1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Super Cabriolet

1,582cc OHV Flat 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Zenith Carburetors
75bhp at 5,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Matching-numbers engine per Kardex
*Correct factory colors
*Well-preserved since high-end restoration
*Desirable Super spec
*Among the last Reutter-bodied cars built

THE PORSCHE 356B

Porsche's Type 356, introduced in 1948, is acknowledged to be one of the world's great sports cars. Over a 15-year production run, the handsome and durable 356 evolved from a streamlined little aluminum-bodied coupe powered by a VW-derived, 46hp 1100cc air-cooled flat four to a powerful autobahn burner carrying a complex, two-liter four-cam boxer Carrera engine of 130 horsepower. Its steady development brought not only coupes, but luxurious cabriolets and more spartan Speedsters and roadsters, more than 76,000 examples in all by the time production ceased in 1965.

The 356B, produced from 1960 through 1963, represents the mid-point in this design's progression. In what is known as "T5" form, the B introduced new front and rear sheet-metal, while retaining the curved front trunk lid and rounded fenders of the 356A series. The B also added some features demanded by American customers, such as raised front and rear bumpers with over-riders to better protect the body from parking mishaps. The headlamps were raised, a larger hood handle added, and front vent windows appeared in the doors. Mechanically, the gearbox and drum brakes were upgraded. A new steering wheel and column refreshed the interior, along with redesigned rear seats. A Super model with raised compression added an extra 15bhp over the standard version, a full 25% more power than the base car.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This lovely Rubinrot or ruby red 356B represents a kind of an evolutionary sweet spot within the 356 family, offering many tangible performance upgrades while retaining a Reutter-built body.

Karosserie Reutter had been employed in the production of virtually all standard 356 coachwork from 1950, though in 1962 Karmann began sharing this responsibility. The auction car is among the very last Reutter bodied cars ever made, as by 1965 the company would be bought by Porsche, change its name to Recaro, and its business to rather excellent seats.

The car is further distinguished by its matching-numbers engine and transaxle, its fantastic factory colors, twin-carb Super spec, and its very well-preserved state following a previous, high-end restoration.

This car wears T6 bodywork, first seen about midway through 356B production in 1962. Compared to the previous T5, T6 coupe bodies have a larger windshield and rear window, twin (rather than single) engine lid grilles, and several other detail changes. Per the included Kardex, the auction car was delivered on April 19th, 1963, and Rubinrot is its correct color.

Inside, the interior remained largely unchanged from 356B to 356C, perhaps because it's such an inherently excellent layout for serious driving. This example's cabin retains a stock look to go with the exterior and appears to be just as well-preserved to boot.

Power is courtesy a twin-carb, 75 hp 1.6-liter, air-cooled boxer four, a useful 15 over base models, and allowing genuinely exciting performance in a 1,850-pound platform–101 mph in particular would be a headline figure for any four-cylinder car of the day, and quite a few larger ones too.