Porsche 356 B 1600 Super

The vehicle in detail

This utterly charming 356 has a wonderful story after falling into the hands of a family by whom it was cherished it from 1968. The mother, an elementary school teacher decided to buyer herself a new car to drive to work. After a visit to car dealer Bilcity in Visby she fell in love with a little red 356, payed the 8000 SEK asking price and came home with a car that still remains in her family some 55 years later! Her daughter who now owns the car has fond memories of fighting over the front seat with her brother on their regular grocery trips, and of seeing it for the first time when it had been completely restored in the 1980’s. A wonderful text accompanies the car detailing some of her experiences over the years along with several old photos.

It has never left the salt-free roads of Gotland, and after the complete restoration in the 1980s has only been summer driven. Accept for the tank cap, that was deemed to be a bit too rusty during that restoration (it is still kept in a box with the car) all parts of the car is original. All inspection protocols are saved and the last mark of control (1971) is still left on the license plate.

The 356 B T5 Cabriolet was one of the two convertible variants of the 356 B generation. The direct successor of the Porsche 356 A Cabriolet, the updated version saw a little more than 3,000 cars produced between 1959 and 1961. It was offered with the same engine options as the Coupe: 1600, 1600S, S90, and Carrera engine options paired to a four-speed synchromesh 741 transmission. The T6 Cabriolet came in 1962 and got the same upgrades as the rest of the T6 variants.

Performance and power figures for the 1600 and Super were comparable with the outgoing 356 A variants. While the base 1600 had 60 bhp, the 1600 Super with its Type 616/2 and 8.5:1 compression was more powerful, with 74 bhp @ 5000 rpm and torque of 87 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm. Performance for the 1600 S was also stronger than the base 1600. 0 – 60 mph took 15.5 seconds (1 second faster) and top speed was equal, at 97 mph.

Overall production for the T-6 stood 12,138 Coupes, 3100 Cabriolets, 200 Roadsters and 699 Hardtops. The cabriolets are now becoming increasingly rare sights and the originality of this car and fully documented ownership history would make it a wonderful asset for a collection and equally a car to be enjoyed by someone looking to continue its story with their own family, which the current owner very much hopes the next will do!