(Click any photo for a larger image)

This car is the first of this type in the Member Gallery — a T6-bodied 356B "Twin Grill Roadster". I can't call it mine, we are merely custodians. Porsche records indicate 248 were built in Belgium by D'Ieteren Freres during late 1961 for the 1962 model year, and they were the last of the 356 Roadsters, which were the final evolution of the Speedster. This car was first delivered on April 25, 1962 by Cutler Motors, Inc., 307 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida, with the original invoice showing:

When I purchased the vehicle from the original owner, John Carmack, in June of 1971, he told me the car was shipped from the factory with a Normal engine. When he contacted Cutler Motors to arrange purchase he insisted he wanted a Super 90. The dealership asked John how long it would take him to get there (from his home near Indianapolis, IN) and when told three days, assured him it would be a Super-90 upon delivery. It was in fact delivered as a S90, including the "camber compensator", per the invoice quoted above. (The camber compensator is still in my possession.)

When delivered to me, the car had been modified by replacing the original engine with SC Engine # P*812427* which is still in the car in stock 1600cc configuration. The original owner advised that in 1969/70 the engine had been removed and stored in a shed during some other work on the car, and the cylinders had rusted. He was a part-owner of the Indianapolis Porsche dealership at the time, and was able to obtain a new (not rebuilt) replacement SC engine from the Porsche factory, which was verified by the "star" engine number.

At approximately the same time as the engine replacement (or perhaps the reason the engine was out of the car) the brakes were replaced with a full set of "C" disc brakes. John told me these came from a Coupe which had rolled down a mountain in Alabama, totaling the body but providing a number of salvageable parts.

The dash carries an oil pressure gauge, ammeter and clock, all of which are period-correct factory options. A "Les Leston" steering wheel was fitted to the car.

This car has visited many Porsche Parades with me at the wheel, the first being Sun Valley, Idaho, only a couple of weeks after the car became my responsibility. The body is complete, solid and has not been modified. It's due for a "freshening" of the paint and upholstery, but it's tough to begin that process because the car is so much fun to drive.

One of the most amazing things about this tale is that within the past week (mid-2004), fellow Registry member and friend Mick Michelsen has put me back in touch with a mutual friend I first met at the 1971 Sun Valley Parade. What a wonderful world of fine people.

Look for me and my wife Naomi at the next East Coast Holiday.

Tom Farnam
Alexandria, VA
Registry Member #450