Cover of the new Porsche 356 Registry Magazine

[Unobtanium-inc]

Very cool new cover of the latest Porsche 356 Registry magazine, I wrote about not one but two cool notchbacks I found over the winter. This is only my 2nd cover in 15 years so pretty exciting for me. If you're not a member of the Registry you should join, great club, great magazine, and the coolest car, the 356! Real Barn Finds!!!!

---Adam

[Mocker]

First prize: A 356 notchback.

Second prize TWO 356 notchbacks.

[NYNick]

Pretty cool Adam.

[juanbenae]

nice.

[matt930s]

Barn Find Whisperer

[cassisrot]

Sweet.

[Matt Monson]

Notchbacks, yum.

[911heaven]

Unobtanium saves them all! Can you teach me the inside of how you formed the company name or what it means Adam? I know Uno means one in Spanish. Does that have a bearing?

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by 911heaven

Unobtanium saves them all! Can you teach me the inside of how you formed the company name or what it means Adam? I know Uno means one in Spanish. Does that have a bearing?

I think Peter Gregg used the termed first when he described what the 917 was made out of. The earliest reference I've ever heard used was from an engineer from Bell Helicopter, he said in the 50's when they were developing heli tech the artists down the hall would draw fanciful pictures and say "build this." He would answer, "I can't build that, it's Unobtanium!"

So it's a made up word that basically says something is so rare it's unable to be obtained, i.e. Unobtanium.

---Adam

[speedster911]

congrats on the cover, always enjoy reading about your finds

[matt930s]

https://youtu.be/b_HhiU1mOwU

[911heaven]

Originally Posted by Unobtanium-inc

I think Peter Gregg used the termed first when he described what the 917 was made out of. The earliest reference I've ever heard used was from an engineer from Bell Helicopter, he said in the 50's when they were developing heli tech the artists down the hall would draw fanciful pictures and say "build this." He would answer, "I can't build that, it's Unobtanium!"

So it's a made up word that basically says something is so rare it's unable to be obtained, i.e. Unobtanium.

---Adam

All makes sense now. Thanks Adam. By the way, it's quite ingenious!

bernie

[kltarga72]

Never understood why Porsche developed this model, the top looks like it would give more headroom to rear passengers. Since Ford redeveloped the Thunderbird from a two to four seat capacity in 1958 was Porsche contemplating a design change or model option? The Chevrolet Corvette managers considered moving to a four seat model in this time period.

[touringmandan]

The story that I have heard was that whoever was making the coupe chassis was at max production, and Porsche needed more hardtop cars. So they had the cabrio chassis builder weld hardtops on to cabrio chassis to make "Notchbacks". More than a few have had their tops removed and converted back to open cars.

[kltarga72]

Originally Posted by touringmandan

The story that I have heard was that whoever was making the coupe chassis was at max production, and Porsche needed more hardtop cars. So they had the cabrio chassis builder weld hardtops on to cabrio chassis to make "Notchbacks". More than a few have had their tops removed and converted back to open cars.

Yes, that is correct for the 1961 model.
Found this information online:
The 1961 production run was essentially a cabriolet body with the optional steel cabriolet hardtop welded in place. The 1962 line (T6 production) was a very different design in that the new T6 notchback coupé body did not start life as a cabriolet, but with its own production design—In essence, part cabriolet rear end design, part T6 coupe windshield frame, unique hard top. Both years of these unique cars have taken the name “Karmann Notchback”.

[Unobtanium-inc]

I think the Notchback served several purposes for Porsche.
1. They opened up a new production line with Karmann, which became much more important with the 912 production, so the Notch was probably seen as a trial run of cost and quality with a new builder, Karmann.
2. They were able to add another car to their sales line, without really doing too much. It didn't increase sales very much, especially for the T6 which sold about 700 units total, but it looked good on paper to have another "model" to market and sell.
3. They were able to bleed off cabriolet bodies that may not have been selling as well as the lower end coupes. The cabriolet was a pricey car, so being able to sell them as a cheaper coupe probably worked well for the bottom line.

People normally either love or hate the Notch, they weren't well received when new, but have developed a cult following over the years, as well as many becoming bootleg cabs, though this happens less now because even a Notchback isn't cheap these days.

---Adam

[JmanB]

Adam is the King 👑

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by JmanB

Adam is the King 👑

Nope, but I do own his 911.

---Adam

[jhynesrockmtn]

Just arrived yesterday, looking forward to visiting the bathroom, errr library, to read it.

[Unobtanium-inc]

The Registry did a poster of the new cover, I've secured some and will be giving them out at the Hershey Swap Meet on May 1st, swing by if you want one.

---Adam