Always in the Family

I recently acquired a 59/60 B from my father. Way back when,in late '59, my grandfather bought a 356 B. From the vin #'s I have determined that is an early B (not sure if its a '59 or '60). It has the single transmission mount, and a transmission with a date stamp of 22/59. As we all know this means the car was made sometime in June 1959. Getting back to my story, My grandfather traded my father this 6mo. old new 356 for a Triumph that he had. He thought that since I was going to be born and I had a brother, my parents should have a 4 seater car. So they traded.

As far back as I can remember, I spent many an hour riding in this car. Not only did my father drive this car every day to and from work, about an hour commute each way, we as a family would drive in that car, yes all four of us, to Sacramento from the bay area every weekend. This went on for many, many years.

Around 1977, my father decided it was time to retire the 356 and restore it. He had everything redone on the car. However, he didn't have the engine and trans done, because if it aint broke don't fix it. I really wish he had done this but I'm not complaining.

Anyway, about this time I was old enough to know and appreciate the quality of car this was. I think riding in this car for so many years, and seeing it go through the restoration process made me really appreciate it. I thought someday I would like to have a car like this. It originally was blue on the outside with red interior. My dad had it painted "Porsche" silver with black interior.

The restoration seemed to take forever. Every weekend my dad and I would go to see the progress and often times spend some time doing some work ourselves. I'm sure participating in the restoration process fueled my desire and appreciation. Once this was done, I felt so special to drive in this car. By this time, I was nearing 16.

Boy, did I want to drive that car, if just for a few miles. Well, This was few and far between. I was able to drive this great car once, for about 5 miles. I was in awe from then on. The restored car sat in my fathers garage for about 15 years with my father driving it only on special days. Maybe once a week, if that. You know I would go with him when he drove it and I would want to wash it when we were done. I felt I was contributing.

This may sound weird, but my parents had said if something happened to them was there anything that my brother or I wanted. My brother said he wanted my moms ring. No problem. I responded with I want the Porsche in the garage. They said no porblem. Of course you never think this will happen, or at least anytime to soon. You don't ever want to think that it will happen because as a result my father and mother wouldn't be alive. I sat tight for about 15 years.

The last time my father took it for a drive, it wouldn't run. He was fed up and not mechanically inclined so he stored it in a warehouse. Then my parents retired and decided to build a house. After about two years the house was nearly complete. At this point my mother said that my father wasn't going to bring the car to the new house. Much to my surprise, my father told me that if I wanted to come get the car I could. At this point I began pinching myself to see if this was a dream or if it was for real. I knew the car wasn't running so I
rented a car transport and transported the car to a friend of mine that works on Porsches and VWs for a shop near where I work.

After much time and much money, I got a phone call from Paul. The next thing I hear is the coupe's engine running and revving. I went to pick up the car a few
days later with butterflies in my stomach. It was a little
odd, but I sure could get used to it. I drove the car home with lots of looks to it's warm, single car garage, reserved exclusively for the coupe.

There are still a few little weird things with this car. It was serviced for the second time on my birthday by the shop my grandfather bought it from, which is the same shop where Paul works. This car is my third child & I care for it as if it was. I am a new registry member and enjoying driving the car just the same as my dad did after it was restored, just on special occasions. There are times when my son is in the passenger seat and I'm
driving just like my father and I did so many years before. Also when I park the car after a nice drive, the garage smells just like it did when my dad got home from work with the car.

This car is definitely very nostalgic and has a very special place in my heart. I can proudly say I am a third generation porsche owner. The same car just 40 years later. I have a great classic coupe and I still have my beloved parents.

Eric E. Schmidt
Registry # 13973