Price Check 1964 356-C Coupe

[kach22i]

Price Check; 1964 356-C Coupe

My car buddy called me up with a lead I hope to later pass on to some Pelican.

He describes it as 50,000 original miles, been in stored in a garage for many years, one owner.

He has not seen it, so have no idea if it has rust issues or not, don't know the mechanical story either but somehow hopeful that it's nice on both counts.

I think the point of this request is so the the original owner who is in poor health is not taken completely advantage of, nor his estate should he pass before the car's sale.

What kind of price range is something like this worth? I'm pretty sure it's unmolested and all original.

My friend who is making the request though me (not on Internet), will tell me when it's available from the potential seller (also not on Internet). I might be posting it here at Pelican as a favor to these fellow car lovers. Thanks in advance.

[PropellerHead]

If they want fair market value - advertise it on the internet and take it to auction. Check out the Burwell, Nebraska '73 911S thread (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-marketplace-discussion/675203-dellusional-prices.html) to see how that played out. Widow put a reserve at $27,5k but the car sold at $92k because it was advertised and auctioned appropriately. The family received what the car was worth (less ~10% auction house fee) in the end.

Buying this 356 from them to flip it isn't doing the owner any favors. You may profit (and if you take the risk and are able to buy it, good for you) from a transaction or end up with a cool car for yourself.

Kudos to you and your friend for finding what sounds like an original 356-C coupe. Cool cars and worth a considerable amount depending on condition. No doubt the family understands it is worth something but they may not know the present state of the market.

[mpetry]

It is very difficult to estimate a value for a 356C without having the opportunity to inspect the car in person. Prices vary widely depending on condition and a paint job on these cars, properly done with even minimal rust repair can approach 20K by the time you get all the trim put back on.

Based on what you've said (sitting for years all original etc) I would say a minimum of $20K and a high of $40K, toward the high end if it is presentable and can be started and driven. $10 more if it's a sunroof.

That's my estimate. Anybody who buys such a car is looking at $20k minimum to put it in driving condition, and probably more if extensive repairs are required.

[Texel]

Here is a 356B for auction, which may be of interest as an indication of prices, obviousy its in another country, but any info can be handy to help arrive at your own conclusions.
Cheers


Porsche 356B 1960 | Trade Me

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

If they want fair market value - advertise it on the internet and take it to auction. Check out the Burwell, Nebraska '73 911S thread (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-marketplace-discussion/675203-dellusional-prices.html) to see how that played out.

That thread was a real shocker.

Thanks to everyone for posting in this thread.

I'll print this out for my non-Internet buddy, maybe we will even get to see it. I will not forget to take my camera if that happens.

[creaturecat]

here is one for sale, seems reasonably priced, maybe:1964 PORSCHE 356C ***RARE***

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by kach22i

That thread was a real shocker.

It was a shocker because people made the assumption through their view via the internet that the car was a major project needing all kinds of work. This was justifiable considering how poor the photos from the auction house were. What made it actually sell at a fair market value was that the word got out through the internet of the car's availability and those serious about owning and capable of getting there in time went to the effort to come see it. It wasn't a car for the wholesale phone bidder to take a chance on because it wasn't well represented in photos. Way too nice for that and the auction house didn't get top dollar as a result in my opinion.

To put it in perspective, the $91k bid was looking to flip the car (he is the local Porsche dealer) and determined that $91k was essentially a wholesale value for that car. Fortunately for the hobby, the car went to someone who valued keeping the car and as-such the sales price was a very fair price.
Phone bidders who hadn't seen the car in person were out at $80k (also had to assume wholesale value/risk).

Now, that car was a 911S with rare and desirable options (leather sport seats, through the grill fog lights, etc) as well as low miles and complete/unrestored/unmolested. They only made 1400 and this was in the last 100 of the longhood 911S generation.

Now back to the regularly scheduled programing pertaining to a 356-C......

[kach22i]

UPDATE 05/29/12

55 photos from my buddy which has seen the car. He did not take these pictures, not sure who did but I've been asked to post them and fish for more information (I guess).

What I see is a hastily done respray, they even painted over the chrome windshield squirters, and over-spray everywhere. I'm not sure about that bright blue interior, was that a standard? The rear seat shows it's age, the fronts may have been touched up or replaced at some time - just guessing.

Still, there is less rust than in my worst fears (battery tray looks to be surface rust only). Those rockers have some surface rust bleeding though from underneath, is there a way to get a light and mirror in there and perhaps measure the thickness of the metal left? Optic fiber and TV camera technology?

I wish we had a photo of the hood, I bet the chrome hood pull is white too, but that can be fixed with a proper restoration, right?

I think this car will eventually be posted on RM Auctions. Prior to it getting listed I will try to give you guys a "head up" so you have an opportunity to bid.

There is a chance they will let some people see it before that time, it's in SE Michigan. I'll give out a shout if that happens, I for one would like to see it for myself, just out of curiosity (I don't have the money).

Link to photos:
2012-Porsche 356 Coupe - barn car pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

Sample (and the only "overall"):

[Unobtanium-inc]

Looks like your average barn find '64 C to me. It's original, if you consider original to include incorrect radio, aftermarket shift knob, cheapo ignition switch, not-even-Porsche-wheels. At this point the mileage is irrelevant because it will need a full restoration, so at that point it's restored. We're always happy to unearth a once lost 356, so getting this one out of the barn is a good thing. However there's probably not anything special about it. It will still bring good money because it's a disc brake car that has a good chance of retaining its matching engine. Light Ivory (6404) isn't a high value color but it doesn't hurt the value either, that's a good thing. Looks like a very solid starting point for somebody, that's for sure. The chances of it rolling across the stage at RM are zero.
-- Matt

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Unobtanium-inc

The chances of it rolling across the stage at RM are zero.
-- Matt

Matt, I don't know much about RM other than they are large, out of Canada and have a showroom near me in Ypsilanti, Michigan. My friend mentioned calling them.

They don't offer barn finds?

[dhuber]

I am in the process of searching for a 1964/65 coupe for a restoration project. If you get any more information on this car please let me know.

Thanks.

David
HuberEngineering at gmail dot com