Showing posts with label 1958. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1958. Show all posts
Matching Numbers Project: 1958 Porsche 356A Coupe
This classic Porsche 356 is being offered by a seller who says it has been in storage since the 1970s. They say it is a matching numbers engine and transmission car that's been down to the bare metal for 4 decades.
The 356 was Porsche's first production car and lasted from 1948 to 1965, resulting in around 76,000 cars made but only about half are thought to be surviving today. They are one of the greatest cars of all time, a beloved, admired, iconic classic and that is also extremely valuable and desirable. The rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, coupled with the timeless and seductive curvy little body, make the 356 one for the ages.
This is an early "A" car, of which 21, 045 were produced from 1955 to 1959. All of the 356 cars had flat four-cylinder engines, but each revision every few years brought about changes, mechanical and cosmetic, subtle and otherwise.
The seller states they have this car's pink slip from 40 years ago and also have the California black plates. It would have been nice to see the plates, but it's interesting to know they will be included, and will no doubt please the next owner, should they ever get it on the road and are able to actually use the plates.
The seller says the body and floor are original and there is no rust except in the battery box. They say it is all complete and original except for the seats. They don't have any photos of the interior, which is a shame, but, if a seller says complete, they usually mean complete, as that's a big claim.
Complete is good, but condition is a whole other ballgame. The car looks terrible. The paint has indeed been stripped and even a novice can tell a bunch of parts are missing, like the bumpers and taillights to start. Are these included with the sale? Who knows (although I do spot what looks like bumpers tied together on the roof in one pic). You better hope they are. The seller gives no word on the engine, so this isn't going to even be a rough driver. This thing will need a $30,000 restoration to make it presentable again. Factory-spec seats alone will probably be $1k-$5k. Most cars would be worthless with over $30k in needs.Yet the seller wants $38,500.
There is a Porsche bubble right now. They are unique, special, driver-oriented cars with racing pedigree and a mythology no amount of money can buy. The 911 in particular barely depreciates, then catches on fire about 10-20 years later and just keeps rising. But example like this are frustrating. It clearly needs work. You have to have $60,000 lying around to make this thing whole again. It would make most sense for the seller to let it go for about $15k-$20k to a reputable restorer who can put another $10k into it, then flip it for $30-$40k. Everybody will still get a piece of the action.
That's the fate this thing deserves.
Find it here on craigslist in Cedar Flat, California
Short Box Driver: 1958 Chevrolet Apache Pickup Truck
I think the Apache is my favorite of all classic American pickup trucks.
It has the look down to perfection: quad round headlamps, white front fascia and bumpers, flare-side bed. There is a feeling this gives that no other type of vehicle else can come close to replicating.
The seller states the body needs work, obviously. The paint is fair to poor, but I like the patina. The dull blue is low-key and nicely vintage feeling, and the wear is in all the right spots, enhancing the ruggedness. What I don't like is the rust, and fortunately the seller is honest and up front about it. He states there is rust on the cab corners, floors, fenders and eyebrows.
Just from looking at the pictures I can see a large hole at one corner:
Usually rust is a deal-breaker, but I'm not sure it matters too much on this, depending on what you do with it. The seller also states the 235 inline 6-cylinder is in running order, as are all major lights and gauges except the temperature. They say the glass is good except for one crack, and that a few new things like brake lines and shocks have been added. The seller says it could be driven home. So this could easily be used as an everyday work driver, which I like, and which you can't say about many of these.
The interior looks better, and possibly original, especially the dash, which is clean and simple. The seller says they added new seat covers and they don't look half bad.
These things are usually either field fixtures or pricey showcase pieces, so it's rare and somewhat comforting to find a beat-up runner that could continue to be a useful hauler for someone. I love old, un-restored runners because they can be enjoyed right away, then restored later, or just driven into the ground for maximum usage. Either scenario would be acceptable and in the proper spirit of this.
Find it here on ebay in Minnesota with no bids, $200.00 starting price, and a $4,100 buy it now.
It has the look down to perfection: quad round headlamps, white front fascia and bumpers, flare-side bed. There is a feeling this gives that no other type of vehicle else can come close to replicating.
The seller states the body needs work, obviously. The paint is fair to poor, but I like the patina. The dull blue is low-key and nicely vintage feeling, and the wear is in all the right spots, enhancing the ruggedness. What I don't like is the rust, and fortunately the seller is honest and up front about it. He states there is rust on the cab corners, floors, fenders and eyebrows.
Just from looking at the pictures I can see a large hole at one corner:
Usually rust is a deal-breaker, but I'm not sure it matters too much on this, depending on what you do with it. The seller also states the 235 inline 6-cylinder is in running order, as are all major lights and gauges except the temperature. They say the glass is good except for one crack, and that a few new things like brake lines and shocks have been added. The seller says it could be driven home. So this could easily be used as an everyday work driver, which I like, and which you can't say about many of these.
The interior looks better, and possibly original, especially the dash, which is clean and simple. The seller says they added new seat covers and they don't look half bad.
These things are usually either field fixtures or pricey showcase pieces, so it's rare and somewhat comforting to find a beat-up runner that could continue to be a useful hauler for someone. I love old, un-restored runners because they can be enjoyed right away, then restored later, or just driven into the ground for maximum usage. Either scenario would be acceptable and in the proper spirit of this.
Find it here on ebay in Minnesota with no bids, $200.00 starting price, and a $4,100 buy it now.
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