356 VS another 911???

herman maire · 03-02-2006, 08:18 AM

( I would have posted this in the 356 forums but its gets almost no traffic so I thought I would post it here. I also wanted a 911's driver view on this car)

I have never driven a 356 so I am clueless when it comes this car.
I am still building my 72 911RSR but have a 356B 1962 T6 coupe project for $2500 available. Seems pretty cheap for a complete car. Just needs rockers+ paint+++.

If I was to buy it I would up the HP for sure somewhere around 145HP would be cool.

When set up for street/track how fun are they?

Heres a few pics I have been thinking about

Thanks again

charlesbahn · charlesbahn's Garage

Grab it quick.

klatinn · 03-02-2006, 09:02 AM

Hi Herman,

I've had both. Way back when 356's were cheap I had 2 356C conv. The second one's engine was modded by some factory mech. friends in Weissach to about 145 hp as fun side project. Cost me 2 cases of beer and one case of wine.

, which was all I could afford as student.

But getting reliable 145 hp out of the 356's 1600 pushrod engine is pretty hard without Porsche factory resources. A VW type 1 or 4 engine is much easier to get to that power level.
I also had numerous 911's (71 S, 74 2.7L, 80 SC, 91 964).
From a handling standpoint the 356 is a VERY different beast from the 911. With regards to snap oversteer, the 911's (even the early ones) are docile compared to a 356 driven in anger. If you know what you are doing, they are more fun IMHO, but there will be a learning curve. See-sawing around tight corners with the tail hanging out at a crazy angle though is fun.

Also I saw you want to move to canada. With a 356 in cold climates you always need a passenger to do the ice-scraping on the inside of the windshield while driving. Believe me, I know.

Regards,
Klaus

sand_man · 03-02-2006, 09:19 AM

I love the 356!!! Mine was a 1964 C. Like many other cars, I NEVER should have sold it. After having many "modern" cars, I decided that I wanted to start driving a more, shall we say, robust (read OLD and unreliable) car as my daily driver. I decided to go all the way and get a 930. I wanted more HP and performance. However, not a day goes by without me looking at the 356s on Ebay. Such a nice car to work on and drive. The simplicity just can't be beat.

das908kind · 03-02-2006, 09:32 AM

The thrill in driving a 356, is not in the raw speed or horsepower, but the challenge of stepping up to the ragged edge with out slipping off.

They are bare-bone simple machines, a bit cheaper to maintain and work on then early 911s (or so the story goes) and with a VW power-plant, can be even more so.

Last year I drove our 356 back from a meet in the mountains and got into a race with an older, hoped-up Rabbit GTI. Heading through long sweapers up a canyon pass, at around 70-80 mph, wiping past mini-vans and SUVs in the passing lane was both exilirating scary. Of course, my dad who was next to me says to me, "keep pushing!!" (silly nut )

near the top I could start to feel the back get "squirrly"(that's when my dad reached for the dash-pad!). Not a gentle pull or drift, more like a nervous tick. I kept my foot down and gently corrected with the wheel. It scared the living CRAP out of me, but I'll never forget that feeling. The car only has 95 horsepower, but what a rush.

sand_man · 03-02-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by das908kind
The thrill in driving a 356, is not in the raw speed or horsepower, but the challenge of stepping up to the ragged edge with out slipping off.

They are bare-bone simple machines, a bit cheaper to maintain and work on then early 911s (or so the story goes) and with a VW power-plant, can be even more so.

Last year I drove our 356 back from a meet in the mountains and got into a race with an older, hoped-up Rabbit GTI. Heading through long sweapers up a canyon pass, at around 70-80 mph, wiping past mini-vans and SUVs in the passing lane was both exilirating scary. Of course, my dad who was next to me says to me, "keep pushing!!" (silly nut )

near the top I could start to feel the back get "squirrly"(that's when my dad reached for the dash-pad!). Not a gentle pull or drift, more like a nervous tick. I kept my foot down and gently corrected with the wheel. It scared the living CRAP out of me, but I'll never forget that feeling. The car only has 95 horsepower, but what a rush.

Well said!

sand_man · 03-02-2006, 09:49 AM

After looking at that car you posted...it's all about the 356, baby!

Hetmann · 03-02-2006, 12:05 PM

I find myself longing for a 356. I never see one for a reasonable price. They are getting harder to find.

arcsine · 03-02-2006, 01:57 PM

The second and third pics look like 356 outlaws by Emory. Flush windows, lots of "tweaks" to the body and interior and 996 spare tire wheels. Lots of purists think what they do (did) is sacrilige but the quality of workmanship is top-notch and well thought out. Personally I would love to have one.

tiorio · 03-02-2006, 02:01 PM

If you don't want it I do. I'm dead serious and have a Canadian wife who speaks the 'lingo' to translate for me

What others said about the cold weather is 100% true. The 'euro' heaters on these things could roast a turkey, the ROW heater was about as powerful as a hairdryer on 2...

tiorio · 03-02-2006, 02:07 PM

Oh, and what the hell:

das908kind · 03-02-2006, 02:36 PM

SO....

There ARE some people out there who like the old cars...

real550A · real550A's Garage

Julian-
I have built a few 356 based hot rods. They are great to work on, and easy to mod.
Add 1780cc p&c's, a #107 Isky cam, headers, and re-jet those Solex's, and you'll have enough h.p. to break the rear wheels loose at will.
Adjustable Koni shocks are a must!
Grab that car! (and read my PM)

sand_man · 03-02-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by das908kind
SO....

There ARE some people out there who like the old cars...

Yep...been driving and working on them (and them = not always Porsches) for years. Some times out of need, some times out of desire, some times both!

Mr9146 · 03-04-2006, 06:44 PM

Mr9146 · 03-04-2006, 06:47 PM

The car pictured above is our "new" racecrar. It's got a 2.3L with a 901 transmission ... I took my foot out of it when I ran out of speedo. It was still pulling

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

World's ugliest Outlaw....

70SATMan · 03-05-2006, 08:14 AM

Here's what makes me want one.

http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=AM06&CarID=r187#

tiorio · 03-06-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
World's ugliest Outlaw....

That driver ain't gonna win no beauty contests either

I kid! I kid!

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

The older, the better.