Picked up this 356C last week...

gileadgarage · 03:10 PM

Hi there, my first post here at Pelican.

I picked up this 63 356 C last week and was wondering what you all think of it.
Not too much to go on as of yet since its still in storage in original owners garage.
I think the C started in 64? but this one says 63 on tag. Is definitely a C. Typical story; husband passed away and car sat in garage since (car was from CT and hauled up to their vacation place up the road from me, where it was parked back in 96).

Car is in good shape, very little rust for a 356, floor rusted through up front due to a mouse nest behind toe panel, other then that original floors pretty good, but probably will replace all, not sure yet need to take a better look. Torsion area, front trunk floor, longitudals good shape. Very original car, has original carboard tags (oil type, etc) and other interesting time capsule features.
last time running in 96, engine stuck but ran well when parked. I'm going to pour some marvel in cyls and wait a couple of weeks, then try with a wrench. Oil in CC look new. Clutch pedal actuates, throttle pedal/linkage works, brake pedal froze.
Has very old trellborg tires which are not road worthy, but interesting old tires.
No spare tire.

Car has been repainted oem color at some point but looks good, interior decent but needs carpet. car was very well cared for before it was left in garage.

I plan on restoring the car but wish to leave as original as possible.

I paid $10K for it and think i did OK, maybe not a screaming deal but seems more then fair after research I have done. It was an easy purchase since it is about .5 miles for my home, this alone is worth alot to me, no long road trip/transportation for once!> car was not advertised, I found out about the car and contacted the owner, finally made the deal happen last week.

I am a noob with these cars, but familiar with cars in general. I love how simple these cars are. I have no time to do much with it right now, I'd like to remove carpet, clean/detail car in/out, free engine, service brakes, maybe start and drive up and down the road would be great if that ever worked out, and cosmoline the heck out of underside/floors, etc. Then car will go up on dollies and into storage again in newer barn with wood floor. This will be a long term project for me, I want to do it right.

I took these pics last summer when i first looked at it. The pics of the rust are the worst spots other then the mouse area which i do not have a pic of yet. The rust seen in pics looks worse then it is, it just has not been touched for a long time.

Thanks for any feedback!

gileadgarage · 03:03 PM

lane912 · 04-14-2011, 03:09 PM

bet you it starts-
looks like a keeper
fix her up and get out and enjoy her-

gileadgarage · 04-14-2011, 03:12 PM

Thanks, i bet it starts too, i just want to turn it over by hand after soaking cyls first. carbs look fine, may not even pull them off at this point.

I really love this thing! And yes, I look forward to the day my wife and I take it on a nice foliage tour or something.

gileadgarage · 04-14-2011, 03:26 PM

I need to re arrange some things before i can store it, hopefully I can get it home in the next few weeks. I think i'm going to tow it home with my tractor...

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

That is sweet.
Why can't i find one of those.
Looks like a fun project. Best of luck with it.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Great find. Looks like an interesting project. Have fun with the restoration. I am sure you will end up with a nice reward in a fun drive.

JerryL · 04-15-2011, 07:30 AM

Looks great, I think you did well, and basically in your own backyard, and having many months to make your decision, a very rare option.

Good luck!!

naparsei · 04-15-2011, 08:15 AM

Join the 356 Registry, and learn.

gileadgarage · 04-15-2011, 11:54 AM

Thank you, I hope it was a good investment - as well as a fun old Porsche to 'appreciate'.
I will join the registry, and I do have plenty to learn about proper resto of these cars. as i said i want to leave it original, even at the expense of perfection. As tempting as these outlaws appear, I am not planing on going that direction, however some 911 5.5 steelies with some modern tires would be nice (and store away the old Trellborgs/OE rims)

Yes, the fact that it was right up the road from me sealed the deal, was meant to be i guess ( I was not on the hunt for a 356 at the time, or any car for that matter)

Thanks folks, you guys have some beautiful cars here, I look forward to learning more about this world. Oh man, another car forum to frequent!

naparsei · 04-15-2011, 12:10 PM

There are some great driver upgrades which are easily reversible, and making "changes" can be a slippery slope. There's no right answer, of course. In my case, I will be adding a couple things this year: full flow oil filter, LED taillights, headlight and starter relays. I am keeping the 6v system, but will be doing a full refurb/cleaning over the next 2 months. I love driving mine, and I am going for maximum reliability.

gileadgarage · 01:23 PM

Yes, those sound like nice (reversible) upgrades. I was thinking about an oil cooler to, I have not looked into it yet though. If I need to rebuild engine, not sure exactly what i will do, but at this point in time I'm thinking stock stock stock. I already have a modded car that i do some racing, etc with, i do not plan on hammering on this 356 like that thing, but I would like to be able to drive over the mountain on a warm summer day at a reasonable speed....
We'll see, I need to educate myself on the ins and outs of these cars. I think it'll be worth more in the long run if left as original. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the vintage racers and Outlaw cars I see here, I just don't think it would be the best direction for me and this car (looks like some expensive builds too!!!).
I have been appreciating original stuff more and more lately. Maybe the birth of a purist here...

Raynald · 04-15-2011, 04:57 PM

Hello !
first Welcome in 356 world !
I am a 911 fans but since two years I have a 356 project !
Your is very nice and origine and in better shape of mine !
nine will be Aetna blue and red interior like Your !
I am in Quebec near Maine and Vermont and I bought my 356 in Pennsylvania
nice trip with friends !
keep it originale !
great find !
Ray

gileadgarage · 04-15-2011, 06:01 PM

I am a 911 fan too (but never owned one), I looked at a 77 911S in CT several Months back, was a NM car with shot paint and interior, but zero rust. I then researched the midyear cars and decided that investment potential was questionable. It was a good car for the money, but i passed. I really was after an early 911.

Nice slide show, looks like a nice project you have there. Oh, and nice 911's too! I like the pic where she's showing off her nice but out from under the covers!

~Mark

RatBox · 04-15-2011, 06:32 PM

Clean it up , get it running. Do not restore. Too many restored cars. Not enough decent survivors. Take vintage corvettes for an example.

Etarga · 04-15-2011, 08:49 PM

Cool find! Another 40k and it will look like new. Nice color combo!!

JerryL · 04-16-2011, 08:56 AM

If you were to do the change to a full flow oil fiter system and plumb it to your rear left wheel well you will acheive 2 major upgrades, filtering all of the oil insted of a % of it and with the additional oil volume and getting the filter out in the breeze you can skip the oil cooler for most spirited driving, expecially in your area.

Regards

gileadgarage · 04-18-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatBox

Clean it up , get it running. Do not restore. Too many restored cars. Not enough decent survivors. Take vintage corvettes for an example.

That is the plan, this car will clean up nice, no reason to completely restore it right now. I appreciate survivor cars, sometimes appreciate them more then a money no object resto.

The floors will be assessed, then repaired/replaced as necessary (after reading the 356 resto book I have in the mail), then I'll address mechanical issues, which is something I look forward to as it is a refreshingly simple machine.

I'm installing a new trans/clutch in my Audi 4ktq, and I simply do not enjoy working on this car, I am so looking forward to diving into this 356...

gileadgarage · 04-18-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryL

If you were to do the change to a full flow oil fiter system and plumb it to your rear left wheel well you will acheive 2 major upgrades, filtering all of the oil insted of a % of it and with the additional oil volume and getting the filter out in the breeze you can skip the oil cooler for most spirited driving, expecially in your area.

Regards

Thanks Jerry, sounds like a smart upgrade for a driver car. Definitely going to look into this.

onboost · 04-19-2011, 05:58 AM

Yup, nice find.. get it going and enjoy it.

Its nice to keep them original but even more fun to upgrade and make them truly usable! There are sp many adaptable products on the market these days to make that possible.

As someone else stated, join the 356 Registry.. that will be the best money you spend on this car!

Good luck!