Two Guys, One Porsche 356C and 1057 Miles

Rot 911 · 04-03-2007, 07:31 AM

My friend Greg has been looking awhile for a Porsche 356. Last night he calls me. "Kurt, I just bought a 356 off of Ebay. Want to drive out with me to pick it up?" "Sure," says I. "Where is it at?" "Hackettstown, New Jersey." replies Greg. "But the guy is confident it can be driven cross country." So here is our plan: We leave Thursday afternoon by car from Jefferson City, Missouri. We expect to be in Hackettstown by Friday early afternoon. Inspect the car to be sure it is roadworthy and then convoy the two cars back to Jefferson City arriving sometime late Saturday. Should be interesting. Much hilarity and pictures to follow.

BRPORSCHE · 04-03-2007, 07:37 AM

Hey Kurt that is awesome! Hackettstown is a great small town in north Jersey. Sorry this is a little off topic, but the only two good things that I think ever came out of Hackettstown is me, and M&M's (it's where they are made.) Have a great trip. Jersey is beautiful at this time of the year.

EarlyPorsche · 04-03-2007, 08:10 AM

At least take a 4wd or something that can tow. If the 356 is a piece of junk and misrepresented you can haggle him down and then rent a 1 way uhaul to bring her on home.

Rot 911 · 04-03-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EarlyPorsche
At least take a 4wd or something that can tow. If the 356 is a piece of junk and misrepresented you can haggle him down and then rent a 1 way uhaul to bring her on home.

We are trying to keep rational thought out of our decision.

If the 356 is misrepresented by the seller it will just be staying in Hackettstown.

Joeaksa · 04-03-2007, 08:16 AM

Set up some stops inbetween with Pelican members. That way if you have some problems at least you are with friends and can do something to the car.

Take lots of photos!

Doug&Julie · 04-03-2007, 03:29 PM

You might want to check the weather...

jac1976 · 04-03-2007, 03:48 PM

Searched on eBay and found what has to be the car. Looks pretty nice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964-porsche-356-c-outlaw-or-original-german-sports-car_W0QQitemZ140101013128QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6428QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That will be a fun trip.

Rot 911 · 04-03-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jac1976
Searched on eBay and found what has to be the car. Looks pretty nice.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964-porsche-356-c-outlaw-or-original-german-sports-car_W0QQitemZ140101013128QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6428QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That will be a fun trip.

That's the one!

Grady Clay · 04-03-2007, 04:44 PM

Kurt,

Sounds like fun.

One simple test is to take off the top of the oil filter and examine the top of the element (a Radio Shack 10X hand microscope helps). You are looking for the tell-tale brass/copper microscopic flakes indicating a rod bearing in the process of failing. Installing new bearings is no big deal, recovering from a thrown rod is. You can also do this along the way. Take some spare filter gaskets and sealing rings.

I agree – take everyone’s cell numbers.

I won’t be much help as WE ARE GOING TO THE TRACK on Friday and have a DE Instructors meeting Saturday.

Good luck to you both. And be prepared to walk. If so, after the fact a bill for mileage, time, etc. might be appropriate (on your legal stationary of course). Sorry, that is the cynic I’m developing from all the bad fleaBay stories. I hope it all works out.

I bought (with a sight draft) a ’62 Carrera 2 coupe in Bakersfield. I carefully inspected the screen in-line filter and sump to my satisfaction (it was too clean). I drove it to Hermosa Beach and had Dieter@VP do a compression and leak down (both good). Only as an afterthought I looked in the filter again. Guess what I found.

The good news was I made it back to Bakersfield without incident. I’m convinced the seller knew he had a rod going out and cleaned everything so I couldn’t tell.

This was about ’70.

Best,
Grady

Rot 911 · 04-04-2007, 05:26 AM

Grady thanks for the advice. We have decided to take the Grand Cherokee so if for some reason the 356 shoots craps we can at least rent a trailer and tow it back!

Thrasher · Thrasher's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
Much hilarity and pictures to follow.

Borat Part 2: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Porsche of 356

Greg: Look, there is a woman in a car! Can we follow her and maybe make a sexy time with her?
Kurt V: No, no, no, no, no, no!
Greg: A-why not?
Kurt V: Grady says we must make good time and prevent throwing of a rod! That's good, huh?
Greg: [pause] Is not good for me.

Kurt, enjoy the trip! I'll make myself available in St. Louis. If you want my cell number, email/PM me. Hopefully if you make it this far, the rest will be a breeze. My brother-in-law is a longtime (old) Porsche guy and has a garage in East St. Louis, IL for his Formula Atlantic if you should have troubles in IL.

berettafan · 04-04-2007, 07:41 AM

Looks and sounds like a great car! Hope all goes well when you arrive.

I thought there was mention of a 356 travel assistance group. Saw mention of it over on the early S board.

Eric-325I · 04-04-2007, 07:59 AM

What a great looking 356!!! Hope it's as advertised... Please post lot's of pics, I love these posts!

Thanks and good luck.

Eric

Grady Clay · 04-04-2007, 08:21 AM

Guys,

What is your planned route? What times and dates?

It looks like the bad weather is ahead of you (rain in eastern PA and NJ.). That should make the trip west good.

Best,
Grady

Rot 911 · 04-08-2007, 07:46 AM

We made it in spite of the weather. Total miles round trip was 2260. Bad weather most of the way. Only problem was the starter on the 356 hung up in the parking lot of a convenience store. Rolled it backwards to bump start and it never happened again. The 356 would easily cruise at 75-80 mph (Checked with GPS) and averaged 30 mpg. Unfortunately the 356 did not have heat and the morning temperatures were in the teens with the highs in the 30's. Oh and did I mention snow? Now for some pictures:

Cold outside but nice and warm in the Jeep as we start the trip:

Akron, Ohio. Umm this doesn't look good for April. Maybe we should take a southern route home:

We arrived at the seller's house in NJ on Friday afternoon. Uh, Greg, this sure doesn't look like the ebay pictures:

Maybe it is in here:

Oh yeah:

Rot 911 · 04-08-2007, 07:54 AM

The seller and Greg discuss the deal (note all the extra parts):

Better give it a good once over before we seal the deal:

The deal is done!:

So we hit the road in decent weather Friday night. Drive till around midnight and up early Saturday morning:

rexav8r · 04-08-2007, 07:56 AM

What an adventure ! Beautiful car !

Hey, if your route takes you through Cincinnati, OH (further south w/ good weather right now.) send a PM. You guys can stop by here for breakfast, lunch or dinner & any tools I might have.

I know some good 356 mech guys in the area too.

Joeaksa · 04-08-2007, 07:57 AM

Very nice! Post some more photos!

Joe

Rot 911 · 04-08-2007, 08:02 AM

Uh oh, this doesn't look good in West Virginia:

Finally some sun!:

Cruising along in Kentucky:

The final leg of a long cold trip. Made it home around 9 p.m. last night:

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

sorry i missed the post earlier, kurt. the car looks great!

yes, please post more pics if you have them.

p.s. negotiated a nice buy for karen: a 2001 boxster..she loves it. i guess mercedes wants to come see the car in the carport..progressive has asked her if it could stay there at least a week! hopefully, that will help her negotiate a better settlement. initially, the adjuster was saying she was thinking around 30k. i told her if they give her such a check..cash immediately.

still thinking of cutting loose in the next several weeks sometime? kind of bumming right now and could probably use a decent getaway drive, too. glad you made it back safe and sound..you recall my drive back from denver in january during the 'ice blitz' in my C4 cab..