The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

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mark starr
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The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#1 Post by mark starr »

The story of " MAE " a 1960 Porsche 356 B 1600 Super. Manufactured on 07/26/1960, this Aetna Blue Coupe was sold new in Oregon in 1961. The owner moved his family and car to Northern California in 1963. New California plates MAE 603 were issued and the car was forever known as MAE. MAE stayed in the family until a doctor in West Virginia bought the car as a disassembled project back in 2009 or so. I bought the car from the Doctor in 2011 and started the project of restoring MAE back to her original condition. It was brought to a paint shop that did stunning work. As you can see, MAE sat along with 300SL's and a Ferrari P4 from a very famous collection. MAE went to the best interior shop and was then assembled by a well known Porsche mechanic who took great care in putting her back together. When completed, I sent photos of MAE and her restored original license plates to the original owner's family. The original owner had passed away. Upon receipt of the photos, the original owner's daughter wept with happiness on the phone with me to see MAE back in her old glory. But MAE wasn't running as well as she should have. While having a correct 1600 Super engine in her, it wasn't right. So I brought MAE to a well known Porsche specialist who rebuilt engine number 702913, a proper 616/12 1600 Super engine and installed it back into MAE. I was so happy to be back in MAE with a newly rebuilt engine. I proudly drove her to the Limerock Historic races last year where I drove my vintage Lola and had as much enjoyment driving MAE back and forth to the races as I did competing in the races in my Lola. Recently, I took MAE on a springtime rally/driving event where once again, she received lots of attention and praise. On the way back on I84, I heard a LOUD bang and MAE stopped running. I pulled over on the highway and although MAE cranked, she wouldn't start. LUCKILY, a friend was passing by and saw me on the side of the road. Spencer Cox from Speedsport turned around and came to my rescue. He opened up MAE's original full tool kit and put it to work. After a few minutes and Spencer asking me to crank her up a few times, he turned to me with a look that you see on doctors faces that you wish you would never see. I knew it wasn't good. He said, MAE has ZERO compression. We didn't know what had happened until MAE went in for heart surgery. The results were not good. There was catastrophic engine failure and MAE would need a new heart!!! The supposed well known Porsche shop ( who will go unnamed ) rebuilt MAE's engine but didn't replace some vintage parts that should have been been replaced. I gave them the green light to do the best job possible with no limits as to the cost. " Just do it right " is what was said to them. Apparently that was not the case............So I went on the hunt to find an appropriate 1600 Super 616/2 year correct engine to install in MAE. The original engine number was 87007. I found an engine in California that was very close. Only a few hundred numbers off. I called and unfortunately the engine builder, a LONG time California specialist had sold that engine. I asked him to see if he could come up with a correct 1600 Super type 616/2 that was close in numbers to MAE's original engine. It was two weeks later that he called and said he had something for me. I asked if it was close the MAE's original number and he replied NO...........It WAS THE ORIGINAL MOTOR # 87007!!!!! He found the needle in the haystack. After all, Northern California was where MAE had lived for most of her life. I am now awaiting the rebuilt engine ( heart ) to be reunited with MAE. So after all this heartache and rough road, MAE will be even better and more original than I had ever expected. The moral of the story...............Keep the faith and enjoy the journey. There are always windy twisty roads and sometimes, you take the right one even with roadblocks in front of you.
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mark starr
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#2 Post by mark starr »

Here is the original engine that is now being rebuilt in Northern California.
 

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Sean M Rooks
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Tag: '64 C Coupe
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#3 Post by Sean M Rooks »

Great story, Mark. I sure wish our car's original engine was out there somewhere.

That top picture looks mighty familiar - was this car recently for sale on Ebay?

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Doug McDonnell
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#4 Post by Doug McDonnell »

Beautiful and rare to find the original engine. Lucky you!
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

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Mike Wilson
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#5 Post by Mike Wilson »

Excellent story, Mark, worthy of an article in the magazine. I, too, wish I could locate my original engine stolen circa 1973 and probably ended up in a dune buggy or VW van.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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John Weyand
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#6 Post by John Weyand »

Every day someone posts something to envy. I really like the license plate "4U2NV". It would be nice to have that missing piece but then I might be upset when one of the grandkids slopped ice cream on the seats. That's truly a story for Registry.
John W
'64 "C" coupe

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George Walling
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#7 Post by George Walling »

Mark, Great story, So glad you found the original engine, she is one beautiful lady. Enjoy her with the original engine and as always keep the faith.

George
George E Walling

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Steve Turino
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Re: The journey of my 1960 356 B 112553

#8 Post by Steve Turino »

Mark
Great story!
I have Mae's twin sister (sort of) 61' super in Aetna Blue with light grey interior. Original engine, transmission and panels.
IMG_1676[1].jpg
1961 T5 Super Coupe
2013 Boxster S

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