 lineup. The seller does confirm it is numbers-matching but doesn’t specify if a rebuild ever occurred; however, with under 80,000 original miles and clearly looked after, it wouldn’t bother me in the least if it hadn’t been touched previously. The Porsche 356 will always be a sports car icon, but if you don’t have the cash to scrape together for a Speedster or a Pre-A model, the 1600 Super is absolutely the way to go – and this one looks like a sweetheart of a car.
This car has had too much restoration work done for it to be considered a survivor. Just the respray alone knocks it out of that category. Don’t believe everything you read from a seller.
I don’t think that I agree with you that this car has had “too much restoration work done”. In my opinion, one would be hard pressed to find a 69-year-old driver that hasn’t been repainted. Admittedly, I am far from an expert on older Porsches, (really any Posche for that matter) but I do have an uncle that has had one for over 50 years, so I do know something about condition and values. This appears to be a very nice example of a driver quality car, and I would think it would be considered a car worth a closer look. One other note, Malcom Boyes mentioned the luggage rack. I agree that it doesn’t appear to be anything that Porsche supplied. My uncle paid over $1800 for a factory rack, and it doesn’t look anything like this one.
It is a very nice driver quality car but it’s not a survivor.
The “survivor” stuff is getting old. Do folks think that the original paint was going to hold up from ’59 to present unless it was put into a glass climate controlled box and never driven? The 356 series paint was the most basic of enamels and was not designed to last forever. Out of the 15 356s we’ve owned only our ’64 C had original paint on it when we bought and sold it.
If you’ve never driven a 356, you just can’t imagine what a thrill it is. It’s exactly how I imagined a real sports car would feel when I was a kid, pretending to drive every chance I got. Great write up, Jeff.
Funny. I’ve been looking at this one for the past two days. It seems a little too good to be true. A really good deal in my opinion which makes me think there’s something amiss. Blue Hill Maine is a looong way from Los Angeles. Maybe just as well. I would really like to have this.
That said I’m going to be selling a 59 Super much nicer that this for around the same money.
Joe
Brother, had a silver one like this, with sunroof. Traded it for a station wagon many years ago. If we only knew then, what we know now!
I have a 56 sunroof A but mine is far from original..what they now call an ” Outlaw”. This looks very nice indeed but I must say I dont believe that luggage rack is original or from Porsche..never seen one like that.I have a rack fpr mine that was deigned to carry skis and suitcases..very different from this..Price seems abotu right in todays market.
Our ’59 Coupe was the best of the pre B and Cs in build quality and mechanical improvements. Solid feel and fun to drive. Note: the teardrop taillights came on the scene in mid ’57 replacing the 4 round units on the early cars. Our ’57 Cabriolet was an early ’57 and had the 4 units in back. Nice car here.