Harry's Thoughts
THE ESSENTIALS
This is a ready-to-enjoy 1965 Porsche 356C Coupe that is numbers matching and has been loved by one California family for at least 48 years. While an older restoration, this is a delightful 356C to enjoy for Sunday drives, tours or car shows. It looks wonderful and feels very tight and responsive. Since it is a California car, it was never subject to the massive rust that many 356C Coupes endured.
This Porsche was built on the 3rd of March 1965. By November 5th, 1972, the Porsche was acquired by Mr. John Spurling of Riverside, CA. The Porsche had accumulated 56,950 miles. Mr. Spurling kept a detailed log of services performed on the Coupe in the back of the original owner’s manual which is with the car today. By 1993, Mr. Spurling had The Body Crafters in Bloomington, CA perform a complete restoration of the exterior. At the same time, he had Cook’s Top Shop in Riverside, CA restore the interior. He also had the engine professionally rebuilt at 129,694 miles. Finally, new chrome wheels were added in 1998. In 2001, the Porsche was handed down to his son, Jim Spurling of Sacramento, CA. Jim has maintained the Porsche faithfully and today it shows 53,606 miles on the odometer. Between the father and son, the Porsche was in this family for 48 years.
The Porsche’s livery is now in Signal Red that is in very nice condition today. There are just a minimal number of touched up chips in highly used areas. The paint is well polished and has great shine and luster. The chrome and stainless steel are in very good condition with some light pitting on the window frames and door handles, which are original and unrestored and in wonderful condition. The chrome wheels look terrific against the Michelin radials and the hub caps have the Porsche crest in the center. The Hela driving lights look smart under the bumper and away from view. Overall, the exterior is in very nice condition and would be an excellent addition to any show or collection.
The interior is refinished in Fawn (Interior Code K) vinyl and shows normal wear today. The driver’s seat does have a small tear in the bottom seat cushion. The fawn-colored carpet is in very good condition and complementary Coco Mats are over the carpeting as well. The dashboard and instruments look wonderful, as does the steering wheel and other controls. It is obvious that his Porsche was not left out in the elements even in the mild climates of Southern California. The instruments are clear and crisp and show little to no patina. The Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo remains in the dashboard and still functions well today.
This is the ultimate evolution of the Porsche 1,582 cc four cylinder 75 hp engine. As mentioned before, this is an all numbers matching 356C, with engine no. 717544 and transmission number 86129. The engine compartment is well detailed and shows that only about 20,000 miles have been added since its complete engine rebuild. Invariably, I assume it has been detailed since then, since it really looks terrific today. The Porsche performs well and really feels tight and nimble, attesting to the service and maintenance that it has benefitted from over the last half-century. The 356C benefitted from the four-wheel disc brakes and improved handling. This really blends the old-school look of the 356 with the ultimate technology before the 911.
The original MSRP was $5,099. A hefty sum then. The Hagerty Values are $115,000 for a No. 2 example and $79,000 for a No. 3 example. The Average Retail Value from NADA is $135,700. We have this priced fairly and it is sure to sell quickly.
For more information and details, please call, text or email Harry Clark at +1.602.245.7200 or harry@classicpromenade.com. This Porsche is proudly displayed in our showroom in Phoenix.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.