I'm undertaking a search on behalf of my 77 year old dad who would like to know if his old Porsche 356B is still in circulation. He's not looking to purchase it as the cost would be far out of reach, this is merely a search to satisfy a long wondering about "what ever happened to that car I let get away"...
Over the years he's mentioned the car often, reminiscing about how fun it was to drive, regretting having sold it and wondering if it was still on the road today. In lieu of the 356 he later owned a 1980 928S euro model for 30 years that was his daily driver which is now in my hands waiting to be restored. For the 356B search I suggested we might get some ideas on how to track it down with the help of the Rennlist members, unfortunately we don't have a lot to go on.
He doesn't have any his past paperwork on it that might provide a VIN number. All he can recall is that it was a 1962 356B Karmann Coupe, he's a bit fuzzy now on the color (though it was repainted following an accident). At the time he had it registered in either Maryland (more likely) or Virginia, he can't recall which it was. He sold the car in the fall of 1968 or or early 1969 to two GI's from Fort Meade in Maryland.

Any one have thoughts on how to begin such a search (if it's even possible)? Is there a way to check with the state of Maryland (or VA) under his name to find the old registration which would most likely show the VIN number? Any other methods of tracking down a long lost 356B?

Thanks for you help.
Mike

 

Without a VIN, probably will go nowhere. If you had a VIN, the 356registry may have been able to help you. Sorry

 

That's my predicament, figuring out the VIN number. Which the only way I can see finding that is by contacted the state of Maryland or VA (depending on where my dad had the car registered). Not sure if there is some way to do that thru the state registry?

A few more pieces of information we were able to gather (from my mom's recollections). They purchased it in 1967 and the guy who serviced their car at the time was a Porsche racing team mechanic named Rick Fagan, who according to my mother she believes he now lives in Woodstock, VT. Otherwise we're at a dead end for how to figure out the VIN number to help with tracking the car down.

 

I'm going to piggyback on OP's request (hope that's okay).

My 83-year-old dad just found an old title to his '61 356B Super 90, and I'd love any help determining whether this car is a "survivor" or not.

The VIN is 114 398. Thank you in advance!

Original owner was K. H. Lemmerbrock, Bielefeld, Germany (my dad brought it back to Texas in '64).

So far, found this on 365a.com:

Chassis number 114398 is a 1960 356 coupe (T5 B) by Reutter (built in 1960).

This car was originally fitted with an engine as follows:

• Type: 616/1 T5 (1600), with a serial number between 601501 and 604700.
• Type: 616/2 T5 (1600 S), with a serial number between 85551 and 88320.
• Type: 616/7 T5 (1600 S-90), with a serial number between 800101 and 802000.