Chassis No. 155159
Engine No. 89516
Transmission No. 45307
Porsche estimates that 70 percent of their cars remain on the road with a significantly smaller percentage hailing from the 356 era. Almost all surviving 356s have been restored to some degree with most featuring a combination of new paint, a fresh interior, or modifications. The unrestored 356 is an aberration and, if it exists, it is likely a highly patinated survivor with multiple owners over the decades. It is significantly rarer to find one held by a single owner from new, an owner whose name appears in the first position under Wagenbesitzer on its Kardex warranty card. Even rarer still, must be a 356 with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer. Early Porsches were created in an era before collecting cars became popular; they were built for drivers, not collectors, and nearly all were driven regularly. The combination of all three? An unrestored, original owner 356 with less than 10,000 original miles? In this rarefied air sit perhaps less than two dozen Porsche 356s worldwide with most well-known to the enthusiast community.
The discovery of a new member, one that has remained cloistered from PCA Clubs and concurs events for the past 60-plus years? Unthinkable. Yet this unrestored 1961 Porsche 356 B 1600 Super Cabriolet, owned by William Malencik from new with only 9,136 original miles is just such a car.
After a youth spent herding cows and peddling fruit for neighbors in Spring Glen, Utah, William Malencik joined the military to join the fight during World War II. He was seriously wounded in combat, spending nearly a year in the hospital before enrolling in Utah State University. He earned a degree in Land Management and Forestry, leading to a long career in resource conservation with the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Surely there was office work here and there, but while working in BLM districts that included Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, Malencik certainly spent long days in the field as well. Little wonder then, after approximately a decade with the BLM, he would reward himself with the purchase of a sports car. Living in Craig, Colorado at the time, William and his brother Dean visited Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche dealers in Denver to discover what was available. They were told a 250 Lusso would take some time to arrive and a Gullwing was not to their liking. On the other hand, the Porsche 356s that Vern Hagestad Motor Co. had on offer that day were ideal.
Both the Kardex warranty card and Hagestad car invoice on file reveal Malencik’s impressive order that day in Denver. His new Ivory Cabriolet was the most expensive body type offered at the time, and in 1600 Super specification, the second most powerful. He did not skimp on the optional extras. The Kardex shows an optional Red leather interior perfectly suited to the car’s Ivory paint, a green-tinted windshield, Cabriolet tonneau cover, a Becker Mexico AM/FM radio with two loudspeakers and an antenna, and chrome wheels with Dunlop weisswand whitewall tires. The dealer car invoice reveals additional options ordered at the time of purchase that may not have fit on the Kardex. An outside Talbot mirror, two arm rests, wipers, and most importantly a hardtop in contrasting Black. Other than a Vern Hagestad dealer badge affixed to the rear bumper and 9,136 miles added to the odometer, chassis number 155159 remains remarkably close to how it left the factory. It sits on its original Dunlop whitewalls, retains its original toolkit, and Cabriolet soft top, with its preservation condition supported by little use (only 145 miles a year on average) and indoor storage in the dry Southwestern climates of Nevada and Utah its entire life by a single dedicated owner. Why did Malencik preserve his Super Cabriolet rather than pile on the miles? In an interview with family, it is noted that as a child of The Great Depression, William Malencik held tight those important possessions that were of singular quality, and a Porsche 356 Cabriolet certainly is that! Porsche purists would argue that the result of his care until his passing in 2024 is a masterpiece.
The seminal Porsche quarterly 000 has a recently added section titled “Referent.” In it, they catalog rare original Porsches, “ones that have been lovingly cared for over the decades, yet still show the patina of age and use…as accurate as one can reasonably expect to find without access to a working time machine.” Well said, and a declaration that precisely describes William Malencik’s 1961 Porsche 356 B 1600 Super Cabriolet. Naturally after time spent in storage the car will undoubtedly require mechanical sorting if a return to the road is intended. So, to the future second owner of 155159: A PCA Preservation class entry? A 000 Referent? An unrepeatable reference piece for those fascinated by true originality? Surely, all of the aforementioned possibilities are accessible due to William Malencik, who has preserved this exceptional 356 Super Cabriolet for future generations and one fortunate new owner.
Please note that proceeds from the sale of this very special Porsche will go to support Trout Unlimited, a registered 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to conserving coldwater habitats like the ones Mr. Malencik spent his life fishing and protecting. As the leading coldwater conservation organization in the nation, Trout Unlimited solves challenges threatening our rivers and streams to create lasting change in our waters. With a science-driven approach, a track record of success, and unmatched partnerships, TU has the credibility to shape national policy, implement complex restoration projects, and engage thousands of supporters nationwide. TU’s initiatives drive landscape-scale conservation and enhance climate resiliency in communities across the country.
