We’ve been led to believe that cars lose value as they grow older. But apparently, this 1959 Porsche 356 is immune to this rule.
Before checking out this amazing garage find, let’s start with a bit of background. The 356, was the first model that introduced Porsche to the nimble, fun-to-drive sports cars segment.
Epic History
Production spanned from 1948 to 1965 and eventually, 76,000 units saw the light. The early units were mid-engine prototypes that were replaced with rear-engine final models later on. After the legendary 911 was released, Porsche slowly phased out the 356 production, before finally replacing it with the 912.
Very few of the original 356s survived to this age. And that brings us to today’s garage find, a 1959 Porsche 356 that has been sitting in an Orange County, California garage since 1984. The chances of unearthing this rare Porsche model are very slim, which makes this particular unit even more valuable.
The 356 was extremely lucky, Orange County’s dry climate protected it from rust, and the surrounding garage junk ironically kept it isolated from all the outside elements, but you can’t always rely on luck for protection, serious measures should always be taken if you plan on leaving your car stored for extended periods, check out the available custom car cover options at Coverking.
1959 porsche 356 speedster aquamarine transitional by emory motorsport
Time Capsule
Despite the thick dust layer, you can still make out the features of an impressively intact interior. The orange upholstery and the ivory dashboard looked like they just came out of a time machine. This time travel atmosphere is accentuated by the presence of old maps and a vintage Polaroid camera.
This is yet to be confirmed, but this 1959 Porsche 356 seems to be a Super, a version that came a bit late in the line of the A series, which also included a lightweight Speedster, a coupe, and a convertible. Being a Super means that it has a 90 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, instead of the regular 60 horsepower engine that powered the remainder of the series.
After a forty-year-long break, the car seems incredibly healthy. Other than the usual floor plan dents, rocker panel, and rear bumper damage – which are completely normal for a well-used Porsche - the car is practically new! The initial price estimate is north of $100,000. A pretty good price for a 65-year-old car. It’s worth noting that its price as a new car is estimated at $3,600
The car’s current owner bought it as a secondhand car in 1975 and used it almost every day until he parked it for good in 1984. When asked about his best memories in this car, the owner replied: “You don't have enough time to hear them all.”
Such stories make you think about what would have happened to these cars if they remained in use all these years, surely no car can stand against the element for such a long time. Well, no car, except for those that benefited from good custom-made car protection. Check out Coverking and give your car a fighting chance.
