1st Porsche

[Sonny Caudill]

We just got in the Porsche game in '14. I've been a vintage Corvette and muscle car guy for a long time, but my girlfriend has always wanted a 356 so I kept watching Craigslist here (Alaska) just to see what might pop up. It's pretty rare for a 356 to hit the sales ads here, but since I'm an internet junkie it was a fun challenge. This one ('60 T5 coupe) came available for a good price (definitely a reason for that) so we jumped on it and have been tinkering away and having fun ever since!!

[Steven Clarke]

This was my '64 SC Euro sunroof coupe back in 1971. A really early SC with plain hubcaps, #126592. I was in Oklahoma going through pilot training at the time. Everybody thought it was a Karman Ghia. I sold it in 1976 when I bought a '66 911. Damn, I wish I still owned both of them!
Steve

[al kuresman]

While packing to move 2 years ago I found some files and pics I had not seen in decades. Two pics of my white 65 coupe and notarized purchase bill of sale from 1973. White with red leatherette and chrome wheels. Had dealer installed AC but previous owner took compressor off leaving 2 speed fan which blew air into car when necessary. Car never let me down during my ownership which was good as it was my only car. High (or low) point was being pulled over one Sunday morning on I 5 near Seattle by State Patrol and ticketed for doing 88- actual speed was a bit higher. That was back in the post 73 oil crisis when speed limit was 55 so the ticket hurt. Car would cruise at high speed with no effort.
I have a 65 C coupe now and my memory is that the SC back then had a good bit more grunt than the C.

[Nanette Reid]

My first (and only) Porsche is a 59 A Coupe - love her to bits!!!!

Imported her to Australia from SoCal, in 1988 and it cost me $US12k. Including the freight etc, the final total was $AU20k landed, delivered to Adelaide and registered by the Dept. of Transport.

Still own her today, and other than having her headliner replaced and engine rebuilt (out of necessity), she's almost exactly the same. Has a little more rust in her lower door area LHS, but the rest of her is pretty well rust-free.

Photo is from 1994.

[Walt Nolte]

My first and only Porsche and our first car as a couple after 44 years of marriage (tomorrow.) Pictured in green/grey in 1972, in red after a partial restoration in the mid 70s, and blue after restoring between 2006-2010.

Walt Nolte
1959 A Coupe
Montana

[Pascal Giai]

I got my first Porsche 356 the day before my wedding. That was in the south of France in 1992. It took me 3 years to restore it.
Car was sold when I moved to California, too scared to damage it during shipping...Chassis #58688 March 57 late T1 with beehive taillights. Originally Graphite Metallic, Reutter #737

Pascal Giai, San Diego

[M Penta]

My first is the one I currently own. Pic is when I first dragged it out of original owners dilapidated garage 5 yrs ago.

[Glen Hamner, Jr]

Good on you Walt, the luggage rack seems to still be in its original color. Speaking of the restorations, I have no doubt that the blue is pretty high on your current likes list. I can pretty much follow your preference in color over the years. I too am in line for a color change with my current project, and a lighter blue is also in the cards, but I've chosen Aetna. Really like your interior color choice. Thanks for posting the transitions over the years. Where you've been pretty much captures some of the places I've been as well.

[Walt Nolte]

Thanks Glenn. Luggage rack is chrome. It was on the car when we bought it in 1972. I had it re chromed in the 70s, but needs this again. We agonized over the color during the most recent restoration. I bought six of the color cards from John Whilhoit, including the original orange. Decided on the Messian Blue, available in 1959.
Walt Nolte
59A Coupe
Montana, sometimes Colorada
and temporarily in Oregon

[Ken Rogers]

These are my first Porsches.
Christmas 1970. Age 22. Birmingham, Michigan
I am single and all dressed up going out on the town. Problem is which Porsche to take?

The 1955 Porsche 356 Continental Coupe or the 1963 Porsche 356B Super?

Some chicks loved them. They had to scrape the inside glass for me while I was driving. It was cold. When we kissed we rubbed noses. Some Eskimos we were. Ha!
Yes, I drove these in the winter. I never thought anything about it. They had great traction.
Only many fond memories now. My 65c is now my living memory today. My 13'th. I live in Arizona now so this car will never see snow or rain or even high humidity. I am married now and my wife Sue is my permanent chick. She loves the car. We still rub noses, etc.

I rummaged through my old negatives, took a photo of the negative today and processed it on my computer to make a positive and downloaded it back onto the chip then on this computer.

[Hendrik Moulds]

Not quite as long ago as some on here, but I used to frequent a lot of VW shows in the late 90s when I saw my first 356 and fell in love. Started saving (I was single and could do things like that then) and by 2000 had found a '62BT6 which I discovered needed a load of work, it was one hell of a learning curve but one I (mostly) enjoyed, I was 27 at the time.

Had to sell here after 8 years of ownership and had 4 of the darned things, something had to give I suppose. Wonder where she is now.

Photo taken after the restoration was completed.

[Ashley James]

Hello all, I'm a Boxster owner who's been lurking for a time and might finally have bought a 1964 356



I haven't been in one since the sixties and I'm not sure what I'm letting myself in for, but I'm sure I'll make some good friends and enjoy it.

I've sold my 1951 Bentley MK VI that I ran for eighteen years and I still have a Healey 3000. We had one in 1970 when we married, so when I saw the dealer (John Chatham) who'd sold me the original one at a car show I bought another from him. This was a few years ago and it's mostly rebuilt now. I'd hoped to tour France in it with my wife, but she's too ill now, so I'm hoping the tiny Porsche is sufficiently civilised for her to be tempted into it.

[Vic Skirmants]

Welcome, Ashley. The 356 should definitely be comfortable for your wife.

[Ashley James]

Thanks Vic, I'm hoping she'll be okay and looking forward to being part of the Forum, which seems friendly and fun.

[Jim Alton]

Back in 1997 I spotted a 1965 Porsche 911 for sale at a Pomona Swap Meet. I'd always wanted one of those early cars with the wood dash and wood steering wheel, so, I decided to get in touch with the seller. I kept taking it one step at a time until I finally made an offer on the car thinking the seller would save me from myself.