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Back in the Sixties and Seventies, enthusiasm for Porsche's classic 356 model was often paired with the desire to make it go faster in order to compete with the new, 6-cylinder-powered 911, especially here in Southern California, the birthplace of hot rodding.
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Since owning one of the ultra-rare, four-cam Carrera 356 models was prohibitively expensive and impractical, traditionalists had to avail themselves of the services of A Few Good Men: factory-trained mechanics, working at Otto Zipper or Vasek Polak by day, moonlighting to mach schneller Speedsters and Coupés after hours.
Meister Dieter Wanderer, one of these legendary Porsche 356 wizards, was persuaded to apply his considerable skills and profound knowledge to create the masterpiece presented here.
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This fabulous 1965 Porsche, VIN *219370*, was manufactured by KARMANN during the last year of 356 production. A two-owner, factory black California car, it escaped the dreaded rust devil and has never needed restoration. Mechanically, it's a highly developed Überporsche with enough horsepower to give a well-tuned 911 a run for the money.
Sold new in the Southland to a wealthy Porsche enthusiast and lifelong PCA member, #370 always stayed in the realm of the inner circle of PCA members, residing with its second SoCal owner for the past two decades.
If you know that Porsche's 904 race car--of which very few were built--was propelled to countless victories by a well-tuned 4-cylinder engine, you'll appreciate the arcane significance and value of the car's vintage blue-and-yellow license plates!
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Let's now inspect this truly unique Porsche inside and out, top to bottom, in great detail, starting with the trunk, where neglect tends to manifest itself quickly.
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Here, everything looks to be in fine fettle!
Trunk details, from left to right:
- Perfect front valance and battery box
- Fresh 6-Volt OPTIMA battery, leather tire strap
- Date-coded spare and FIRESTONE 165-15 radial tire; original BILSTEIN jack is present, too
- Superbly preserved plastic trunk liner, fuse box cover, washer bottle
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Being a wolf in sheep's clothing, the car's coachwork looks deceptively stock. None of the radical, over-the-top modifications most of today's Outlaws employ were performed; you won't even find flared fenders. Surveying the shiny black exterior, we note the very good door and hood gaps so desired by Porschisti.
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Applied many moons ago over smooth body panels, the black finish still looks stunning. Gloss is a mile deep; there are no scratches, dings, dents, or bubbles, just a few small imperfections, virtually undetectable without the use of a magnifying lens, and certainly nothing to lose sleep over.
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It takes a loving touch to keep a black car as pristine-looking as this one!
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Side window trim recently received a triple-chrome treatment and new weatherstripping, a labor and cost-intensive endeavor.
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Integral part of the car's High Performance theme are these very special--and very expensive--wheels. A set of date-coded factory steel rims were widened to 7Jx15 inches, perfectly filling the wheel wells and assuring the largest possible tire contact patch. Not long ago, new BRIDGESTONE 205/60-VR 15 radials were fitted all around, making a big difference in the handling department.
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The last 356s came factory-equipped with ATE 4-wheel disc brakes, a vast improvement over the old drums. For added safety and to harness the extra horsepower (see engine description below), the car has been upgraded with '75 911SC calipers, vented and drilled rotors, a dual master cylinder, and larger, 1-inch wheel bearings. A year ago, new king pins, link pins, and tie rods were installed. Adjustable, red KONI Eagle front shocks and a HD 22mm Sway Away drop link make pre-loading and corner-balancing an easy task. This 356 is glued to the tarmac, even at dizzying speeds!
Let's have a good look at the car's interior now.
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Though often descibed as being a bit austere, minimalist even, we think the 356 cockpit is a phenomenal enviroment to practice the art of spirited driving. There's plenty of room, even for big & tall folks, and the Germans certainly knew to use long-lasting, high-quality materials throughout.
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Original black rubber floor mats and white, perforated headliner look superb. Note working interior lights.
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Dashboard displays factory-applied black paint. Original padded dash top looks perfect. Genuine, signed NARDI wood-and-aluminum steering wheel adds an upscale touch and, being of a smaller diameter than the original, makes a lot of sense.
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The true focal point of the dash must be this very rare set of genuine 356 Carrera gauges, lovingly restored by North Hollywood Speedometer, featuring the 8,000rpm tach with 6,800rpm redline, 160mph speedometer, and degreed temperature dial. Priceless!
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Last but not least, there's a pair of Speedster seats, mounted to original sliding brackets. With immaculate black upholstery featuring perforated cushions, white piping, and Haargarn carpeting on the backside, these iconic--and very comfortable--sport seats are absolutely beautiful to behold.
Three inch wide competition safety belts complete the perfect picture.
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Rear seat backs have been omitted for a cleaner look and a bit of weight savings.
Check out the impeccable German Schlingenware salt-and-pepper wool carpeting throughout the cabin.
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Walking around to the rear of the car, we are about to examine its mechanicals--but let's look at a few more details first.
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From left to right:
- Original Driver's Manual (not a reproduction)
- "25 Year Member PCA" decal
- "27th Porsche Parade, Reno, 1982" decal
- Louvered aluminum vents visible beneath twin grilles, indication of things to come . . .
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Open sesame!
Inside a toothbrush-clean engine bay resides the heart of this California-style 356, its fully developed and TLG-dynoed 125hp power plant.
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Starting with a 616/15 case that has not been line-bored, a set of 1750cc SHASTA pistons and cylinders with 10.5:1 compression were installed; the standard-size rods and crank had new bearings fitted. A NORRIS "S" cam with grooved cam gear was advanced 2 notches. This assembly is topped by vented 912 heads with HD dual springs, hardened alloy retainers, massaged with new guides, valves, valve seats, and a fresh valve job. A CRANE electronic ignition provides juice for the new .009 distibutor; dual EMPI-labeled WEBER 40 IDA carburetors have been jetted and tuned to ingest plenty of premium fuel.
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The remote spin-on oil filter connects via AEROQUIP 18AN braided lines to the MOCAL oil cooler mounted underneath the deck lid (hence the added louvers). A deep sump allows for extra volume.
Spent fumes exit via a set of mighty BURSCH headers. All that power is delivered via a hard-to-find, lightened (6lbs) factory flywheel and a CENTERFORCE clutch/disc assembly to the freshly rebuilt type 741A transaxle featuring new synchros and wheel bearings, a 12 bolt ring gear, stock BBAB gearing with the tall 4th, and a short shift kit from a 912.
Best of all, there's less than 3,000 miles on the drivetrain, with a recent tuneup by Meister Dieter himself.
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The car's undercarriage is as clean and dry as one could ever wish for.
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Factory original, perfectly rust free floors and longitudinals are a rare trait on a 44 year-old 356, even here in California. This car never had rust and never needed a restoration.
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Details of undercarriage:
- Perfect battery box bottom
- HD Front sway bar with adjustable end links. Notice genuine KONI Classic front shocks
- Oil filter with AN fittings, remotely mounted under left rear fender
- Adjustable CARRERA coil-over shocks instead of torsion bars
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Naturally, we were itching to take the well-endowed 356 for a test drive. Monday, July 20th, when we took all of these pictures, was another sunny day in the Southland, and we headed for the mountains to find out what this power monster is all about.
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The car starts willingly, idles very well, and all the controls are easy to use. Steering is precise, brakes are fantastic, and the handling doesn't leave anything to be desired. There are no rattles or shimmies. Once the oil had reached full operating temperature, we shifted back to second, tickled the accelerator pedal to the tune of 6,500rpm, and remained firmly pressed into the Speedster seats during the tremendous bout of acceleration that followed instantly. This Porsche is at the top of its game!
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Freeways are not a problem for this Classic. We had to rein ourselves in more than once while approaching 100mph in a hurry.
Returning home, we were thoroughly amazed at the car's throaty sound and superior performance--and the enthusiastic reactions of the general public. A screaming, black-on-black Porsche 356 certainly receives more attention than any late model, even a Carrera 4, BMW Z8, or Murcielago.
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The verdict: you couldn't duplicate this car if you tried. Starting with a rust free, black California 356SC, you would have to invest tens of thousands to find, massage, and install all the rare parts needed to turn your sedate Porsche into a California old school street fighter of this caliber.
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An incredible confluence of lucky circumstances has brought this singularly fascinating 356 out into bright daylight after 44 years of a sheltered life, hidden away in two enthusiasts' stables. Throughly freshened by Dieter, it allows a rare glimpse back in time when underdog 356 owners took the gauntlet thrown down by the factory--in the form of the "modern" 911--and fought back.
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Quite possibly, this amazing 356 remains the only intact survivor of that period. It's definitely The Best of all the California Hot Rod Porsches we've ever laid eyes on at shows, rallyes, and Club functions. Ready for road and track, and eligible for most prestigious events, its value is firmly established, its appreciation potential all but unlimited.
Addendum:
We sold this Porsche in July 2009.
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