Make: | Porsche |
Model: | 356 |
SubModel: | B Twin Grille Roadster |
Type: | Convertible |
Trim: | B Twin Grille Roadster |
Year: | 1962 |
Mileage: | 50750 |
VIN: | XXXXXXXXXXXX89748 |
Color: | Blue |
Engine: | Porsche Super 90 4-Cylinder |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Manual |
Interior color: | Red |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Bellevue, Washington, United States |
1962 Porsche 356B Twin Grille Roadster Northwest Car Since New with Documented Ownership History Believed to be 50,750 actual miles. Last owner purchased in 1974 Factory Original Oslo Blue with Red Leather Interior and Boot Complete Super 90 Specifications - Engine, Tachometer, and Compensator Bar 1 of Only 248 Twin Grille Roadsters Built by D'leteren Freres in 1962 Complete Restoration Just Completed by Kerstan Rillos Restorations. Factory Original Color Combination and Options.... Kardex and Certificate of Authenticity Available Engine Number - P*805662* Engine Build Number - 58460 Case Pairing Number - 234 Engine Type Number - 516-7 Transmission Number - 50227 In the days before automobiles, D'leteren was a famous coachbuilder in Brussels, Belgium. In 1961, the company teamed up with Porsche to begin producing coachwork for 356 Roadster. The T6 version of the 356 was identified by its twin engine-lid grills, squared hood, external fuel filler door, improved ZF gearboxes with special gearing for the roadster, shift linkage, improved brakes and stronger connecting rods. With just 248 examples of the twin grille roadsters built, and only 58 original Super 90's made, chassis no. 89748 is a preciously rare car, but other elements make it even more desirable. While born with a 1600 Normal engine, it was changed early on to a period-correct numbered Super 90 engine, along with all the other upgrades to make it a proper Super 90 Porsche. Those upgrades include the Super 90 camber compensator and special tachometer. The car was first purchased in Tacoma, WA, then sold in 1971 to an avid Tacoma Porsche collector, Dr. Robert Heacox, who enjoyed the car very much. He subsequently sold it in 1975 to early PCA member Robert Lewis, a contractor, car and airplane collector, and leading citizen of Yakima, WA for $4000 and 50,000 miles on the odometer. He only drove it sparingly over the years, accumulating only a few hundred miles before his health failed and he passed away in 2017. During the time he kept the car in his hangar, and according to his brother, was always tinkering with it. Wanting more power, he decided to replace the Normal engine with a period-correct numbered Super 90 engine, and changing the car configuration to factory Super 90 specs. With his health failing, the car sat in storage for years, along with his other forgotten Porsches, until they were discovered in early 2017 by his brother after Bob had passed away. As a shirttail relative of this wealthy Yakima family, we were called to look at the garage and identify the cars, knowing that Bob was not only a Porsche enthusiast but also very meticulous about his automobiles and airplanes. The jewel of the collection and a huge surprise was the Twin Grille Roadster! It was a true barn find and was pretty dusty after being untouched for many years, but cleaned up pretty well as shown in the pictures. The engine turned over (mechanically), and the car was all there and with all the Super 90 parts, but we chose not to try to start it, and took it to Chris Powell, a local nationally known Porsche engine builder and tuner, PCA National Tech Committee member, and owner of Chris's German Auto Service in Redmond, WA. It was decided that only a complete restoration would do justice to the car, so commissioned Chris to rebuild all the mechanicals. It was also decided to modernize and upgrade the numbers correct Super 90 engine from 1600 cc to 1720 cc with new technology and parts to give even better performance, but still look Concours proper. Beginning in November 2017, the car was disassembled, and while Chris's shop redid all the mechanical components, a complete exterior, interior and convertible top restoration by multiple award-winning Porsche expert Kerstan Rillos in Kent, WA. The car was taken to bare metal, finding only minor damage and rust, repaired properly (no fillers), and repainted its original Oslo Blue. The Red Leather interior was reupholstered and new top crafted. The original correct date stamped wheels were re-chromed, and new Michelin XZX tires fitted. With all the mechanicals rebuilt to factory spec or better, this becomes one of the most desirable 356s available today. View More Photos Here... Watch a Short Video of This Car Here... Read a Short Story About the Car Here... For more information on this 1962 Porsche 356 B 'Twin Grille" Roadster or any of our 30+ Porsches always in stock, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants or always feel free to drop by our 40,000+ sq ft of Indoor Showrooms in Bellevue, WA - Home of an Exciting Inventory of Luxury, Exotic, High Performance and Collectible Automobiles. With 200+ Always On Site, Nobody Has What We Have!