Desirable Slate Grey and EU-delivery example
1964 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet

• Desirable disc-braked 356 and top-of-the-line 95hp 'SC' model
• One of the last 356s produced for model year 1965
• German delivery from new
• Original colour combination of Schiefergrau over red interior
• Copy of Porsche Kardex on file


Although Ferdinand Porsche had established his automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, his name would not appear on a car until 1949. When it did, it graced one of the all-time great sports cars: the Porsche 356. Having commenced manufacture with a short run of aluminium-bodied cars built at Gmünd, Porsche began volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coupé at its old base in Stuttgart, at first in premises shared with coachbuilders Reutter and then (from 1955) in its original factory at Zuffenhausen.

The work of Ferry Porsche, the 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father, and like the immortal 'Beetle' employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension. Regularly revised and updated, Porsche's landmark sports car would remain in production well into the 911 era, the final examples being built in 1965.

Cabriolets had been manufactured right from the start of 356 production, but the first open Porsche to make a significant impact was the Speedster, introduced in 1954 following the successful reception in the USA of a batch of 15 special roadsters. The Reutter-bodied Speedster was dropped in 1958 and replaced by the more civilised Convertible D, which differed principally by virtue of its larger windscreen and winding side windows. Porsche sub-contracted cabriolet body construction to a number of different coachbuilders, Reutter undertaking the bulk of production with significant contributions from Karmann of Osnabrück, Drauz of Heilbronn and d'Ieteren of Brussels.

By the time the 356B arrived in September 1959, Porsche's first sports car had gained a one-piece rounded windscreen and 15"-diameter wheels, the newcomer's introduction bringing with it further styling revisions and an engine now standardised at 1,600cc. Outwardly very similar to the final 356Bs, the ultimate 356C model arrived in 1963 sporting Dunlop-type four-wheel disc brakes - first seen on the 2.0-litre Carrera 2 - among numerous detail improvements. Engines available - both of 1.6 litres - were the 75bhp 'C' and 95bhp 'SC', the latter replacing the Super 90. In 1963 Reutter was taken over by Porsche, and from then onwards all 356 coupés and cabriolets were built in Stuttgart, with only the hardtop coupés entrusted to Karmann.

Reporting on the 356C in its February 1964 issue, Road & Track observed that the car was best suited to someone skilful enough to exploit its inherent characteristics to the full: "In the hands of an experienced Porsche driver, who can use the slight oversteer to his advantage on winding roads where right turn follows left in rapid sequence, it would present formidable opposition to any competing car." R&T was unable to obtain a true top speed figure from its not-yet-run-in example, but Sporting Motorist achieved a maximum of 182 km/h from its 1600SC, with 100 km/h arriving in 11.1 seconds. SM concluded: "The Porsche has always been a fiercely individualistic motor car and even after all these years it remains so. Smoother, quieter and more sophisticated than it used to be, it still remains very much a driver's car, with the indefinable ability to respond to the judgement and skill of the man behind the wheel." Sporting Motorist's scribe was writing more than 50 years ago but his words remain every bit as true today, succinctly explaining the enduring appeal of this legendary German sports car.

One of the last Porsche 356s to leave the factory, this desirable SC Cabriolet is a rare European-delivered example, spending the first years of its life in Germany. Chassis number '161138' was delivered new in September 1964 for the 1965 model year, by which time production of the successor 901/911 had already started. Finished in the rare and desirable Schiefergrau (slate grey) with red leather interior, this particular example desirable 'SC' engine producing 95bhp. It is estimated that only some 153 Porsche 356C SCs (coupé and cabriolet) were built for the 1965 model year. The total cabriolets for 1965 was just shy of 600 units, making this particular example pretty rare.

'161138' was delivered new via the Porsche dealer Raffay in Hamburg, Germany and is still finished in its original colour combination of Schiefergrau with red interior. In August 1966 at 72,653 kilometres, the original engine (number '821388') was replaced by Raffay, as listed on the Porsche Kardex (on file). It was replaced with an original Porsche engine number 'KD-P 820097' (Type 616/15), which is still in the car today. The gearbox too has been replaced by an original-type unit, number '83612'.

Unfortunately, the car's history since 1966 is not documented but it has clearly been subject to a professional restoration a while ago. An older restoration holding up very well, this 356C SC Cabriolet has been enjoyed by its current owner for over 10 years. Said to be in very good mechanical condition and well presented with a very clean engine bay, the car drives very well, has always been well maintained by its owner. Some lovely features include headrests and the period radio.
Ready to be used by its next custodian, the car comes with Belgian registration documents; a valuation report dated 2022; and a copy of the Porsche Kardex listing early services up to June 1966 and the engine replacement by Raffay.