Description
Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this rare and highly collectible Porsche 356 B Super 90 Roadster by Drauz.
The 356B Roadster was essentially the successor of the famous 356 A Speedster. Porsche built 2, 649 356 B Roadsters of which only a very small number were fitted with the desirable Super 90 engine, making this an extremely rare car.
The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity on file confirms this car was delivered new to the USA. It has a birth date/ delivery date of 8th July 1960 and it was delivered new in ‘silver metallic’ (paint code 6006) with a black leatherette interior. The Heritage Certificate notes the following options: Dunlop tyres, roll bar, tonneau cover and one pair of safety belts. It also confirms that this car retains its original ‘matching numbers’ engine and gearbox.
The car’s American history is not known, other than it resided in McLean in the state of Virginia. There is a Certificate of Title from the Commonwealth of Virginia on file dated 16th October 2002 in the name of David Decker.
Garry Rainsford, from Rainsford Collectable Cars in Adelaide acquired the car from Decker in 2005. There is a Vehicle Import Approval on file dated 15th August 2005.
When the car arrived in Australia it was assessed by Rainsford who decided to have the engine reconditioned by Porsche specialist Mark Poole Motorsport in Edwardstown, SA. This included the installation of a new crankshaft, a new camshaft, larger 1, 720cc pistons and barrels, new valves and the installation of an oil cooler. The odometer read 24, 326 miles when all this work was done.
At the time Rainsford decided to convert the car to right hand drive. This task was also entrusted to Porsche specialist Mark Poole Motorsport in Edwardstown, SA. There is a letter on file from Tonkin Engineering confirming the conversion was done to the requirements of the Vehicle Standards Bulletin No. 4 dated October 1991 issued by Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board and titled “Steering Conversions for Left Hand Drive Vehicles”.
The car was then sold to its current owner’s father in December 2007. He continued to make improvements to his Porsche acquiring parts from suppliers like Stoddard in the US and utilising the services of local Porsche specialists.
In 2008 four new chrome rims were fitted to the car and for safety reasons a third brake light, discretely hidden behind the grill, was installed in 2009. At that time the seatbelts were also replaced.
The car was last serviced by Porsche specialist Buik Motorworks in Keswick, SA in January 2023 and at that time the odometer read 30, 018 miles. They also replaced the fuel pump on the car in June 2023 and they reconditioned the carburettors in February 2024.
Today the odometer reads 30, 095 miles.
Walking up to the car you are immediately impressed by what you see. The 356B Roadster is one of the prettiest of all 356’s and silver is perfect colour for the car as it accentuates all the details perfectly. The blue soft top also provides a nice contrast but as we all know these cars look best with the top down!
Generally, the paint is in good condition though upon closer inspection we did find a few imperfections. From say a meter it looks perfect, however, there are some cracks in the paint on the top/ front of the left door, there is a very small bubble near the lower edge of the bonnet and a small chip on the lower section of the left front guard. There are some minor scratches on both of the door glass.
The external trim on the car is minimalistic, however, everything is in similarly good condition to the paint.
When photographing the car we noticed that the front bumper was slightly out of alignment. This has since been fixed.
The wheels are in excellent condition with no evidence of any kerb rash or other damage. The only thing we have noticed are some very small scratches on the black around the Porsche logo on the rear left wheel. The wheels are shod with Pirelli P6 tyres, size 195/ 60/ R15. The tyres are date stamped 2208 (week 22, 2008) and whilst they are still in good condition they do need to be replaced on age if the new owner is planning on doing some serious driving with the car.
The soft top is in excellent condition and fits well. Even the rear window, which quite often discolours if it has been exposed to the sun for too long, is still in very good condition. Raising and lowering the soft top is an easy job that can be done by one person.
Inside the cabin this car presents beautifully. The blue leather seats and the top of the dashboard create a perfect contrast to the silver metallic dashboard. The seats are comfortable and provide amble support. The upholstery is in very good condition with no evidence of any rips or tears in the leather. The Porsche branded lap belts are a nice touch. The dashboard, whilst simple presents well and all the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order.
This car looks fantastic and we were genuinely excited to take it out for a test drive to see if it would live up to our expectation. We are happy to report it most certainly did!
The car is still running its original 6 volt electrical system but it starts easily, even from cold and the engine quickly settles into a smooth idle. For a cold start the car does require the use of the choke.
Once out on the open road the first thing you notice is how responsive this car is to the slightest touch of the accelerator. Porsche 356’s look cool, but many of them have more ‘show than go’! This car has plenty of go, which is not surprising given the relatively recent engine rebuild (based on mileage) and upgrade to 1, 720cc. The four speed gearbox is very smooth both up and down the box. The linkages feel tight ensuring precise and direct gear changes. The car feels solid on the road and there are no obvious rattles. The steering is direct and the suspension is firm ensuring that the car steers and handles really well. The only area that may require attention are the brakes. They work well, pulling the car up quickly and in a straight line, though you get a shudder through the pedal.
This Porsche 356B Roadster is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy and it would most certainly be a welcome guest at any Porsche event or any classic car event for that matter.
Accompanying the car is an excellent history file which goes back to 2005 when the car was imported into Australia. It contains, amongst other documents, the US title, Australian Import Approval and a document certifying the conversion to RHD. Also accompanying the car is a spare wheel, jack and a box of old and new spare parts.
Highlights:
- Super rare and highly desirable 356 variant.
- Matching numbers example presented in its original and stunning colour.
- Delightful car to drive.
- Ready to be used and enjoyed
Price AUD $369, 950.
Background:
The Porsche story is a fascinating one and its roots go back to the 1930’s when Professor Ferdinand Porsche was instrumental in the design of the first Volkswagen and also Auto Union race cars. By 1939 he had built three Porsche cars to compete in the 800-mile race from Berlin to Rome. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled due to the war and Porsche was forced to focus on supporting the German war effort, however, he had always wanted to build his own cars. In 1944 Porsche was forced to leave Stuttgart and he set up a small operation in Gmünd, Austria. Soon after the Porsche family and many of their engineers were captured and sent to jail. Ferdinand Porsche’s son. Ferdinand junior, or ‘Ferry’ as he was known, was released six months later and he returned to Gmünd to rebuild the family company. Things moved quickly and Porsche was involved with cars again and in mid-1948 the first Porsche 356 was built. It is understood Porsche built some 50 aluminium bodied cars by hand in their small factory at Gmünd before relocating back to Stuttgart, Germany in 1949.
Instead of building the body of the car himself Porsche decided to collaborate with an old partner, the body manufacturing company Reutter who had both the expertise and infrastructure to mass produce the bodies for the 356 coupe and cabriolet.
Nowadays, the first series of the 356, built from 1948 through until 1955 are known as the 356 Pre A.
In 1955 the 356 A was introduced. The internal factory designation for this model was ‘Type 1’ which was quickly adapted by enthusiasts who referred to the 356 A as the ‘T1’. The 356 A became available as a coupe, cabriolet and a Speedster. Buyers had the choice between a 1, 300cc and a 1, 600cc engine and later the Super version.
A second revision of the 356 A was introduced early in 1957. It became known as the ‘Type 2’ (or T2). Late 1958 the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D which was now build by coachbuilder Drauz. In late 1959 the 356 A was replaced by the 356 B. The 356 B was available as a coupe, cabriolet and roadster, with each body style available with a number of different engine options.
The last revision of the 356 was the 356 C introduced for the 1964 model year.
The 356 remained in production through until 1965 and evolved into one of the most successful sports cars ever built.
