Looking to buy a 356
11-30-2011, 09:19 PM
#1
Pro
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Looking to buy a 356
Apart from me searching endlessly on a forum that I don't really look at much, could someone point me to a thread, a book, something that would clue me in on the "in's and outs" of how to buy a 356. What should I look for? What should I steer away from?
Would like to buy one with mild restoration needed( read, not a lot of body work).
Thanks in advance!
Would like to buy one with mild restoration needed( read, not a lot of body work).
Thanks in advance!
11-30-2011, 11:04 PM
#2
Miserable Old Bastard
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Definitely get "Buying, Driving, and Enjoying the Porsche 356" by James E. Schrager.
Also maybe "356 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity" by Brett Johnson
It can be really tricky buying a 356 unless you really know what to look for, so do educate yourself a lot before committing. Also, definitely join the 356 Registry (best $35 you could ever spend) and check out their site (lots of info there):http://porsche356registry.org/
Good luck!
Also maybe "356 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity" by Brett Johnson
It can be really tricky buying a 356 unless you really know what to look for, so do educate yourself a lot before committing. Also, definitely join the 356 Registry (best $35 you could ever spend) and check out their site (lots of info there):http://porsche356registry.org/
Good luck!
12-01-2011, 12:26 AM
#3
Drifting
There is a lot to know. I just came up to speed over the last year and am into my first 356 restoration although it's not an all out job. To start with I would figure out what models you like. The A's and pre A' coupes are very popular. I've never run across a car that has more WTB ads than for ads until I start hunting for a 356. If you like B coupes you are in luck because these are the least expensive. If you like open cars then you are shopping for cars with big price tags. Networking and word of mouth is the best way to find some of the more sought after models IMHO. With ads you are going to be slugging it out with everyone else. Good luck!
01-11-2012, 02:53 PM
#4
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There is a lot to know. I just came up to speed over the last year and am into my first 356 restoration although it's not an all out job. To start with I would figure out what models you like. The A's and pre A' coupes are very popular. I've never run across a car that has more WTB ads than for ads until I start hunting for a 356. If you like B coupes you are in luck because these are the least expensive. If you like open cars then you are shopping for cars with big price tags. Networking and word of mouth is the best way to find some of the more sought after models IMHO. With ads you are going to be slugging it out with everyone else. Good luck!
Here's a dumb question, what's the difference between A and B coupes?
Thanks for your help
01-12-2012, 12:53 AM
#7
Drifting
As came first, then came B and the Cs are the last of the 356. I may be selling mine soon. Needs restoration, but it runs well, low rust and is numbers matching. Pm me if interested.
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01-12-2012, 11:50 AM
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01-12-2012, 04:27 PM
#11
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I attended a tech session hosted by Cam Ingram at his shop in Raleigh (Road Scholars) last month. Cam and his crew won last year's Pebble Beach concours with a '49 Gmund coupe that they restored for the Porsche family in Germany.
Cam had a 356 that someone bought from a 'reputable dealer' (in California, I believe) that turned out to be a total mess. The owner brought it to Cam to have him fix it, after he'd paid another restoration shop major bucks to fix what was wrong with the car after he bought it (although the selling dealer (I don't have a clue who that is) swore up and down the car was 'right' - it wasn't). Cam showed those of us in attendance what was wrong with the car, which to my untrained eye appeared 'ok' - it wasn't. The car will require thousands of dollars in repairs to make it a 'safe driver'. That's all the owner really wanted to begin with.
Cam said that part of his business now is to fly around the country and look at Porsches for potential buyers. He knows what he's looking at. I might suggest that you give him a call and see 1) if he knows of any reasonably priced 356s that might be worth considering, or 2) if you have pockets that can support it, to have him look at a car that you're thinking about buying. In the long run you may save countless thousands of hard earned dollars.
Good luck.. www.road-scholars.com
Cam had a 356 that someone bought from a 'reputable dealer' (in California, I believe) that turned out to be a total mess. The owner brought it to Cam to have him fix it, after he'd paid another restoration shop major bucks to fix what was wrong with the car after he bought it (although the selling dealer (I don't have a clue who that is) swore up and down the car was 'right' - it wasn't). Cam showed those of us in attendance what was wrong with the car, which to my untrained eye appeared 'ok' - it wasn't. The car will require thousands of dollars in repairs to make it a 'safe driver'. That's all the owner really wanted to begin with.
Cam said that part of his business now is to fly around the country and look at Porsches for potential buyers. He knows what he's looking at. I might suggest that you give him a call and see 1) if he knows of any reasonably priced 356s that might be worth considering, or 2) if you have pockets that can support it, to have him look at a car that you're thinking about buying. In the long run you may save countless thousands of hard earned dollars.
Good luck.. www.road-scholars.com
Last edited by NC 997; 01-12-2012 at 04:43 PM.
01-12-2012, 04:36 PM
#12
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Here's a word of advice.. I attended a tech session hosted by Cam Ingram at his shop in Raleigh (Road Scholars) last month. Cam and his crew won last year's Pebble Beach concours with a '49 Gmund coupe that they restored for the Porsche family in Germany.
Cam had a 356 that someone bought from a 'reputable dealer' (in California, I believe) that turned out to be a total mess. The owner brought it to Cam to have him fix it, after he'd paid another restoration shop major bucks to fix what was wrong with the car after he bought it (although the selling dealer (I don't have a clue who that is) swore up and down the car was 'right' - it wasn't). Cam showed those of us in attendance what was wrong with the car, which to my untrained eye appeared 'ok' - it wasn't. The car will require thousands of dollars in repairs to make it a 'safe driver'. That's all the owner really wanted to begin with.
Cam said that part of his business now is to fly around the country and look at Porsches for potential buyers. He knows what he's looking at. I might suggest that you give him a call and see 1) if he knows of any reasonably priced 356s that might be worth considering, or 2) if you have pockets that can support it, to have him look at a car that you're thinking about buying. In the long run you may save countless thousands of hard earned dollars.
Good luck.. www.road-scholars.com
Cam had a 356 that someone bought from a 'reputable dealer' (in California, I believe) that turned out to be a total mess. The owner brought it to Cam to have him fix it, after he'd paid another restoration shop major bucks to fix what was wrong with the car after he bought it (although the selling dealer (I don't have a clue who that is) swore up and down the car was 'right' - it wasn't). Cam showed those of us in attendance what was wrong with the car, which to my untrained eye appeared 'ok' - it wasn't. The car will require thousands of dollars in repairs to make it a 'safe driver'. That's all the owner really wanted to begin with.
Cam said that part of his business now is to fly around the country and look at Porsches for potential buyers. He knows what he's looking at. I might suggest that you give him a call and see 1) if he knows of any reasonably priced 356s that might be worth considering, or 2) if you have pockets that can support it, to have him look at a car that you're thinking about buying. In the long run you may save countless thousands of hard earned dollars.
Good luck.. www.road-scholars.com
I'm looking for a restoration project, so I expect the car I'll end up with will be a basket case...hard to misrepresent that
RC
01-12-2012, 11:55 PM
#13
Miserable Old Bastard
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01-13-2012, 12:09 AM
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Lots of differences. See here: http://porsche356registry.org/resour...56-models.html
01-30-2012, 08:09 PM
#15
