We had our second-ever first-gen Camaro yesterday, and this Porsche- which happened to be parked less than a block away- is our second-ever 356 (after this '63 autocross veteran; this Speedster replica doesn't count, though it's still a cool car). What are the odds that both DOTS 356s would be green '63s?

Actually, I'm not 100% sure this is a '63; it's definitely a T6 Karmann-built 356B coupe, but it could be a '62 (though I'm pretty sure the engine lid badging on the Super didn't read "S" that year) or a '64-65 (but this car appears to have drum brakes, which were dumped after '63). Obviously, this is the sort of thing that must be correct, lest Porsche fanatics- who make Detroit muscle car worshipers seem like well-balanced, reasonable individuals, which is saying something- make me write "I WILL NOT ACCUSE FERDINAND PORSCHE OF RIPPING OFF HANS LEDWINKA EVER EVER AGAIN" 988 times (one for every year of the Thousand Year Reich that didn't happen) in every Porsche post I write in the future. Right. So, Porsche experts, is this really a '63?

Something that you Citroën fans might find disturbing is the fact that this car appears to have replaced the 1969 DS wagon; this Porsche lives at the same house and I haven't seen the Citroën for quite a while. Which would you prefer as your daily driver? Tough call for me, but I think I'm leaning more in the direction of the French wagon.

Sharp-eyed reader Cameron took these shots for us. Here's what he has to say:

Spotted this survivor T6-body 356B in Eagle Rock. Original paint, Black license plates, sixties era band stickers — I couldn't get a look at the mileage, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is a one-owner car. Enjoy!!

Check out the 356 Spotters Guide at the 356 Registry — it might make a fun game "What year is this Porsche and why?" Answer: Drum brakes!! It has drum brakes and T-6 356C's have disks. It took me about an hour to figure that out. Enjoy!!

As VR says:

We race a Datsun 510, and the 510 has a great race heritage, but I do like the 356. The only problem is that there's just so many of the damn things!

While we're in a Porsche frame of mind, how about a couple of 935s? Here's VR:

Both of these cars will be at the Historics - the featured marque is Porsche). The white one is owned by Woody Perkins, the yellow by Tom Hedges (who also owns Hedges Winery up here in Washington). If I remember correctly, they both bought them around the same time - roughly 3 years ago. They run them up and down the West Coast.

The image quality isn't so good; in fact, identifying the cars is much like trying to extract useful information from the Zapruder Film (which was shot using similar hardware). The ASA 24 film means there are some dark parts, and my film-to-video conversion technique (camcorder + projector) doesn't help matters. There's definitely a Corvair, a 356, and a Beetle, and what appears to be a Renault Caravelle. Maybe a Sprite as well? Mostly you just get atmosphere from this; the sense that it's really freakin' cold, with maybe a mournful whistling of grim Scandinavian-style wind through the skeletal trees, punctuated by the roar of engines at rod-throwing revs and the occasional crunch of sheetmetal on snowbanks. You might check out this Land-O-Lakes SCCA history of racing in Minnesota when you're done here.

It is a safe bet to say there is a lifetime of stories wrapped up in this Porsche found resting in a barn somewhere in Mississippi. With no proper documentation or previous owner spouting off his personal sagas, one can only guess what type of action this car has seen.

Estimates put the Porsche at a '53, but nothing is certain. Based on how high the bids have been chased up at this point, we can be relatively assured the next owner will put the proper amount of care into such a machine and return it to glory.

[eBay]

Porsche celebrates 60 years by showing the mid-engine 'Porsche No. 1' sports car that Dr. Ferry Porsche built when he could not find the car of his dreams

Atlanta, August 5, 2008 - Porsche No. 1, the one-of-a-kind, two-seat sports car Dr. Ferdinand 'Ferry' Porsche developed and built after he searched and was unable to find the car of his dreams, makes its North American Concours d'Elegance debut when it joins other notable and historic vehicles August 14th at California's famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

This occasion is a happy one as Porsche No. 1's first North American trip, to Porsche's 50th Anniversary celebration at the Monterrey Historics in 1998, was thwarted when it was damaged in Chicago on its way to California. This trip also is special as it helps commemorate Porsche's 60th anniversary. Before arriving at the Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Porsche No. 1 had a starring role in Porsche Cars North America's 60th Anniversary celebration at its Atlanta corporate headquarters.

Affectionately called Porsche No. 1 by the Porsche family and thousands of the brand's loyal followers worldwide, this legendary sports car and the lynchpin of Porsche's design philosophy began life in June 1947 as engineering project Type 356 in the Porsche design office in Gmünd, Austria. Officially known as Type 356-001, Ferry Porsche's design concept took shape through the leadership of Karl Rabe, Porsche's talented chief designer who worked alongside Ferry's father to develop the original Volkswagen (VW).

In post-war Germany and Europe where resources were few yet the desire to rebuild was strong, the Porsche team diligently started building the innovative sports car. Starting with a hand-built tubular steel frame, engineers fitted already existing VW components including the suspension, headlights, clutch, gearbox, cable-operated brakes, worm-gear steering, and various small parts. VW parts were a natural choice due to the early VW-Porsche relationship and because of VW's key role in the post-war rebuilding effort after British military officers brought VW's Wolfsburg factory back online in 1945 to fulfill car demand and to stimulate the nation's economy.

The basic Volkswagen air-cooled, 1.31-liter flat-four engine put out just 25 horsepower at 3,300 rpm, so the skilled Porsche team enlarged the bore from 70 to 75 mm, increased compression from 5.8:1 to 7.0:1, and added slightly larger inlet valves and ports and twin carburetors, boosting output to between 35 and 40 horsepower.

The engine and transaxle were fitted into the frame in such a way that the engine ended up positioned in front of the rear axles with the transaxle trailing behind, making this a true mid-engine design. Mated to a four-speed gearbox, the drivetrain proved to be both lightweight and reliable.

Erwin Komenda, who along with Ferry Porsche and Karl Rabe formed the foundation of the fledgling car company, penned an aerodynamic and easy-to-build open roadster design. Friedrich Weber from Gmünd, one of just three of the company's body artisans, formed each of the car's aluminum body panels by hand, beating the then rare sheet metal and massaging it into shape over the wooden body buck Komenda had designed. The result was as shapely and beautiful as it was functional, with minimal protrusions to upset the aerodynamics or its visually graceful lines.

As with every Porsche since, form followed function on Porsche No. 1. The interior featured a bench seat to accommodate a third passenger if needed, a simple dash with only a tachometer (a speedometer was added later), a locking glove box, and map pockets on the leather door panels. An ample luggage compartment and the fuel tank were placed under the front hood, and the mid-engine layout provided space for a spare wheel and tire and battery behind the engine and above the transaxle. Finally, a frameless and low twin-panel front windscreen provided wind protection while accenting the sports car's gentile lines.

The unique roadster weighed merely 1,290 pounds, and thanks to the modified engine it could reach a top speed of between 84 and 87 mph. In May 1948, Ferry Porsche himself set off on the first long road test, driving from Gmünd to Zell am See, Austria. During the rigorous test drive over some of Europe's most spectacular climbs, the rear torsion bar suspension failed but was repaired en route. Through this car's entire test period, this proved to be the only mechanical failure.

Journalists tested the car on July 4, 1948, and Robert Braunscheweig, editor of Switzerland's highly respected Automobil Revue, concluded, "This is how we imagine modern road motoring to be, where the advantages of modern springing and the resultant driving comfort are combined with the adhesion of an equally modern, low and handy sports car." On July 11, with Herbert Kaes at the wheel, Porsche No. 1 won its class in the Rund um den Hofgarten local race in Innsbruck, Austria. Just as today, testing and competition proved to be solid underpinnings for the company's commercial and motorsports success.

Soon after, Porsche ramped up production of the 356 sports car at the company's tiny factory in Gmünd, abandoning the complex steel tube frame in favor of a stamped floor pan. The engine also was repositioned behind the axles to provide more interior space and room for a rear seat. Not too much later Porsche moved its production operations in 1950 to its current home in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.

After passing through the hands of several owners, Porsche No. 1 was reacquired by Porsche AG and became a centerpiece in the Porsche museum. As Porsche nears completion of its new museum alongside the Porsche factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Porsche No. 1 will be prominently displayed in a way befitting the historic car that shaped all future Porsche vehicles.

I caught sight of this Porsche parked in front of the Peet's downtown and- for once- I hadn't forgotten to bring my camera when out on a non-DOTS mission. The owner was sitting outside with his coffee and was happy to tell the story of his car and let me shoot the engine and interior (it always helps in such situations when both of you went to the same high school, as was the case here).


This car doesn't live on the street (the owner has one of the few Alameda houses with a proper garage), but it gets driven regularly, including a fair amount of commute duty. I'd seen it around town, but had lost hope that I'd ever catch it holding still for the camera (much like the BMW 1500 that keeps taunting me). The engine has a recent high-buck rebuild, but the original paint- warts and all- is still there.


No doubt Porsche obsessos would cringe at the idea of a street-driven 356 with non-coucours-quality paint... but they'd probably look for the nearest tall building for jumping-off purposes if informed that this car has been autocrossed. But don't stress, purists; the owner has since obtained a 914 for his racing adventures and the 356 is now treated more gently. Hey, check out that factory AM/FM radio! How rare were those things back in the early 60s?


So there you have it: our oldest DOTS Porsche yet!