A Porsche in the woods you say? Options

[Unobtanium-inc]

Accessible only by ATV you say? I know it's not a 914, but thought you guys might like to see one more saved, in this case an early Pre-A.
KTF-
Adam

[billh1963]

It's amazing the cars that are being discovered these days. What's even more amazing is that someone will undertake a restoration on cars like that!

[keely444]

Very cool find.What is next?

[Unobtanium-inc]

It's amazing the cars that are being discovered these days. What's even more amazing is that someone will undertake a restoration on cars like that!

The upside of a car like this in the hundreds of thousands, that leaves a lot of room for a restoration. Most likely it will go to Europe then be sent to one of the cheap metal masters in Eastern Europe and come back west for engine/paint and interior.

[siverson]

That is really cool.

-Steve

[mangrum]

It's always good to hear of rescuing these cars.

If it is truly an early Pre-A then it's uber rare and potentially very valuable. I believe, however, that early Pre-As were split windshield. Or at least bent windshield. But I don't see that.

Good luck!

Mike

[iwanta914-6]

How on earth do you find them?

Do you have to know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that remembers a story about some other guy that said as a kid saw something buried in the middle of the woods that kind of looked like a 356?

[bretth]

Awesome find. Damn kids jumped on the poor car's roof.

Brett

[Root_Werks]

Was talking with a local 356 restore guy just this week. I haven't seen a 356 not worth saving. If it still has a VIN you can read somewhere, it's worth saving.

[relentless]

Somewhere over near Keno, Oregon, there was a 356 sitting somewhat near a house literally going back into the earth. I saw it in the late '70's and was told the owner bought it for his wife, and when she died the car was never driven again. A sad fate for at the time a complete example.

[mbseto]

At that point, you're just restoring it as a template to create a new car. It reminds my of the Stephen Wright joke (paraphrased), last night someone snuck into my garage and replaced all my cars with identical copies.

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

At that point, you're just restoring it as a template to create a new car. It reminds my of the Stephen Wright joke (paraphrased), last night someone snuck into my garage and replaced all my cars with identical copies.

Matt is right, what you have here is some metal that bears a strong resemblance to an early 356. When that car is reconfigured with new reproduction sheetmetal, period-correct interior components, and hard and soft trim items, virtually the only original piece on the car will be the VIN.

When it is completed, it will be no more a PORSCHE than the Beck 550 spyders or 356 Speedsters.

Someone with more money than sense will spend far too much money on what amounts to a reproduction automobile rather than a restored vehicle or even a "tribute" or "clone", since there will be virtually no Porsche DNA left in the final product.

And the final bit of irony is that the final purchaser of that "reconfiguration" will look down on a 914 and think that the 914 is "not a real Porsche".

Paul

[Catorse]

At that point, you're just restoring it as a template to create a new car. It reminds my of the Stephen Wright joke (paraphrased), last night someone snuck into my garage and replaced all my cars with identical copies.

Matt is right, what you have here is some metal that bears a strong resemblance to an early 356. When that car is reconfigured with new reproduction sheetmetal, period-correct interior components, and hard and soft trim items, virtually the only original piece on the car will be the VIN.

When it is completed, it will be no more a PORSCHE than the Beck 550 spyders or 356 Speedsters.

Someone with more money than sense will spend far too much money on what amounts to a reproduction automobile rather than a restored vehicle or even a "tribute" or "clone", since there will be virtually no Porsche DNA left in the final product.

And the final bit of irony is that the final purchaser of that "reconfiguration" will look down on a 914 and think that the 914 is "not a real Porsche".

Paul

Wow, you have a chip on your shoulder the size of Rhode Island. Get over yourself, lots of people like both the 356 and 914s equally. I have never heard a 356 owner disparage a 914 either.

and YES I own a 356 and a 914 as well as some other Porsches.

And yes they are all Porsches!

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

and YES I own a 356 and a 914 as well as some other Porsches.

And yes they are all Porsches!

You miss my point, when that car is reconstituted it will not be a 356, rather it will just look like a 356. Similarly, I've been to PCA events where the "cognoscenti" will fawn over a Beck 550 with a VW engine, that I will admit was well executed, but it is not a Porsche, it just looks like a Porsche.

I assume you are familiar with the term for "knock-off" high end timepieces, leather goods, designer clothing, etc.? Counterfeit?...."something false or copied that pretends to be genuine". That's what that car in the woods will be if it gets to be reconfigured to look like a 356. And someone will probably pay north of 100 large to buy it. But Porsche mania does not have an exclusive right to this sort of insanity as more than a couple very high end Italian cars have been reconstituted with little more than a few frame fragments and a chassis number.

And finally, I guess I must have a chip on my shoulder because authenticity, originality and integrity are highly prized by me when it comes to automobile valuation.

Paul

[KELTY360]

So, where do you draw the line? We assume the VIN is intact. Suppose the cowl, windshield frame and roof are retained...I know, working the roof back to shape will take a master metal massager and beau coup hours. And let's say correct suspension and engine components are located and installed. Isn't that enough DNA to call it a Porsche 356?

We've seen some intense rustorations on this site that entailed piecing together from many donors to make a whole car, including repro sheet metal panels. Are those just 'knock offs"?

I'm glad this 'car' has been saved from rusting into the earth and I'm pretty sure if I saw it at a show with a notebook of restoration pics that I'd be amazed and impressed.

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

If someone media blasted that car (I'd love to see the residual metal that was left), welded in Porsche manufactured chassis and body panels (some of which are available), sourced an era appropriate 356 engine, and added as much OEM interior/exterior hard and soft trim as possible.......yea, I'd call that a Porsche.

Paul

[KELTY360]

If someone media blasted that car (I'd love to see the residual metal that was left), welded in Porsche manufactured chassis and body panels (some of which are available), sourced an era appropriate 356 engine, and added as much OEM interior/exterior hard and soft trim as possible.......yea, I'd call that a Porsche.

Paul

OK, so, no reproduction body panels. What if the restorer hand fabricates a panel and welds it in? Is it ok to reupholster seats using modern fabric and the original seat frame? Are new fasteners allowed? What about interior door panels? I could go on but I don't want to beat that horse. To me, a restoration is as much about the documentation as the the finished piece. I want to see the starting point and the processes and materials that go into the final presentation. In the end however, a restoration must stand on it's own and reflect an attention to detail appropriate to the level to which it aspires.

[Johny Blackstain]

I just hope she can be saved.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[jmitro]

I, for one, LOVE these finds and rescues missions. So cool!

If someone media blasted that car (I'd love to see the residual metal that was left), welded in Porsche manufactured chassis and body panels (some of which are available), sourced an era appropriate 356 engine, and added as much OEM interior/exterior hard and soft trim as possible.......yea, I'd call that a Porsche.

Paul

I get your point, but Kelty360 is right.....where do you draw the line?

[BK911]

Wow.
99% of that *car* will be replaced.
Keep the Vin and replace everything else.
And that's OK with some who don't agree with Vin swapping.
What's the difference?