Fantasy Junction

Description

a1963 Porsche 356B 1600 S Cabriolet
s/n 158022, Engine no. P*705507*
Ivory with Red Leather Interior

Introduced in 1959 to replace the 356A, the 356B brought further refinement and additional performance to Porsche’s increasingly popular and by then iconic sports car. The 1962 model marked further refinements in the form of the introduction of the T6 body, which featured a larger trunk opening, external fuel filler with door, and twin grille engine lid. As with previous models, the 356B incorporated the traditional Porsche values of thoughtful and functional design elements, high quality, value, reliability, and mechanical robustness. Today new generations of collectors continue to be captivated by the timeless 356 design and delightful driving manners offered in these capable and stylish sports cars.

According to this car’s included Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, this particular 356 1600S Cabriolet was finished in the color scheme it still wears today: Ivory/6204 Red Leather/A interior. Completed February 16, 1963, this car retains its original engine and transmission. The CoA also mentions that the car was supplied with ventilated chrome wheels and Continental tires. The current owner, a respected Porsche collector, restoration expert, and enthusiast, purchased the car from a long-term owner residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically seeking an original car that had been cared for and preserved, he carefully selected this car because of its quality. The previous owner drove and maintained this Porsche for more than 20 years, caring for it and driving it minimally, taking his time to carefully improve on the original condition, repainting it and restoring the interior. In November of 2014, the car showed 64,200 miles when the engine was removed and rebuilt. The car currently shows 66,561 miles. In 2017, the current owner had a new top made along with a new boot/tonneau, freshened the engine compartment, and tended to a few minor cosmetic and mechanical details.

Today this Porsche Cabriolet presents as a very nice high quality driver level car. The paint is generally nice and has uniform gloss and finish, appearing to have been done some time ago, but still has nice presentation today. The paint has mellowed nicely and close inspection shows a few minor blemishes and some touched up chips. Panel fit is good and the doors, hood, and trunk open and shut smoothly. The doors in particular are tight and firm, closing with confidence and precision. The door jambs and underside surfaces are all nicely detailed and properly painted in matching ivory. The bumpers and various trim around the car are all in very nice condition with no major flaws of note and very nice detailing. The emblems and various plastic lenses are also in very good to excellent condition, particularly the door handles, and rubber gaskets. The front deck lid hinge stamp matches the car’s serial number. The chrome wheels are in very nice condition including the correct Super hubcaps and center emblems, which are very nicely finished. The car is shod with Michelin tires showing ample tread.

The interior displays a nice combination of original and restored components with a pleasantly mellowed high quality presentation. Last year, an expert Porsche interior specialist fit the new top using high quality canvas, an intricate job that was well done. The latching hardware and rubber gaskets are all in very good to excellent condition with the mechanical top armature moving smoothly and latching properly to the windshield frame. The black tonneau cover is also new and properly fit to the car. The dashboard and dash pad are in very good condition, as are the instruments which show excellent color and clarity to the dial faces along with the various switches and knobs in keeping with the high quality detailing across the painted fascia. Even the fog lamp switch illuminates yellow when the fog lights are on. An AM/FM radio is installed in the car, just beneath the factory clock. The correct gloss black steering wheel is in very good condition, including the horn button, which shows minor aging only. The leather seats are in excellent shape, including the headrests, as are the door panels. The square weave carpets are in good condition with no significant wear and light fading along the top surfaces covering the door sills. Overall, the interior has an inviting and cohesive feel to it, having been tastefully and accurately redone and carefully used and stored since.

The trunk area is well presented, appearing original, tidy, and clean showing a correct chrome plated rim and spare tire, the original tool roll, jack, correct leather strap, original body stamping 158022, with the same number appearing again on the Porsche VIN plate.

In the engine compartment, the numbers matching 1600cc Super engine has been correctly restored, displaying engine number P*705507* as it originally left the factory. It has a nice balance of clean and tidy but not overly restored, a look and feel which is present throughout the car and gives it a nice even aesthetic. Correct decals, wiring, and factory hardware have been used to properly present the engine as it was originally built. Underside inspection reveals a very tidy car in great structural condition. It shows evidence of proper care with clean mechanical components and nice solid pans and other undercarriage sheetmetal.

The car starts easily and idles well. The engine is well-tuned, with good carburetion and nice linear power delivery. The gearbox operates wonderfully up and down with smooth synchros, warm or cold. Steering is tight and communicative, and the suspension operates as it should, providing good feedback to the driver. Braking is very good, with even, symmetrical operation and a nice firm pedal. The overall impression one has when driving this 356B is that it has been properly cared for, retaining excellent structural integrity consistent with what one finds in original, long-term ownership cars. It has a tightness and coherence not always present in 356s, especially open ones. The car comes with the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, assorted records of service dating back to 2011, the original tool roll, original tools, original jack, spare belts, and a pair of CocoMats. A complete owners manual set including service booklet, and original vinyl pouch is also included.

Wonderfully presented and ready for enjoyable open air driving, this Porsche 356B 1600 Super Cabriolet offers an enthusiast the chance to drive a very honest and attractive car. Cosmetically attractive but also pleasantly mellowed, it would make a superb event car that the new owner could drive as much and as often as desired without fear of devaluing it. A genuine Super Cabriolet, this car was near the top of the model hierarchy when it was new and its combination of originality and sympathetic restoration make it a car that will appeal to the enthusiast who has seen many of these cars and appreciates that difficult to find integrity of a fundamentally undisturbed car.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608