This pretty 1961 Porsche 356B roadster is a limited production model from the company’s lineup of drop-tops that followed in the footsteps of the iconic Speedster. Though not nearly as hardcore, it’s still considered an outlier (in a good way) of the company’s family of soft top 356s. The 356B roadster is joined in spirit by its predecessor, the rare Convertible D, which helped pave the way for more livable Speedster platform. This B roadster is a desirable single-grill model that I believe wears a pretty shade of paint known as Aentna Blue and it’s listed here on eBay as a rust-free example with bidding up to over $77,000.
No details are offered as to whether it was discovered in a remote barn or garage, but given the respectable coating of dust in the first photo, it stood somewhere for a spell. While I was sure this 356 was located in Texas based on the surroundings, it’s actually in Washington State, a hotbed of vintage cars that seemingly survive the test of time incredibly well. This example looks super solid and original, with no obvious alterations from stock apparent in the pictures. Even the soft-top looks perfectly usable in the photo that shows it erect. The body lines look impressively straight down the sides.
The same goes for the interior, which has survived incredibly well for a car that’s meant to be driven with the roof off. The 356B roadster (and Convertible D before it) perhaps made the greatest departures from the original Speedster concept in the cabin, where passenger comfort was prioritized over weight reduction, with the incorporation of features like full windows with traditional winder mechanisms and bucket seats with plenty of padding. The interior also shows a painted dash in outstanding condition, unmarred door panels, clear factory instrumentation, and the original steering wheel.
The seller claims the engine runs well and pulls hard, and the presentation is certainly that of a maintained engine compartment. While little other information is offered as to maintenance history or recent repairs, the general appearance and rarity factor by themselves are likely enough for a Porsche enthusiast to cast worry aside and pursue this rare roadster aggressively. The seller notes there’s no prior accident damage to report, and underside photos in the listing show an incredibly solid example from end to end. If you’re hunting for a rare 356 with a soft top, look no further.
Can feature a lot of money at the end of the auction for this one. Rare and beautifully preserved. Restored a ’59 Convertible D and a ’60 twin grill that had more rust than metal when we started. Nice to see one all in one piece.
Sell the house and buy this-as a tiny home with a retractable roof. You will all the cash as this baby is going to sell for mega bucks…
I like it but not at a 100 grand .. i would
Get a Shelby or another Split Window 👀
Agreed. If this is what you like, fine, but I will never understand the perceived value. I guess people who like these have a great deal more money then me, though, why use it like this? Just a bug in “Sunday Go To Meeting” clothes, all it is.
Exactly – bug in sunday clothes – that’s all it is.
And that’s a lot.
> simplicity – durability – thrifty – and all this in a beautyful shell with the perfect lines – nothing that you don’t need.
Jeff, looks aren’t everything. Decades ago I had a girlfriend that most of the other guys drooled over. But you know what? She cheated on me and eventually became a doctors trophy wife. Sometimes exotic expensive things really let you down, not worth the expense. Take the bug, nice little non pretentious car, and 100 times cheaper. The bug will turn no heads, but it will never disappoint you, and not demand all your money just so you can be seen in public with her. That is what I want in a car, something I am comfortable with, something that makes me happy, not to show off in, and something that won’t bankrupt me in doing so.
A lot of replacement panels are present. The car might be rust free no, but it wasn’t always thus. Quality of work done is questionable.
Eh maybe if it wasn’t blue, i just couldn’t.
Maybe its just the lighting, but the dash seems to be a different shade of blue than the exterior. The dash looks to be closer to the Aetna Blue swatches I looked at online, described as “a pastel blue with grey overtones.” Where I’m going is I don’t think the exterior is the right shade of blue.
The paint on the dash and the inside edge of the engine compartment are a more intense color than the outside surface…
Ended with 0 bids?
The article states that it was bid up to $77K.
My ebay shows bidding ended at $33,333.00-something going on here?
Perhaps the flipper has over estimated how soon this ridiculous bubble will pop. Hope he or she loses the proverbial shirt. (esp if it is a girl flipper, though, I might want to check out that particular flipper first, for public safety.)