A 59-year-old Porsche 356B Coupe that had spent around four decades idling in a barn was recently sold at an auction for an eyebrow-raising $45,000 USD.
The model 356 is considered the first Porsche sports car truly designed for the mass market. It came out between 1948 and 1965, until the 911 that came after it sent it to permanent retirement. The B modification was made in 1959 through 1964. The total production quantity amounted to 30,000 units – quite a number at the time. However, this specific example was a Type 6, a rare breed with some exterior design peculiarities that you can acquaint yourself with by watching the attached video.
However hard to believe it may be now, the car originally had a vivid blue exterior. The paint has since peeled off, exposing foundation mixed with rust. Some of the chassis components have likewise rusted through, and a lone passenger seat along with some door panels are all that survived inside.
Shockingly enough, it is reported that the engine still starts and the car can be driven, albeit we can imagine it being a rather painful experience. No technical specifications are given, so we are going with the assumption that a stock 1.6-liter four-cylinder still toils under the hood, hitting a four-speed manual transmission with 60 horsepower (45 kilowatts).
The former owner of the car believes it is great restomod material, especially for a rat rod. If fully restored, it could even become a valuable collector’s piece.