Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sotheby's Santa Monica event, June
24, 2017.
Estimate:
$100,000 - $125,000 US
Purchased by current owner in 1980 in California
Painstakingly restored by 356 registry member
Original Bali Blue example; factory electric sunroof
Retains its original drivetrain
Includes COA, tool kit, owner's manual, jack, and spare
Having desired a 1964 Porsche 356 C Sunroof Coupe for some time,
the owner of this beautifully presented example first acquired the
car in September 1980 when a dealer operating out his home listed
it in a local Woodland Hills, California free ad paper. It was one
of a selection parked at the house and the one he took home to
begin a detailed, researched and devotedly applied restoration over
a 21-year period.
It was drivable, but had a partial and incomplete restoration that
had begun two years earlier. The car had been partially
disassembled and noticing certain items missing, he was able to
delve into the dealer's large 356 parts inventory. Whatever wasn't
there in the desired condition was searched out and acquired over
the next several years. The unearthed parts had to be in like-new,
original condition.
Although running, one of the first things that occurred in the
restoration process was the removal of the engine and commencing a
properly conducted rebuild that was assisted by well-known area
professionals and utilized all genuine Porsche OEM parts from
Stoddard of Willoughby, Ohio. All essential mechanical components
were machined and resurfaced by a respected local machine shop. All
sheet metal was stripped and powder coated in the correct colors.
The same exacting detail was applied with the fuel lines and
applicable engine parts with the correct Cadmium finish. The
internal parts have since been protected by only Valvoline 20-50
weight Racing Oil with the correct zinc content to avoid premature
wear to the precisely built unit.
The engine was factory fitted with the European Heater system, as
this car was originally sold to Raffay & Co., the Porsche dealer in
Hamburg, Germany. However, the California Department of Motor
Vehicle vehicle title states that this car was registered in
California as a new car. The owner was told that the 356 C was
likely involved in a dealer to dealer transfer from Raffay & Co to
a Porsche dealer in California.
At the time of his purchase, the Porsche had an incorrect T-6 "B"
hood, the proper "C" hood is now fitted and other than this piece,
the left and right doors, plus the engine cover have the last three
VIN digits (361) stamped and confirm originality.
The interior was acquired from a Santa Clarita, California
restoration shop that had a complete C coupe interior kit by
CB&E Interiors of Atlanta, Georgia. It was in the desired color
of Fawn and included the fully upholstered seat backs and bottoms,
door panels, rear side and back panels, proper headliner with the
sunroof zipper kit, complete carpet kit, plus extra vinyl for door
caps, dash, and rear side rails.
The 1980 color presentation was Silver, and by that time, gray
primer was covering the majority of the exterior. Time saw a change
of taste in the desired final color; Signal Red had been the first
instinct, but that changed when the owner saw a Bali Blue C coupe
at one of the Casablanca Car Concours that the Southern California
Porsche 356 Club promoted in the 1990s. This special order color,
combined with the Fawn interior, fashions a tremendous
presentation. The Bali Blue is in the correct Glasurit paint
color.
Additional research by the caring owner reveals that this is one of
the last cars to have a Reutter coach builder plate on the driver's
door sill. He reports that "on or around May 1st, 1964, the 356
cars built by Porsche had a "Porsche" door sill plate going
forward. Also, this engine has a cable-driven tachometer, one of
the last to have this. The first known electric tachometer car in a
web-based database is only 30 or so VIN numbers away."
Powered by the respected 1,582 cc flat four-cylinder engine and
paired with a four-speed manual transmission, this Porsche should
provide enjoyable miles of driving and pleasure of ownership. Along
with the quite uncommon factory electrically-powered sunroof, other
notable features include a rear luggage rack, complete tool kit
with Messko gauge and Golde sunroof tool, restored C-style jack,
Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel, period correct Blaupunkt AM/FM.SW
radio, period luggage (without tennis rackets), and owner's
manual.
Renowned period writer, the late Ken Purdy, proclaimed the Porsche
356 "may be the most fun to drive of anything in the world." This
is the perfect example to explore your own responses to his
assertion; let the driving begin.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/.
