Story of a Classic: 1962 Porsche 356B

We’re gearing up for spring! That means warm weather and open roads, and there’s no better prep than learning the incredible stories behind our clients’ classic vehicles. In this edition of our Story of a Classic series, we meet Scott from Illinois, who fell in love with Porsche coupes when he was a small child. He appreciated everything about the cars from their sleek look to their incredible engineering and jumped at the chance to own his own 1962 Porsche 356 B Coupe as an adult. Over two decades, Scott restored the vehicle with care, getting it to showroom condition! Read on to learn how Scott’s childhood fascination with collector cars became a lifelong passion.

Q: How did you get started collecting classic vehicles?

Scott: I got my start by building 1/25 scale plastic car kit models as a very young boy. One of my very first as a gift: a Studebaker Avanti.

My favorite birthday and Christmas gifts were car kits, and I learned so much about cars from that. As a teenager, I had opportunities to tinker on various old cars with my father, and by myself or with buddies who were also into fixing up cars. It was only natural to want to own older real cars that I could improve and keep.

Q: What drew you to this specific make and model?

Scott: I was drawn to this specific car because at the time I was born, my dad owned a new 1960 Porsche 356B Roadster. Even as a very small boy I loved the look, sounds, and, yes, even the smell of the interior and engine bay of that car. Dad replaced it with a ‘63 Porsche coupe and later traded for a 1966 912.

I have so many memories involving those cars and I’ve been a lover of nearly all cars my whole life. A friend of my parents living in southern California had owned a 1962 356B coupe since it was less than a year old and loved driving it on mountain roads.

By the early 1980s the hot sun had dried and cracked his Porsche’s upholstery and severely faded its paint. The car’s body had some dents but no rust anywhere. The owner had a job transfer to the east coast and was ready to part with the 356. He knew I loved Porsches and working on old cars, so he offered to sell me his car for a very low price if I transported it from California to Illinois, and so I did just that!

Q: Was there anything that surprised you when you started owning or restoring the vehicle being featured? Or did anything surprise you when you started the hobby in general?

Scott: I found it fascinating to see how beautifully engineered this car is, and the many examples of it being hand-built. For example, parts of the body were welded together from many surprisingly small steel stampings, and hand finished with lead. Most of the engine was hand-assembled by a single technician at the Porsche factory.

Q: Tell us about other collector vehicles you own or have owned.

Scott: Spanning more than 40 years, my wife and I have accumulated a few collector cars, each with their own “personality” and back-story. I’ve made a hobby of improving the correctness of their details, keeping them running well, and occasionally bringing them to community cruise nights and car shows.

Q: Do you attend shows with this vehicle? Win any awards? Tell us about an experience from a recent, or favorite, show you’ve attended.

Scott: I really enjoy attending car shows even as just a spectator. I love to see and learn about the huge variety of cars designed and built over the decades. I especially enjoy “survivor” cars that still have many of the materials, finishes, and fabrics originally produced by the manufacturer.

These cars are time capsules representing the past. I’m fascinated by how cars have evolved during my lifetime.

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Berkley One Classics is a Berkley Company who recognizes that classic cars are unique and require insurance that’s equally distinctive. Let us help you protect your beloved vehicle so you can enjoy it for years to come. Learn more here.

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