The paintwork has been repainted and is in good condition with excellent gaps and panel fit. The exterior trim, glass, and brightwork are original. The upholstery has been reupholstered, with VDO instrumentation, a Porsche radio delete plate, and a VDM steering wheel. The undercarriage has all original floor pans with no signs of rust. The 4 ½” x 15” Lemmerz chrome wheels are fitted to Sprint Classic Vredestein 165 HR 15 tires.
A receipt of payment from Ralph Cutright Co. in Santa Monica records the purchase of the 356C Coupe when it was sold new for $3,651.00. Delivered new to the first owner Charles H. Parks who has retained all of the service invoices throughout the 57-year ownership and received routine maintenance from Edelweiss in Torrance, California. On November 8, 2010, Ansite Inc. in Los Alamitos, California was commissioned to perform the following work: install a new flywheel seal, pulley seal, and muffler. Rebuild carburetors with new points, cap, and rotor. Replace the axle boots, shifter coupler bushings, and adjust the clutch. Most recently, after the vehicle arrived at European Collectibles, the vehicle was serviced and was given a extensive detail.
Mechanically, it is powered by the matching 1600cc flat-four engine (type 616-15) producing 75 horsepower paired with a 4-speed manual transmission (type 741) with four-wheel disc brakes. Complete with owner’s manual, factory build sheet, and 58 years of service history. The 356C holds a special place in Porsche history, not only as a sales success but as an icon of one of the BEST 356s to drive.
History
The 356 is a lightweight and nimble-handling rear-engine rear-wheel-drive 2-door sports car available in a hardtop coupé and open configurations. Engineering innovations continued during the years of manufacture, contributing to its motorsports success and popularity. However, when the T6 got disc brakes in 1964, with no other visible alterations, they called it the model C, or the SC. The last revision of the 356 was the 356C introduced for the 1964 and 1965 model year. It featured disc brakes all around and a more powerful 75 horsepower engine as the standard.