1964 Porsche 356

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1964 Porsche 356C 1600 SC by Reutter

VIN: 160049

Owned by Adrián Fernández, multiple IndyCar race winner, racing team owner, and American Le Mans Series LMP2 Champion

Longtime California car

Extremely rare "SC" variant with 95 horsepower

Stunning black on black original color configuration, confirmed by Porsche COA

Complete concours-level bare-metal restoration completed in 2016

Matching numbers engine, 1.6L engine and 4-speed manual transmission rebuilt in restoration

Includes Porsche COA, owner's manual, tool roll, spare wheel/tire, jack, tonneau cover with bag

This 1964 Porsche 356 1600 SC Reutter Cabriolet was built on February 14th, 1964 according to its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. Optioned in the stunning combination in black with a black leather interior, this Reutter Cabriolet is a rare example with the "SC" designation, upping the displacement on the factory engine for increased horsepower to 95hp and increased torque, which included high-lift camshafts, large intake and exhaust valves, re-worked exhaust ports, a higher compression ratio, and Solex PII-4 carburetors. The final iteration of the 356, modern refinements developed over a decade included a refined transmission, increased stopping power with disc brakes on all 4 corners, and many more small refinements Porsche updated over time.

Karosseriewerk Reutter is a name that has deep ties with Porsche, having built prototypes and production cars for Porsche after WWII, when Porsche lacked their own manufacturing and production capacity, but also needed to transition from aluminum hand-building to production-built steel bodies. This resulted in Reutter building the steel bodied 356s for over a decade. In 1963 Reutter's car manufacturing and car body plant was purchased by Porsche, allowing the fledgling sports car company to absorb the talent building each of their cars. Reutter retained its seat-making division, naming it the now-famous seat company, Recaro.

In 2016, this 356 Cabriolet was subject to a complete concours-level restoration by a noted restorer and recipient of the Weissach Award at the 2014 Monterey Porsche Parade. During the restoration the 356 was completely disassembled and was stripped down to bare metal. The original Porsche Certificate of Authenticity-confirmed color combination of black with a black leather interior was confirmed, a timeless and utterly beautiful specification. The black exterior complimented the fully reupholstered black leather interior, with square weave carpet, wood-rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel, and shining hardware throughout. The matching numbers SC engine was completely rebuilt during restoration, as was the 741 4-speed manual transmission. Once completed, the 356 was a shining example of a 356.

In 2022 the 356 Cabriolet made its way to Canepa with just 5,214 miles after restoration, and was put through the complete "Canepa Difference" process where it was thoroughly inspected and serviced as needed, both mechanically and cosmetically. It didn't take long for it to find a new owner, American Le Mans Series LMP2 champion and multi-CART/Champ car, IndyCar, and Indy Lights race winner, Adrián Fernández. One of the most successful Mexican racing drivers in history, Fernández was a major racing icon for many years in CART and IndyCar competition, owned his own racing team for several years, and even mentored and managed Formula 1 driver Sergio Pérez. He enjoyed the 356 for several years as a part of his automobile collection.

Returning to Canepa after 4 years, the 1964 Porsche 356 Cabriolet 1600 SC by Reutter shows just 5,438 miles since its restoration, and looking as stunning as when it left. Every surface looks as though it was just restored, and the 356 commands to be viewed in person to appreciate its condition. Put through the "Canepa Difference" process to ensure mechanical and cosmetic perfection, the 356 came back with a clean bill of health mechanically, and was given detailing and a paint polish, and underside washing by hand. Now ready for its next caretaker, enjoying the limitless headroom and the factory-upgraded SC engine, the end of production of the Porsche 356 resulted in the best examples to date, making it enjoyable to own and to drive, and formerly owned by racing icon, Adrián Fernández.

About the Porsche 356 1600 SC Cabriolet by Reutter

Beyond its mechanical enhancements, the 356C represented the ultimate maturation of Porsche's iconic sports car before it was fully succeeded by the 911. The "Cabriolet" configuration offered open-air enthusiasts the definitive grand touring experience, wrapped in handcrafted steel panels meticulously fashioned by the historic Reutter coachworks in Stuttgart. In fact, the 356C era marks a historic milestone for the brand: midway through production in early 1964, Porsche formally acquired the Reutter coachbuilding facilities (transitioning the operation into what would become Recaro), making late-production models some of the final cars to bear the coveted Reutter badge on their front fenders.

The open-top experience of the 1600 SC Cabriolet was matched by a thoroughly sorted chassis. The transition to ATE license-Dunlop disc brakes on all four corners gave drivers immense stopping confidence, eliminating the fade and adjustment quirks inherent to the older drum systems. To balance the agility of the disc brakes, Porsche paired the independent suspension with slightly softer torsion bars and a thicker front anti-roll bar. This subtle tuning reduced high-speed oversteer and improved overall ride quality, making the SC Cabriolet an exceptional long-distance cruiser and a potent backroad companion.

Inside, the cabin blended sporting purpose with traditional craftsmanship, featuring supportive bucket seats, precise VDO instrumentation, and a clean, body-colored dashboard. Because the 911 and 912 were rapidly ascending into production by 1964 and 1965, the production numbers for the 356C Cabriolet were relatively scarce compared to its enclosed coupe siblings. Today, the 1964 Porsche 356C 1600 SC Cabriolet by Reutter is celebrated by collectors as the absolute pinnacle of pushrod 356 engineering-combining the raw, mechanical purity of air-cooled heritage with the most advanced performance upgrades Porsche ever offered for the platform.