The word “survivor” gets thrown around a lot (I know I’m guilty of this) and oftentimes, it’s used to describe a car that still looks pretty decent while being nearly original. That means original paint in good to great shape, a healthy matching numbers engine, and mostly ready to drive. However, can a survivor also be a car with tatty cosmetics and in need of mechanical refurbishment? This 1963 Porsche 356B T6 coupe listed here on eBay seems to be exactly such a case.
Bidding is currently at $31,000 with the reserve unmet. The seller is a familiar face around these parts, offered by known vintage car dealer MB Vintage Cars. The listing claims this 356 was sold new in New York but spent most of its life in Texas and Arizona; as such, the paint is pretty much burned off the body, as it was formerly Light Ivory with a tan interior. There is some rust in the floors but the body looks very straight.
I’m assuming the material we see on the seats is original to the car, as the color scheme checks out and it certainly doesn’t appear to have been re-done any time recently. The same goes for the dash and gauges, as well as the steering wheel, which are all original 356 details. The floors may need work but this pan is far from the worst we’ve seen among aircooled vehicles. The good news is you can likely drive this car with the rough exterior for an indefinite period once the floors are fixed and the running gear serviced.
The fact that the 356 remains numbers matching is truly impressive, as so many of these cars that were not kept as low-mileage timepieces have had at least one engine replacement in their lifetime. It makes me curious to know more about how this 356 spent the last 25 years: was it simply parked and left sitting, or was it still being used for the occasional weekend drive? Regardless, this 356 is clearly a survivor in the most literal sense of the word.
Slap a coat of wax on ‘er and go! Are hand signals still legal?
Always wanted one of these. Elyria is right over the county line from me and I’m tempted to take a drive, but thirty one grand? Whoo wee. Still that car would would look sweet repainted in the original color.
And with reserve unmet and 6 days to go.
That’s fiberglass over the front vents and parking/turn signal mounting holes. Not sure why someone would do that. Arm signals in the rain are not fun.
To think, in 1963 you could have walked into your friendly Chevy dealer and got a spanking new Vette convertible with a 327 4sp for far less money. Please explain why you would buy this new instead?
Personal tastes? Why choose an apple over an orange?
We’ve owned 15 Porsches. There must have been something we liked about them wouldn’t you think?
And the condition of this car and it still brings this kind of money is exactly why I don’t own one. Maybe someday I will bite the bullet and get one but for now I will sit back and watch people part with their money from afar
Because the Orange IPad has had continuing technical problems
A 63 Corvette drives like a truck. A 1963 Porsche drives like a solid sports car. Someone will save this and should.
I drove a 65 Vette once, it was wonderful. Better balance than an ass heavy updated Bug too. It is amazing what people try to tell themselves sometimes, and they will believe it to the end despite ample evidence to the contrary.
You’re comment says it all…
“It is amazing what people try to tell themselves sometimes, and they will believe it to the end despite ample evidence to the contrary.”
Correct.
The irony.
I have owned a 61 Vette and a 64 Vette. And I like corvettes. I have a 60 356 Cab and there is no comparison as to how they drive. Old Corvettes are hot and drive like trucks (still lots of fun) The Porsche is far superior and was way ahead of its time
Insane price and it still has not meet reserve.
I guess that’s why Corvette finally put their engine in the “correct” part of the car..
New Corvette is center engine configuration, even better
Reading the comments keeps me coming back.
My unsolicited opinion:
Old vettes do ride like trucks. Old Porsches aren’t that fast.
I enjoy them for what they are time pieces.
Thanks everybody.
Oh, I meant old trucks. Not the plush polished extravagance of today’s vehicles.
Look at the photos of it up on a lift. It is as rotten as dust at the front in several key structural areas. This is a full body off frame roti resto. Nothing less will do it justice. Get your wallet out whoever buys this. Buy you will have a beautiful car at the end, and it will continue appreciating.
James Dean’s death in a Porsche was best unspend dollars for marketing this car. It gave it name recognition it never deserved. Just an upside down bath tub with an engine. Viva Alfa Romeo.
Well Deans Porche was a Speedster and they command serious money today. I think this barn find, a C model is pretty overrated just as the price.
James Dean’s car was a 550 Spyder..he traded his Speedster in and was “breaking “the Spyder engine in on his way to a race when the tragic accident happened.That said..I dont, for the life of me, know where all these haters of early Porsches come from..and , wherever it is, I wish they would return.I love many different cars but the venom against these great cars is a little weird to me..
I do not hate older Porsches! But there are other sports cars that drive a bit more predictable than them. Alfa, Lotus etc.!