The original 356 was designed and engineered by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche – the son of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the German company.
The first 356 was launched in Austria in 1948 as a race car, with road car production soon to follow. In 1950, Porsche moved its production to Germany, and contracted a company called Reutter to build the steel bodies and seat frames. Reutter – now known as Recaro – is still world renowned for its seats.
This example is a 356B – one of the later models – and was originally registered in Germany before being acquired by a US enthusiast. It then moved to California, in the early 1990s and was restored there, before being imported to the UK in 2020. The vendor bought the car to fettle and use during lockdown but rarely gets to drive it, so has made the difficult decision to part with it.
Trimmed in lovely tan leather with matching door cards, the 356 is a 2+2 configuration and is in lovely condition inside, with just the gentlest of patinas. It exudes character and is presented very well, with excellent carpets and headlining. All of the dials and switchgear operate as they should and the original steering wheel is a thing of beauty. It’s a lovely place to sit and feels very special indeed.
The 356 was restored in Honolulu in the 1990s and has seen gentle use since, but being an older restoration there are some very minor flaws. Critically, it appears solid and is absolutely stunning to look at.
It has seen some welded repairs and new front part of the boot floor, but is reassuringly solid, while the upper bodywork is lovely. It has a few hairline cracks in the paintwork where it has split slightly and a couple of very tiny indentations, no bigger than a small coin. The trim is all present and correct and is generally very good condition with a few signs of slight wear, albeit in keeping with the car’s original character. It’s a gorgeous thing in lovely condition – not a concours car by any stretch, but a really lovely, attractive and usable example.
Fully recommissioned by respected air-cooled specialist
This is a terrific example of a 356B and the engine runs beautifully with no known issues. It starts on the button, sounds fantastic and has recently seen the attentions of a well-regarded air-cooled VW and Porsche specialist, who has gone over the car completely to ensure it’s in fine mechanical fettle. In 1993, the 356 was fitted with a Pellow engine – a well-known and much-loved upgraded version of the air-cooled unit. The engine was removed and shipped to the mainland USA for rebuild and conversion. It’s a period correct unit from the same year as the car was produced, but the vendor is open about it not being a matching numbers car. However, from his research with Porsche UK it seems as though the gear box may be original.
This is a truly lovely example of one of the prettiest cars ever created and it’s presented in remarkably clean and tidy, honest condition. The flaws are tiny, but they also mean this is a car you can use without having to worry about maintaining it in concours condition – it’s instead a really nice example of an all-time classic, presented in stunning order.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
VAT will be added to the buyer’s deposit as applicable.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1963 Porsche 356B LHD
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