Racing Pedigree: 1960 Porsche 356 Cabriolet

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I just attended the 12 Hours of Sebring, fulfilling a long-time dream of mine: watching IMSA heroes battle it out as the Florida sun sets on the track, headlights blazing and the driving getting ballsier as they neared the finish. Supposedly, this 1960 Porsche 356 B Cabriolet has been a track toy most of its life, racing at Sebring, Lime Rock and Summit Point at the hands of a long-time owner. Find this track veteran 356 here on eBay with an $83,900 Buy-It-Now.

The seller has provided a handful of period photos of the 356, which sports fewer visual alterations than it does now. The low windshield and roll bar are two clear indications of a sporting pedigree, along with the vintage Talbot rear view mirrors. Some changes have been made since this photo was taken, most notably the black nose paint and the updated magnesium wheels. It does not currently run but the seller claims the motor appears complete.

The interior is built for business, with a single bucket seat and little else in the way of creature comforts. The must-have log book is included and the seller notes that “…this Porsche does come with the original hard top, windshield and side quarter windows for the front doors.” Overall, despite being stripped down for competitive use, the 356 is complete with no obvious signs of race-inflicted damage.

The longtime racer/owner is named Bill Gorski, whose name pops up plenty of times associated with topics ranging from various hillclimb events in Pennsylvania and other internet chatter about vintage racers. The curb appeal is strong with this 356, and while the seller offers up that the values of a restored cabriolet are climbing, I can’t see this example being used as anything but a race car. Agree or disagree?

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Comments

  1. Jeric

    Long time family friend was Bill Chicken Gorski, going to forward this to his son

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  2. Jeric

    Stay a Racecar been a racecar as long as i can remember and i am almost 50

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  3. DolphinMember

    Lots of nice clear photos in the link on the Ebay listing page. Unfortunately there are no underside shots, but with a race car you would want to inspect it directly yourself anyway, or get an expert to do that for you.

    With the connection to the well known Bill Gorski there’s no reason to suspect that the car is anything but authentic and as-represented, but racing being racing, cars can and do get damaged. If there’s no evidence of shunt damage, great, but I would want to know what I was getting…..racing being racing, and all.

    You used to see a lot of 356s being raced back in the last century at places like Lime Rock, Thompson, and lots of other places. These 356s, when stripped down and lowered, looked and went like real performance cars—for the era and the racing class. It’s good to see one of the old timers come up for sale to give a new owner a chance to live the dream in the vintage classes. .

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  4. gbvette62

    I vaguely remember Gorski and his Porsche. I’m pretty sure I have slides of him racing it at Summit Point and/or Watkins Glen.

    Summit Point is one of my favorite tracks. Summit was our “home track”, in the 80’s, we did all of our testing there, and regularly raced the cars I crewed on there.

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  5. Steve M

    I know a lot of you guys like racecars, for me, depending on how obscene the metal mods are, It would be a street car again as fast as I could click the mouse to order parts and load a spool of wire in the mig machine.

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  6. LD71

    Better as a street car if you could get it licensed—too much $ to risk on track. Besides, needs a proper racing seat for the track + maybe some other updates LD71 😁

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  7. Miguel

    I hope Jerry Sienfeld doesn’t see this.

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    • Steve R

      Why? He’s probably smart enough to leave it as it is rather than wipe away its heritage by restoring it.

      Steve R

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      • Miguel

        Yes, but he already has so many. If he saw it, he would be compelled to buy it.

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  8. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    Boy, was this car ugly back in the day, looks way better now. Aside from that, what Dolphin said.

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  9. Toni Gorski

    This was my dad’s car. I really hope it stays on the track where I can visit her from time to time. Seeing her for sale with his name and number still on the side is like seeing a sibling up for adoption. I have a ton of pictures and many of the entry passes for races she was in.

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    • Jamie Palmer Jamie PalmerStaff

      Thanks for sharing, Toni!! Ever think about buying it back?

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      • Toni Gorski

        I picked the Porsche that I wanted out of my Dad’s collection when he passed away, a 1963 356 T6B that was his daily driver when I was a kid that I am doing a full overhaul on. Although I would love to have this car as well, I would rather see her end up in the hands of someone who has the time and money to treat her right. But you never know, maybe someday she will pop up again.

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      • Jamie Palmer Jamie PalmerStaff

        Thanks again for sharing, Toni, and that’s great :-) Good luck with the ’63!

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    • DolphinMember

      The information and photos that Toni Gorski has added here are like gold to folks like me and lots of others who watched cars like this race back in the last century.

      It’s also the best possible validation of the provenance of this particular car. When was the last time any of us has seen a display of vintage photos together with a couple of dozen entry tickets for races that any car was entered in decades ago?

      The photos and the information that has been added here are going to be an enduring record of at least a part of the history of this particular car that will come up in web searches on this car and its driver for a long while to come.

      Well done, everyone, and especially Toni Gorski.

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    • Anton

      Toni. Can you please contact me and tell me about the car when you have time.
      Antonj.indy@gmail.com

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  10. Toni Gorski

    She is on the right. This picture was taken around 1990. My brother, Jon (aka Chicken Little) is also in the photo.

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    • LD71

      Now there’s a childhood upbringing to envy!
      LD71 :D

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  11. Toni Gorski

    Here is a picture of many of the entry tickets for races she would have been involved in.

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  12. Toni Gorski

    And last, some artwork entitled “Gorski vs Maloney” that was done by me in 2013.

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  13. Toni Gorski

    Another

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  14. Toni Gorski

    And another…

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  15. Toni Gorski

    And yet another…

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  16. Toni Gorski

    Chicken sitting in the car.

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    • Jeric

      I miss that man, he was a good egg

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  17. Toni Gorski

    And a really nice one of her in her ruby red 90’s days.

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    • leiniedude leiniedudeMember

      Great stuff Toni! I can’t imagine a man like that having the chicken handle? Can you tell us how he got the name? Thanks, Mike. Oh, love the chicken little handle also.

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      • Toni Gorski

        Hahaha…when he was playing little league as a kid he had really skinny legs and the kids said he looked like a chicken when he would hit the ball and run. I think his original nickname as a kid was Chicken Legs, but it was shortened to just Chicken as he got older.

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    • BMW4RunninTundra

      Thank you for your sharing with us about your Family and some of its history! Very kind of you!!
      and well done on the artwork

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    • The.Car.MuseumMember

      Toni, I purchased this car today on BAT, would love to speak to you.

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  18. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    Cool, thanks Toni. Nice artwork also. Take care.

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  19. Terry J

    Transferred to a Fleetwood plant in Winchester Va years ago. Found a rental house in Berryville Va. First Sunday morning I heard very faint noises – like the faint buzz of bees. Very odd. Guess what? Summit Point Raceway was up in the hills just a few miles away. Went many times and saw these historic racers run ( it was on the points circuit for vintage race cars – all of which had a documented pedigree). I had never appreciated these little bathtub Porsche’s before I saw them race. They were surprisingly FAST! Also got to see Paul Newman drive his factory works Toyota. Really a fun time. :-) Terry J

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  20. Jeff LaveryAuthor

    Toni, thank you so much for sharing these photos and memories with us. That’s what makes this hobby so much fun. Cheers to you and your family.

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  21. PRA4SNW

    Sold! Someone hit the Buy It Now button.

    Perhaps someone from here?

    Like 0

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