Shed Find: 1961 Porsche 356 Notchback Coupe
Discovered in a shed after nearly 10 years of slumber, this not so common 356 Notchback Coupe is great find that is ready to drive. Offered by Porsche for a mere 2 years, this Notchback is an interesting Porsche classic that will stand out at any event. With a few days remaining, this neat Porsche has been bid up to $37,205. Check it out here on eBay out of Medford, Oregon.
While a flat four inhabits the engine compartment, this engine is not the original flat four that came equipped with this 356. Instead, it is a Porsche 912 engine that is healthy and ready to drive. Thankfully the seller has the original block that will be included in the sale.
The interior could use some attention and general tidying up. The door panels are wavy and loose, but look as if they could be straightened up with a new fiberboard door panel. I personally think that this Porsche isn’t quite as original as the seller thinks that it is, but it is certainly a nice car. I believe that the original carpet has been replaced at some point, but the current carpet looks fair enough with some obvious wear areas. The easiest things to spot on this Porsche that are not original is the steering wheel and radio. Both are simple enough to swap out, but finding a nice original steering wheel and radio may prove a bit challenging.
With a lovely shine, this Porsche shows quite well. The paint looks quite fair, but I personally believe that this car has been repainted. Looking at the door jambs makes it a bit more evident. I wouldn’t say that this car was painted poorly, but in my opinion is not original. Thankfully the underbody on this Porsche is rock solid, but there are a few issues to contend with. There are a few very minor areas of surface rust underneath, but nothing serious in the least. The biggest concern is the passenger side rocker area. Someone at some point had an issue with a jack and improperly lifted this sweet Porsche. So much so that the rocker is deformed, and there is even a sheet metal rip coming from the lower corner of the door frame. This has been touched up, and there is also a small pinhole that appears to have occurred from moisture getting into the sheet metal rip. While this is not the end of the world for this classic Porsche, it certainly will affect its value. Obscure and certainly a neat machine, what do you predict this Porsche will sell for?
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Comments
For what the bid is now, you could have a modern reproduction, who knows how much higher the final cost(s) of this will be. The Beck company will take good care of you, and ya know what? Nobody is going to know it is not the real thing. Plus, it will not have hidden 50 year old issues, will be reliable, and it is a real car, not some investment, something you can drive and have fun with. Do yourself a favor, if for some goofy reason you just got to have one of these over a cheaper and better modern car, buy the Beck and invest the rest into something that will make money too. That is your rebuttal to the naysayers who say that the Beck has no long term financial upside, tell them that you will be able to invest the 60 or 70 grand extra this is going to cost you over the Beck, plus you will have a better car besides. Guys, cars are to drive, not investments, the people who tell you otherwise are laughing all the way to the bank.
Do you get a commission from Beck?
Steve R
You’re right Billy, The Beck repros are 10 times better than the old 356’s ever thought of being. Those old Porsches were pretty horrible cars. I’ve owned and/or driven several examples of both. Basically, an original Porsche is a car that will stay in the garage except for maybe 2 or 3 times a year, a Beck is a car you can enjoy daily.
With all due respect Mr. Wright, you should not be considered a person without bias here, you sell these things, sounds like you make a fine living doing it too. Just the same, some opinions here differ from yours. . Most of us here drive cars for pleasure, not to make a statement, so if we can drive what we want for less, then we will. BYW, the word phony in respect to this subject, reeks of elitism.
You have me identified as a different Wright
We’ve owned 14 356s over the years, a good number as our basic transportation. Comfortable, relatively quick, lots of storage for a sports car, and the two race cars we had ate up competition like crazy. They obviously don’t compare to today’s sports cars but you could get in one and drive across country without submitting your body to the thrills and pains of some of the British cars. Before you jump on the British car band wagon we’ve owned a bunch of those too including the 5 race cars we’ve run over the past 30 years.
Respectably Mr. Wright I believe you are wrong. Rare and expensive cars not available to all. I agree with Billy. At a show recently I looked at a pristine reproduction 356 roadster and thought that it was a great way to go. A reasonable price on a fabulous car I could not justify purchasing as an original, but could enjoy a new more dependable reproduction at a fraction of the cost. I am not a wannabe. I just wanna drive and own cool vehicles that I can afford and still eat steak and ribs. Period.
The only reason to buy a reproduction is because you are a poser. Otherwise, there are faster, more capeable cars for less money. You want people to think that you are cool enough to own the real thing but are obviously not. For the same cost as a phony plastic car you could buy a real Ariel Atom for instance. That is an orignal real car without having to explain “well…..it isn’t really real” and it’s a plastic VW. Even a Manx dune buggy is orignal, not trying to be something it isn’t.
Mr Wright, it seems the truth comes to the surface. Attitude is obvious on this occasion. Apparently you feel wealth makes you “cool”. I always though dignity and integrity made the man, not his wallet. Truthfully, do you and the buyers of such cars drive them because you enjoy them, or do you enjoy showing off and making others feel jealous? This sounds like junior high school. Why should you care what someone else drives, if you drove for the love of the car, you wouldn’t care.
I don’t care……but obviously the buyer of the phony does. That is the point. I have been buying and driving these cars since the 60’s when they could be purchased for 57 Chev money just because I like them. They are not the fastest or most attractive cars on the market but as a whole they are magnificent. It has nothing to do with money. I owned 5 of them while serving as an enlisted man in the military and 3 of them while working for 1.65 an hr in high school. my last 55 speedster I purchased for 100.00 out of a junkyard where it had layed since being totaled in 1959. I am buying my second new car this spring and have the means to buy something special but it is about taste and preferences. I own 3 Italian cars, 6 American and 8 (I think) German ones. I like lots of cars and other stuff but hate a poser or phony in anything.
Mr Wright, you obviously do care. You may be correct, the buyer of a reproduction might actually be trying to pose as a wealthy person who can afford luxury items, maybe yes, maybe no, but again, why should anyone else care about someone elses childish behavior? The older I get the more I understand that I need only worry about my own inner well being, let other people struggle with their own inner demons and insecurities. If you love your 356, good for you, continue to love and cherish it, if someone else has a car that you feel isn’t up to snuff, well, that takes nothing from how you feel about your car. Also the fact you got them for a good price shows how smart you are, but how is that different from someone else trying to also get as good of a deal as they can obtain?
And some of us who can’t afford to own 17 cars aren’t too keen on well-off, toffee-nosed, judgmental snobs.
its umbelivable , what are you talking about …
a beck or other are good car but they are not Porsche thats it , i have both and nothing to compare , you can compare a VW beetle and a Porsche 356 even if its the same look , its like you compare a 240 Z with a body kit 250 GTO for sure its better to drive the Datsun but it will be never a Ferrari
Then just buy a new Toyota and forget it. This is about the collector hobby. Obviously something foreign to your thinking. These cars are much more than basic transportation…..I don’t own or buy Oriental cars either…….very few are orignal, being copied from some other maker. Even the best Japanese cars like the Toyota 2000GT is a copy of designs out of Modena. It is like comparing your grandmother’s paint by numbers artwork to the Mona Lisa. As for costs, I spent a couple of years putting my 55 Speedster together, had about 10K in it and when I was starting my truck company sold it for 28K at the time enough to buy 3 good semis. The buyer still has it and values it at 350,000. Everyone was a winner.
Mr. Wright, I’m glad you built up a successful trucking company and prospered. I just hope you can accept that not everyone has done as well and that doesn’t make them bad people or ‘phonies’ for not being able to buy the gold plated originals.
I never spent more than a few thousand dollars for any of the enthusiast cars I ever owned. My Maserati Mistral was 5,000……and I bought it as an E5 in the military……..it is all about choice and discretion. Most of my buddies were buying new American cars for more money at the time.
Gee. Does anyone have anything at all to say about the little car that is the subject of this article? I’ll start it. I like this little car a lot. I really don’t even mind its steering wheel. I suspect that it was actually driven. My Dad had snow tires for his.
I know nothing about Porsches, but really like this. It’s a body style I’ve never seen before and its driveable. Is that a lot of money for this where it currently stands. Not being a Porsche guy, what kind of questions would you absolutely need answers to (other than rust, obviously). Thanks. Love the knowledge I get from this site.
Agreed, expensive bite too. Of course, you always pay the most when there is so much hype involved, that, and prestige. Some of us self actualized people are too mature to be caught in that web.
Just think how much some people spent for a Chevrolet Cavalier with Cadillac badges and leather seats… and a snootier-toned brochure.
People with lots of money can afford to spend it foolishly.
I’ll never say that the genuine article isn’t much better than the affordable knock-off, but I don’t see any need to be a jerk about others having less $$$.