Projects Anyone know anything about old Porsches?

Didn't mean to imply that it was the same as a VW, only that it's of similar design, reliable and fairly easy to work on Unless it's a Carrera

 

I've owned three Porsches, all 80's stuff, growing up in the late 70s and 80s, I love owning what I once lusted after as a kid. Still have one mildly modified in the garage, wouldn't ever be without one.

Lots of great advice above, but I'll add this:

There is no such thing as a cheap Porsche.

This goes doubly for any 356 needing work, particularly rust repair. Those things will burn money faster than a coke habit.

 

I believe if you have a Porsche, you would have to take it to your "mechanic" to work on it. You are not allowed to work on them yourself.

 

You have some very good advice to visit Rennlist.com boards specific to the 356.
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/356-forum-63/

I run 4 928's (big aluminum V8's) and spend much time on the other parts of that site.

Heavy DIY on these cars. Only the newest ones have that "mechanic" aspect.

Don't reveal its location as they will be like pigs on sh#t trying to scarf it up, though.

Lots of documentation and reasonable parts availability for these special cars.

 

Porsches are great for the DIY crowd, crazy detailed factory manuals are available, along with very in depth parts diagrams. You could build one from scratch with only the factory provided literature. German auto manufacturers are also required to stock replacement parts MUCH longer after a car goes out of production than in other countries. A big plus for shade tree mechanics.

Of course, this only helps when the yuppies who are leasing the current generation cars abandon them for the next "big thing" and let us true enthusiasts get our hands on them...

 

If you want to pass on it, you can always pass it on to me with a finder's fee.
I have restored a lot of old Porsches and Mercedes in the shop.
Wil
www.sakowskimotors.com

 

Here's another site that can help you.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-356-technical-forum/

edit:
Here's one that looks similar.
http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/728-Porsche-356 B Roadster-1600cc 4 Cyl

 

That is a roadster, not a Cabriolet, snap in windows. Made these until 64 then in 65 added disc brakes that are worth less. Not as collectable as a Cabriolet.
I had a 64 Cabriolet in the nineties. Great driver, ran wide open all day long and nobody knew. Take it to the mountains, change the jets and outrun vettes.
I will give $15,000.

 

The "mechanic" thing was a joke.

 

hotrod1940 is correct in the fact that it is a speedster as the cabriolet dash is totally different,but on a side note on the dash picture you posted. That steering wheel is a wooden Carrera Gt wheel that somebody painted black and those are worth a few bucks restored. Have you seen the engine? Does it have small valve covers on each side like a VW or are they four separate covers that are bolted on. If its a 1962 there is a good chance its a super 90.If its a 356 Carrera Gt then it wil have 4 bolt on valve covers and will be worth HUGE bank.

 

grab it if ya can afford it,,if ya need any parts lemme know .

 

I think it is a roadster, not a speedster. Speedster is a totally different body. Think James Dean, that is a speedster. This is a roadster, different windshield and snap in side curtains. Roadster has a chrome frame around the windshield. The Cabriolet had the body metal surround the windshield with a chrome moulding.

 

James Dean drove/wrecked a Spyder not a 356. But if that thing is a roadster and possibly a Carrera 4 and you can afford it don't even stutter.


Tim

 

We had an old porch on the farm house but tore it down.

 

It's true that he died in a Spyder 550 but he did own a Speedster before the Spyder.

 

I worked for Porsche, for about five years. Just as I was leaving they had started supplying replace panels ( rust repair also) I would also get intouch with the local PCA club. Lots of repop stuff aviable now these, back in 84 wasn't the case. Those 356 engines can get price to rebuild. The tubs are prone to rust, check the spot below were the door were the jack would go. heater channels, also battery box area, also front suspension mounting points.

 

Not quite. Ferdinand Porsche designed and built the prototype VW's for Adolf Hitler but before the car could go into production, WWII was started and the VW factory was converted to build the Kubelwagon "jeep" (later marketed in the U.S. as the "Thing".) Ferdinand's son, Ferry (nickname for Ferdinand) designed and built the first Porsches. Ferdinand was released from a French prison where he had spent time as a war criminal in time to see the first Porsches before he died in 1951.

 

Interesting part of the story was that the French held Dr Porsche on falsified war criminal charges in order to have him help re-establish the French auto industry post war. Puegeot later sued Porsche in order to change the name of their 356 replacement from 901 to 911. That worked out OK in the end as you can still buy a 911 today...

 

I found a picture of a factory 356B roadster that has the same dash and roll up windows and gauge cluster as the one you are looking at. The Lamborghini Orange one is a Streetbeast California Speedster I built a few years ago.

 

Contact Gary Emory (HAMB name is the same). He is the son of Neil Emory and deals in vintage Porsche's and parts...He could probably give you the straightest scoop on this car....

 

Okay guys! I seem to get into trouble with this question. Whats it worth? With the understanding the owner does know what it is. Say it has rust and needs repair. Say it's all there with a clean title. Ball park!!

 

You better get it now, these are rare & quite valuable. Or just tell me were it is

 

Damn, that's what I was thinking....

Anyway, www.thesamba.com is the most valuable resource for early VW and some Porsche.

 

Tough to say, not specifically knowing these 356's very well, but it would likely go for 12-15K very quickly as a whole as-is, maybe significantly more depending on the overall condition of the engine and transaxle.

Worth to you depends on your skills & ability to invest in some parts. And your intentions --- would you ever buy it and flip it?

For me, it would be $4-5K and a vow to the owner to I'd make it right and enjoy it. And then I'd fix it reasonably well and drive it.

Now, if the car is truly tucked away and nobody can find it (which never seems to be the case, 6 degrees of separation and all), then make a barn find cross-post to Rennlist and watch what dialogue ensues. That would establish the value. Risky, but you'd stir the hell out of the natives.

BTW, you need to immediately sign-up as a user over there so you get visibility to pictures and such. They say that the 356registry is where the real knowledge resides on these, though.

 

isnt there a joke about a porch and a bunch of dogs under it making you a redneck?

Ok kidding aside
always wanted one of those..
would be great to see it put back together right and back out on the street

 

Eh, call we a wanker, but I like the lines of the 356 coupe much better than the roadsters. 356 coupe has great lines.

Pete

 

Did anyone else spot that this is not a hot rod? It might be rare and it might be cool but I would definately leave it out in the rain to make room for a early ford in my garage.

 

What do you mean its not a Hotrod? Dr Ferry Porsche saw that the little VW bug was a cool car but wasnt sporty or fast enough so he cut one up,shortened the pan, hotrodded the engine and went racing. I thought that was what hotrodding was all about. Besides that Henry Ford and Dr Ferdinand Porschge was good friends, so your early Ford and Porsches have something in common.

 

This is probably the best advise I've seen on this thread. That car is valuable anyway you look at it. If nothing else it might help you finance a hot rod, or you might really enjoy it. I have a '65 356 Cabriolet and I enjoy it every bit as much as my Model A. Very cool cars. And they are worth some dough, especially when the top goes down on them.

Good luck with it.

 

Porsche's are very fun cars. I've owned my 911S for 15 years and still enjoy driving it. It has a different feel than my others cars. It doesn't have the low end torque of my Coronet R/T or my 70 Challenger but has a more rounded feel. Everything feels like it works together. There's nothing like hearing and feeling the engine pull at 6500 RPM.

Dan Marvin, Owner
Exeter Auto Supply