Sometimes things never work out the way you plan. Like life. If I had it any other way I’d be Donald Trump. Well, maybe not Donald Trump but certainly somebody other than myself. Surely it always appears as though others have more interesting lives and certainly have more fun. Or does it?
Speaking of fun. I think back to my early years and wonder why I’ve always been attracted to cars that seat only two people. Who in their right mind would buy a 1952 Triumph TR2 at age 16? Especially one that needs work! Could the motivation have been the lack of funds or the need to tinker? Could it be that I have only one friend, or is the desire and reasoning something more complicated than that?
I really didn’t have interest in old Porsches or any Porsches for that matter, especially 356s. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would have a 356 Porsche. Well I should say imagine that I would be restoring a 356 Porsche, and for the wife no less, Paula. That’s right, you heard me correctly, the car IS for my wife!
My life was normal and fine, almost, but that’s another story, or at least by my standards. Then it happened. It all started one day when our good friend Mary came over to the house with this idea about buying a BMW Z3. Mary had trust in my opinion because she knew of my background with cars and airplanes. I have owned both and I’m commercially rated, land and sea. My last airplane was a Lake LA4-200T. Mary had purchased my 1978 924 some years before, a car that she seen get repainted and turned into a little jewel. Mary asked me to come along on the test drive. Leaving the house, I told my wife, “If it’s a great car, we’ll also get one for you.” I’m sure we would get a better deal buying two.
Off to the BMW Dealership we go. Kinda like down the Yellow Brick Road. Fade to black, a movie term.
So, I’m driving this BMW Z3. Next to me is this woman sales person, very pale and sweating, imagine, she’s telling me to slow down. Funny, because all I can think about is how lucky I am to have a 1965 Morgan sitting in my garage just waiting to share my company. Yes, a 1965 Morgan that I restored and finished in 1980.
No way was I going to let Mary pay 30K for this car, when in my view, there were many other choices. Much better choices.
I can’t imagine how Mary felt when I told her what I thought about the test drive. “Trust me” I told her. We’ll find you a great sports car. She dried her tears and off we went.
For the few individuals left that are still reading, you’re probably wondering what any of this has to do with buying a 356, correct?
Well, it has everything to do with it. First of all, I was quite happy with my Morgan. It has served me very well. Second, I have owned many British cars over the years and others. MGTD, XKE’s 190 SL, just to name a few. So, with a background like that it was only natural for me to convince Mary to buy a old MGB, simply a perfect choice for an attractive single girl.
In the process of searching for the MGB, looking through Hemmings, meeting other MGB enthusiasts and traveling about, I started to feel something I hadn’t felt in quite some years, which was having a car to work on. I think my Aviation years blinded me to the fun that it is to have a “project car.”
The wife, Paula, over the years has always showed interest and excitement in the “tubs.” Every time she saw one in the movies or in our travels she would mention it or stretch her neck a bit to get a longer look. It’s interesting and I regret that I never really paid much attention to this.
Do we really give our wives the attention they need or deserve? Shouldn’t we bring their dreams to life also?
So, to cut to the chase and I mean really cut to the chase, Mary purchased a MGB and I started to look for a 356. That’s right, a 356 for Paula, my wife and my best friend.
Now, I’ve had a Morgan, since 1975 actually, so I really didn’t want a 356 with side curtains or similar seats. Ouch! So I or we, can’t leave out the wife, decided to look for something other than a Speedster. Truthfully, I thought they were over priced. Ouch again!
One thing I have a lot of experience in, is looking for cars. I take a different approach than most people. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to or contact the 356 people. In fact, I honestly knew of none at the time, and also knew nothing of the Clubs or Post. Incidentally, I’ve lost cars in the past by stirring up interest over a “find.”
I hit my books and looked at pictures of tubs. Hit my books? The only book I had I picked up years ago because it had some pages of 924 stuff in it.
On page eight, Porsche by Jacky Ickx, was a photo of a 1965 Cab, and it looked great! My usual MO is to start by looking through old Hemmings, not new Hemmings. My goal was to find the car nobody wanted. Remember, I’ve restored many cars before and I wanted a project car but one with potential. Over the years, I’ve passed on many project cars because some are just not worth the effort and others are just too costly.
I believe the Hemmings I had picked up was about a year old. I made my typical calls as if it was a brand new copy. Sold, sold, sold. Sometimes you can get lucky and they’ll give you the name of the person who bought the car, but they usually don’t.
This one ad, 356 Convt “D” I believe the asking price was 21.000.00. What is a Convt “D”? I had no clue as to what it looked like but it was a 1959. I went through the book and found no Ds. I did, however, find a photo of a 356A and the text said “manufactured between 1955 and 1959.” This gave me an idea as to what it looked like. I made the call.
The woman on the other end was very quiet. In fact, she was surprised I called because she hadn’t placed the ad for some time. I explained I use old ads when I look for cars. She said very little about that but did tell me the car was her late husband’s pride and joy, and that he purchased the D in 1964. Ironically, the car had not been sold. She also told me that everyone that had looked at it had offered her almost nothing. I believe she said her highest offer was $9,000. Disappointed with the offers and attitudes of some of the “tire kickers”, she decided to keep it in the garage and take it off the market. She said she felt “good” having the car in the garage.
She had virtually no interest in entertaining me or selling the car. I told her that the car was for the wife and I assured her that I would have the greatest respect for her husband’s car and wouldn’t in any way offer her anything short of what the car was worth.
I used to fly into the small airport at Danbury and visit the Mall with Paula. It was a great landing strip and not a bad Mall for a small town. We knew exactly where it was. On to Danbury, CT we went, except, this time we were driving.
It was one of the best of sunny days and a great drive. Wonderful winding Connecticut roads plus new and interesting scenery. Upon arriving, I noticed immediately that it was an unusual piece of property. A long driveway curving to the back of the house sloping uphill for some 125 ft. A dark red garage to the left of the house with large barn doors. To this day, I wish I had taken a picture of the home of this 356 D.
Myrtle had tears in her eyes as we signed the bill of sale and made out the check. She was giving up something she and her husband, David, had experienced for over 30 years. I paid $15,500. This was 1996. To quote a line from the movie Terminal Velocity, “Are you crazy?” “Yes, yes I am.”
At first glance the red car looked great, but my experience told me that I would have much work ahead of me. Especially metal work. I did manage to get it running but never drove the car because the D needed a clutch. I knew I would go through the engine, so that wasn’t a factor. It was however, a complete car and a perfect candidate for restoration. I went back a couple of days later with a friend and a rented trailer and brought the D home.
My restoration was soon to begin, but unfortunately, I wasn’t set up to restore furniture, let alone, a complete car. I had to make changes to the garage and certainly had to buy some tools.
The following list is my reply to someone on 356 Post who inquired about costs and expenses that could be related or accrued in the process of restoring a 356. Evidently he was considering purchasing a project car and wanted some idea as to the cost of restoration prier to the commitment
This is my actual reply, only updated:
Seth, What do you think of this?
15,500 cost of 1959 Convt "D" that needed restoration.
100.00 flat bed trailer rental
100.00 for a friend that helped the day we moved it.
Cost to redo the garage:
Two new insulated doors 1200.00. Framing for the doors 275.00
Electrical and lighting. Includes wiring, fuse box, wire from house,
Dedicated circuit, 220 circuit 1800.00
Drywall and insulation. 1300.00
Aspirin 50.00
Telephone 80.00
Furnace and vent 1500.00. Gas line & permit 350.00
Compressor 1000.00, Welder 1000.00 assorted tools of all nature 1900.00
Spray gun, two of them 600.00 one HVLP. Jam gun 125.00
Incidentals, 500.00
Assorted sheet metal parts, 600.00. Floors longitudinals, front right strut, rocker panels, door sills, etc.
Chrome wheels 250.00
Assorted parts for restoration including things like emblems, brake cylinders, master cylinders, break lines, boots, rubber stuff, interior trim, deco trims, bumper over riders, horn button etc., etc. 4500.00
New Miller Mig welder, 220V, with stand 1200.00
Welding wire 120.00 OX & ACC. tanks plus gauges & hoses 300.00
Body finishing supplies like stripper, primer, lead, sand paper, 500.00
Air tools from grinders to mini saws plus tips 300.00. Hoses for them 60.00. Fittings for ALL the gadgets 25.00
Advil 50.00
Windshield from Stoddards 300.00
Telephone calls, all over the planet 500.00
500.00 for the hell of it!
PCA, 35.00 since expired but renewed way before the writing of this fool thing. 30.00
60 some odd Vinyl Speedster "scripts" 37.50. "But that was fun."
Books and more books 450.00
Duane Spencer built engine, 6500.00. A steel because I actually never paid for the 1968 912 case.
Flowers for Paula 100.00
More flowers for Paula 125.00.
HEY Seth, YA FEEL BETTER YET!
Things I've paid for twice? 400.00? And growing.
Now money I haven't spent yet but will shortly.
Front discs conversion 1300.00. Changed my mind since the writing of this fool thing.
12V Ripley starter 175.00 More Ripley stuff 1500.00- 2500.00
12V period horns from Italy! 255.00
Incidentals for 12V conversion 1000.00 plus. I take that back, it will be more. I paid 204.00 just for a NOS 12V regulator. From Italy!
640 Marchal fog lights, NOS, from Italy! 355.00
Not one, but two generator stands and two oil fillers. I’ll pick the best and sell the other.
VDO 550.00 plus shipping, Now add 400 for the electric tach.
Thomas's or Autos Int. 5500.00 possibly more!
Nardi steering wheel 750.00. Actually purchased a Derringer for 1000.00 just recently from a guy in CA. Actually 1025.00
Finish paint and Lord knows Mr. Robertson, 1500.00
I won't do the math, I'm afraid! I’m afraid I’ll pass out.
Money received from the sale of 356 parts. 200.00 for Pistons and cylinders. Actually sent to New Zealand.
6V horns 160.00, With rebuild kits and emblems.
Overrider bar, 150.00
Jack spurs, 40.00. Decided not to put them on the car.
Somebody help me here, what have I left out?
I’m sure there’s more but I don’t have the time or the energy.
Anybody know a good shrink with a 356?
BTW. The list is still active and I’m adding to it daily.
Did I mention $100,000.00 in labor and time spent not working?
Unfortunately, I’m self-employed
So far, he restoration process, has been nothing of what you would call routine. There’s no metal that unbolts on this car! Anyone interested in viewing some photos of the metal work performed on this D can go to this web address or look for the website in the Tech section of the Registry site:
www.cfcgraphics.com/metalwork
I hope you find the photos helpful and there could possibly be an article about the metal restoration process.
This is the fender I started on and incidentally I’m ending on it.
That’s a skim coat of All Metal over a leaded area where the fender bracket is welded to the fender. The rest of the car has a coat of primer over the finished metal work. Incidentally, My fender brackets were modified to be removable. They can be seen at this URL:
http://members.aol.com:/miamiair/metalworkimages.jpg
There are other photos there that could be of interest.
Luckily, the metal work was under control, but my biggest concern was the engine because I didn’t have the time or the experience to rebuild one. So I spent countless hours calling just about everyone involved with 356 engine rebuilds.
I can’t speak for others, but after evaluating whatever information I could collect on engines, I decided to go with a 912 and keep the original engine. Sound familiar?
The Maestro was my first choice but he had no interest in building me an engine for 8,000.00 which was all I wanted to spend or should I say all I had to spend. Harry wanted 11,000.00 for a 912 engine. Actually, by his standards, is probably not a bad price considering he was supplying the case?
I called almost everyone from the East Coast to the West Coast. Some of the inquiries I made were made immediately after getting the car in 1996 but most were made just this past year.
Unfortunately, I never called Duane Spencer at Shasta Designs because I was told he was also expensive. Here’s a point, never believe everything you’re told.
Anyway, eventually, my inquiries for an engine went to Post. In fact, my behavior with one engine builder actually got me kicked off Post for a time. Having been booted off Post, I feel like a privileged member of a selected Club. There aren’t many that can say that?
Well, back to the engine. I guess it pays to read ALL the words on ALL the Posts. Something I’m still learning to do. By not reading ALL the words, I missed a great engine on Post. That’s right, a really great engine and the true “engine story” goes like this:
Guy in MD buys a 1968 case from someone in Canada. The seller in Canada ships it to Duane Spencer at Shasta Designs in CA because the buyer in MD is having it rebuilt by Duane. Be pointless to ship it to MD first.
3,000 miles away, Duane does his magic to the tune of 120-125hp. Duane sets the engine up to fit in a 356. Perfect! Well, almost. I do have to add Js and change the generator and some other stuff. After all, it could be worst.
Anyhow, the guy pays the bill and Duane ships the engine from CA to MD to the mechanic's shop that'll do the install for the guy.
Engine arrives at mechanics in MD. Engine sits in crate. (Nice crate BTW.)
During the time the engine was being built by Duane , or "In the meantime," guy in MD finds a great 356 Roadster, price and deal he can't refuse. So he buys the 356 Roadster.
Guy in MD no longer needs the engine or the Coupe it was to go in. Sooooooo, guy in MD sells Coupe that the Spencer engine was to go in and posts the engine on Post. (Pays to Post.)
I never see the Post, but hear about it. So I Post a Post to get the original Post that I never saw posted. Actually, I did see it but thought it was about a car. Why don't I read ALL the words? :-)
Now we know I've been looking for someone to build an engine, right? Well, I have, and Lord knows how many people I've talked to about building one and with no success. :-(
Anyway, I get one reply from my quest to locate the sender of that engine Post. A reply to the Post I Posted.
The gentleman who responded to my Post said "it was my lucky day" because that message was still there and it had not been deleted. Actually one of a few left. Some 300 he had!
Armed with the information, I contacted the guy in MD for the engine. You know the guy that left the Post I never saw, so I Posted a Post to get the Post.
Anyway, I snagged it within one and one-half hours of our original conversation. Actually one and one-half hours after getting the Post I didn't originally get. About the time it takes to have a conversation with one person, then call another, in this case Duane Spencer of Shasta Design, to verify information on the engine that's still in the crate at the mechanics. BTW, the crate was never opened; guy in MD never saw the engine. Hard to believe, but true.
Sooooooooo, Engine goes from mechanic's shop in MD, still in unopened original crate from Duane Spencer at Shasta Designs, to my location in pitiful RI.
Love Ya Ron! (Guy in MD.)
Only downside is waiting for confirmation on shipping. During this time guy in MD has the loot AND the engine.
Great that there are honest people around! Especially in 356.
Anyway, Duane Spencer will do my next engine. Hopefully, of which, will be real soon. I’m looking for a 912 case. Duane and I really hit it off. Like myself, Duane is also an Aviator, and we had much to talk about.
Love you Duane! (Duane Spencer, Shasta Designs in CA.)
Love you too Tom! (Guy that responded to my Post in VA.) The only one, BTW! I owe him big time.
Because my garage is home for a 1965 Morgan and a 1959 356 Convertible D, the crate, and engine still in it, is at my friend’s house.
Thank you Joe Hughes. Relax, The wife will give you a ride in her 356.
I expect the D to be finished for the fall of 2004. “D” day, September 1st!
Will I be glad to go back to my life? Yes. Will I miss working on the D? Yes. Am I hooked? Yes. Will I be taking on another 356 project?
Unfortunately. What have ya got?
A true story with virtually no exaggeration
To date, or at this writing, all of the major metal work has been completed. Whatever body work that was needed, including replacement of structural metal, body metal, leading, and All Metal filler has also been completed. The engine has been removed and the car is totally disassembled. The transmission will be removed shortly for rebuild and restoration. At the moment, I’m continuing finish body work in hopes of painting the car real soon. Currently I’m actually doing body work on both front and rear bumpers. I also just solved a bumper bracket problem. With an overrider bar, fogs can be difficult. I finally designed and fabricated my own brackets.
A future story about the restoration? Certainly another story could possibly be in the works about the restoration process of this 356 D.
Thanks for taking the time to read this story.
Keep The 356 Spirit always.
Charles
KTS
