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Tread Carefully: Wrecked Porsche 356

While values have cooled, the rampant escalation in prices for Porsche 356 projects hasn’t discouraged ambitious sellers from casting their rusty, wrecked wares on eBay. In the case of this 1963 model, the front end was violently stuffed, and the driver’s side rear corner also took a hit. Find it here on eBay listed by a seller who has one other transaction for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE that seemingly did not go well. 

Damage abounds on this 356, which has a crinkled passenger side rear fender as well. Surface rust runs rampant, and frankly, most of the body shell appears as if it were in a fire. The extent of blown-off paint seems greater than what any amount of outdoor storage could do over the years, and the horrible eBay description answers no questions. The color is even listed as “brown” which is clearly not the case.

This side photo gives a clearer indication as to just how hard of a whack the nose took, raising the possibility that the frame has suffered significant trauma. It would also appear the interior is gone, further giving credence to the possibility of a highly damaging fire. In the seller’s barely intelligible description, it would seem the 356 was restored before it was wrecked and the title is also missing.

This is the fourth and final photo (well, there’s effectively a duplicate of this one, so five photos if you’re keeping score at home) and it tells us nothing much, other than the 356 retains a muffler. The seller’s one other auction feedback is negative, due to the Ferrari that was sold as not being as described and having a missing title. While the lack of title has been disclosed, the obvious damage to this 356 demands a more honest description, along with a psychiatric visit if you’re actually considering forking over $16K for a hulk.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Jeffro

    On a positive note, the rims look good.

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Red'sResto

      Justifying this as $4k a rim still doesn’t make this any more palatable…

      Like 0
  2. Avatar photo RayT

    Can’t imagine what it would cost to have a paint shop replicate that patina!

    Like 0
  3. Avatar photo Mark

    Wow what a description, looked like a 3 year old wrote that! No tax or texts, no emails. No information.brutal.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar photo rustylink

    there’s not even a few thousand dollars in parts there let alone $16K worth. The seller is throwing a dart and hoping it hits a bulls eye.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo Dave Wright

      I agree the price is high…….but it appears to have a complete running gear…those poor photos from underneath show the engine valve covers. In today’s world, a complete 356 1600 with trans has to be worth 7-10,000 retail if it looks decent. I sold one engine incomplete, in boxes for 3500. A couple of years ago.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar photo Scott

    On a lighter note, at least the tree is growing OUTSIDE the car. PASS!

    Like 1
  6. Avatar photo geomechs Member

    Well a person can always dream….

    Like 1
  7. Avatar photo Mark H

    If his reading comprehension is at the level of his writing capacity, you could hand him a check for $160.00 and tell him it’s $16000.

    “bin totly restort befor aksiedent 1000 mil drov motor transmision exclent please cal frank 813 294 2254 please no email no tax cal 16 000 $ obo lost taidl”

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Brakeservo

      There are people, er I mean pea-pull who purposely try to appear stupid oops, I ment stoopid on eBay – I don’t know why, but the theory is they attract higher bids!

      Like 1
      • Avatar photo streamliner

        Brakeservo makes a good point. I too have seen this before. That is exactly what this 356 seller is doing here. Keep in mind there is spelling software built into most sites, incl. Ebay and BF. Make a typo in the BF “Leave a Comment” and it will highlight typo.Fake dumb spelling is not unlike faking barn finds gimmick. No sale.

        Like 1
  8. Avatar photo whippeteer

    The pan actually, no frame.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo Dave Wright

      That is a myth. All the pan does is keeps your feet dry when going through a mud puddle. There are several structural frame members.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar photo Fred W.

    Put it on a trailer, make a big banner such as “SEE THE JAMES DEAN CRASH CAR” and go on the carnival circuit. The general public won’t know the difference … unless they Google it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo Brad C

      Put that in a tent and charge 10 bucks a pop. Quickest way you’ll be right side up on this investment.

      Like 0
  10. Avatar photo Joe Nose

    Barn Find? More like “Bottom of the Gully Find”. POS with a VIN tag.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar photo Irish Bill

    This ad should be put under the “Fiction” listings

    Like 0
  12. Avatar photo That Guy

    Did the occupants survive?

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo Chris

      Probably not. Beware, their remains mught be part of the sale.

      Like 0
  13. Avatar photo Bernie H.

    Hey, I smell a scam going on here. Bet the seller wants a big deposit or full payment up front, and disappears. Anyone can shoot photos of wrecks from some salvage yard and describe as theirs on e-bay.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar photo Jack Quantrill

    Madness! Pity the fool that buys this at any price!

    Like 0
  15. Avatar photo RJ

    *eye roll*

    Like 0
  16. Avatar photo newfieldscarnut

    What a bleephead .

    Like 0
  17. Avatar photo tje

    They’re selling the VIN

    Like 0
  18. Avatar photo blasphemy

    Looks like it would make a good backstop for a 22 caliber firing range; and he will give you $500 to get it off his property!

    Like 0
  19. Avatar photo Shawn

    I have been to his place before, he has lots of cars like the 1960’s Ferrari, 1970’s Xke’s , Early sl Mercedes , go fast boats , and motorcycles , just sitting out for the Florida weather to eat up. The guy is German and barley knows English . But yes he thinks everything he has is gold. Really the only thing I saw stored inside was a fully restored 1964 R60/2 but was buried by garbage bags of clothes.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar photo Bob Hess

    Spent 22 years rebuilding these cars. Wouldn’t spend 22 minutes on this one.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar photo Stu

    Smells like another eBay scam.

    Like 1
  22. Avatar photo Loco Mikado

    Two Porsche 356’s in one day and even combined to try and make one car falls far short. “Want to know how to make a small fortune on these cars? Start out with a large one and by the time you get done, you will definitely have a small one.”

    Like 0
  23. Avatar photo D. King

    I’m surprised his feedback isn’t a -1. That’s the only transaction in at least a year, and he’s only been a member since 2015.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar photo James

    I was going to go for it until I read it had a lost “taidl”

    Like 0
  25. Avatar photo Brakeservo

    By the way, I dun bin kickt offa Bring-A-Trailer ‘n I’m proud of it!! Ol Randy can’t stand a bit of negativity, no matter how true if it might reflect on his auction commissions!! Let’s all get kickt offa B.A.T. and continue to support Barn Finds!!

    Like 0
  26. Avatar photo George

    looks like fire may be responsible for that extensive delamination!

    Like 0
  27. Avatar photo Anthony

    Not right to make fun or insult people’s writings – maybe they just have trouble writing??? Nothing wrong with that at all…

    Like 0
  28. Avatar photo Brakeservo

    I think one has to purposely write like that – too many spell check functions er funkshuns fer it ta happen natcherly! C whutta meene!!

    Like 0
  29. Avatar photo Anthony

    Shawn up above us mentioned he is German and barely knows English.
    Whatever…I try not to make fun of one’s writing or speaking. Just me I guess.

    Like 1
  30. Avatar photo Rex Rice

    Having owned & driven 356’s, I don’t understand why they bring such high prices. They are rust prone, have lousy heaters, ride hard and don’t give much notice before they spin out.

    Like 0
  31. Avatar photo D. King

    Rex, having owned our 356 for 50 years, I don’t understand your comment. Rust prone, yes. So are other cars of that era. I have a Mini the same age, and rust is just as much an issue. Heaters? I don’t buy cars for their heaters, but ours works okay. Ride hard? Maybe you need new shocks. Ours got new shocks as part of its restoration, and it’s fine. Don’t give much notice before they spin out? I’ve seen my husband spin in an autocross, but we’ve never had any problems on the road. Rear engine cars simply demand a different way of driving–all of them.

    Like 0

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