The paintwork has patina for its age and received a very thin repaint in the 1980s. A car that has been owned and driven for this long is rare; while it’s certainly been used, it has neither been abused nor neglected. The exterior retains most of its original trim and factory glass. The upholstery is mostly original, with factory VDO instrumentation, an original VDM steering wheel, and an AM/FM Blaupunkt radio. Date-coded 4 ½ J x 15 KPZ wheels (1961) are fitted to Vredestein Sprint Classic 165 HR15 tires.
According to the incredible documentation, this 356 was purchased in early 1962 from AJ Pearson, a VW and Porsche dealership located in Orlando, Florida. The original owner lived there locally and had the car for four years before it was sold to Mr. Hebert, who purchased the car from a used sports car dealer in November 1966 for $2,221.50. In 1972, the vehicle was relocated to Dallas, Texas, where it stayed for a year before being handed down to the proprietor’s son. The son then transported the car to California, where it received regular maintenance and meticulous servicing from Scott’s Independent and Precision Motorwerks in Orange County, California. According to the previous owner, the engine and transmission were rebuilt in May 1980 by Scott’s Independent, and at the time of the rebuild, a 200mm clutch and a Bursch exhaust system were installed. In 2014, the 356 had the following work done: a new fuel tank, new engine mounts, rebuilt carburetors, new shocks, rebuilt front-end suspension, Willhoit shift coupler, ignition bypass, and dual master cylinder. On November 1, 2022, North Hollywood Speedometer rebuilt all of the gauges. Most recently, on May 30, 2023, it received a service from Scott’s Independent, which included replacing the spark plugs, points, oil filter, valve cover strainer gaskets, and oil, along with adjusting the valves, carbs, and timing.
Mechanically, it is powered by the matching flat four 1600cc Normal engine and paired with a 4-speed manual transmission (type 741) with a four-wheel drum braking system. Complete with Porsche Kardex, original California black plate, original California blue plate, a purchase order from 1966, photos of the car over the years, and over 55 years of service records. The 356’s history and maintenance records are a testament to the care and attention it has received over the years. A great opportunity to acquire a numbers-matched T6 356 coupe that can be daily driven as is or restored in the future.
