Porsche 356 C | 1964

Porsche 356 C | 1964

Highlights:

– 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, 4-speed manual transmission

– Four-wheel disc brakes, a hallmark upgrade of the 356 C generation

– Restored in 2016

– Coupé bodystyle, with a currently valid roadworthiness inspection

The seller offers for sale this 1964 Porsche 356 C, powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. This coupé was restored in 2016, according to the seller, and currently holds a valid roadworthiness inspection. As a 356 C, it benefits from four-wheel disc brakes, one of the defining upgrades that set this final series apart from earlier 356 models.

Introduced by Ferry Porsche in 1948, the 356 was Porsche’s first production car and the model on which the company’s sporting reputation was built. Over roughly a decade and a half, the 356 evolved through the A and B series before reaching its final form as the 356 C, launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963. The C series is widely regarded as the most developed and best sorted of the 356 line: it introduced four-wheel disc brakes in place of the drum brakes used since the car’s inception, along with a revised ZF steering gear and an additional compensating spring at the rear axle to calm the swing-axle suspension. Visually, the 356 C is nearly identical to the preceding 356 B, distinguished mainly by its perforated disc wheels and new hubcaps, made necessary by the switch to disc brakes. Buyers of the period could choose between the 60-horsepower base engine, the more powerful 1600 C, and the top-of-the-range 1600 SC, alongside the rare four-cam Carrera 2. Production of the 356 continued into 1965, by which point the new Porsche 911 had already been introduced, marking the start of the next chapter for the marque.

Beneath its understated coupé lines, the 356 C carries the air-cooled, rear-mounted flat-four layout that would go on to define Porsche for decades, paired here with the light, direct-feeling 4-speed manual transaxle typical of the model. The addition of disc brakes on all four corners makes the 356 C notably more usable and confidence-inspiring in modern traffic than the drum-braked A and B models that preceded it, without sacrificing any of the delicacy and feel that collectors prize in an early Porsche. Combined with a restoration carried out in 2016, this example offers a way into the final and most refined generation of the car that started it all for Porsche.

Condition of the bodywork & paint

4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.

Condition of the interior

4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.

Technical condition

4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.

Overall condition

4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.

This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.

We encourage all potential bidders to inspect the vehicle before placing a bid. Please contact us by phone or email to schedule an appointment.

All auction vehicles offered have a reserve price. You have only won the item if the seller accepts your bid.

Price changes and errors reserved. The 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply to this auction.

This vehicle comes from a private collection and is currently located in the department of Loire-Atlantique, France.

This vehicle drives, brakes and shifts.

The vehicle has a French registration. The buyer is responsible for registration in his own country and responsible for delivery and collection of any vehicle purchased at the auction.

The description of this vehicle is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Route 66 Auctions requests a range of detail about the vehicle from the seller and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must independently satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description. We strongly advise potential buyers to view or arrange inspections as well as conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy.

Please note that it is not uncommon for classic or collectible vehicles to have received cosmetic repairs in the past, to rectify damage or refresh appearance, and this work may be hard to see even upon visual inspection. Unless there is an explicit statement by the seller to the contrary, please assume that any vehicle could have had bodywork or paintwork. Photographs may not reflect the exact true colour or exact full condition of the vehicle. It is a bidder’s responsibility to assure themselves of the colour and condition of a vehicle, including its interior and the existence of any remedial bodywork or paintwork, before committing to bid or buy.

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