Hi Everyone It's been a long time since I've posted but I know what great people are on here and I need some advice. My Dad passed away 2 weeks ago, very suddenly but peacefully in his sleep at the age of 79. He was a young man as far as I'm concerned and I miss him very much. Among one thing he left for my brother and I, which we are not to sell for 5 years (I think so we don't do something rash, but rather try to enjoy something that was dear to him) is a 1961 Porsche 1600. I'm not at all familiar with this car, though it looks to be in very nice shape. I'm hoping for some advice to winterize it and generally how to car for a car like that. It's currently stored in an open carport with a cloth type I've cover (fits very well). What do I do with battery, gas, or anything else that needs care. Should I try to drive it during the winter? I prefer not to as it's cold, and not necessarily very safe and there will be crud on our Pacific Northwest streets. Any help greatly appreciated. I will try to upload some pix. Thanks all Ric
I can help. I love those cars. One of my customers/friends restores Porsche 356s as a lucrative hobby. A 356 Cab is worth some good money, and 1600s are desirable engines. My friend mostly restores cabs and speedsters. He knows all there is to know about them. His 356 Speedster (below) sold for, by coincidence, $356K. Speedsters are the most valuable, but cabs (cabriolet) are worth a lot, too. Coupes don't fetch a lot of money, unless they have some special history. Send me a PM with contact information, and I'll see if I can get you in touch with him. He is a super nice guy, and has a real passion for 356s, so he'd probably be happy to chat with you about yours. That car could be worth some serious cheese. My friend can help you determine that, too. I am pretty sure you need to get collector car insurance on that car. Basic car insurance won't cover the real value of it. I can hook you up with someone trustworthy for that, too. I'd get that thing inside, with four walls and a lockable door. CD
BTW, yes, you should drive it, when the weather allows it. They are genuinely fun cars to drive. I've lost count of how many of them I have driven. You will have to get used to the gearbox -- it is pretty sloppy. They are not fast, but like MINIs, they are a lot of fun. They are so lightweight -- you can really toss them around. Drive it, and take care of it. That's a pretty special car. CD
That's what people do on this site (especially with other peoples money!!). Condolences on your loss.
I'm sorry you lost your dad. Yes he was a young man. I know as I'm 82. Speedsters have lower framed windshields and no roll up side windows. If the car gods offered me my choice of any car (key word being any) I would take the cabriolet.
Sorry for your loss, my condolences to you and your family. I think your father left you and your brother a great way to celebrate his life. Drive it and take care of it. Totally agree!
I can't argue with that. Speedsters have a cool factor that can't be matched, but they are one-weather cars, and drive the same as a Cab. If I were buying a 356 to drive,I'd go with a cab, too. CD
Sorry for your loss, a good life since he was able to gift a wonderful legacy to you and your brother. You have some good advice from the folks who have replied. As noted, get classic insurance to cover true value, get it inside and under lock and key, drive it. Surprisingly, the 356 is a worthy collector and are going up in value as I type. If it is clean and driveable and little or no rust, it is probably worth in the 60-80K range. If it has a lot of rust, then value goes down but someone will pay good money for it. I like the idea, he said keep it for 5 years and enjoy, that is why folks enjoy the 356. Look up Emory Motor Sports on FB, the internet and Instagram, if you want to see what should be done to a 356, if you have money to burn. Good luck and enjoy. Don
I've read that roll up/down windows could be 'special ordered' from the factory but the only ones I've ever seen had curtains.
Thank everybody for your kind words and encouragement. I'm not too fussed (at this time) as to the exact model of Porsche, as I have no plans to sell. My concern is the upcoming winter. What, if anything, do I do with the gas in the tank, oil, battery, or anything else I need to pay attention to. That's what I'd like to figure out.
If it's only going to sit a few months, don't do anything. Maybe take the ground wire off of the battery, but that's about it. The gas won't go bad in a few months. The oil won't be affected either. The best thing you could do is get it into a proper garage.