Big bucks for barn-find Aussie Porsche

Or should that be church-find?

An incredible barn-find Porsche 356A that was discovered locked away under a Brisbane church smashed its pre-sale estimate at Shannons’ 2021 Summer Timed Online Auction, when the virtual hammer fell yesterday (23 February).

The time-capsule classic achieved the jaw-dropping result despite its dilapidated condition, and while the car’s new owner surely has their work cut out for them, the photographs of this once-perfect Porsche are simply irresistible.

Check them out – and find out what price this 356 fetched.

Seldom seen

This late-1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet came with a rare factory Karmann hardtop, as well as even-rarer 15in Rudge knock-off wheels.

Souped-up Super

One of just 1382 356A Super Cabriolets built in 1958, this Porsche was equipped with a 75bhp 1600 Super engine from the factory and a four-speed manual gearbox.

The improved engine offered a useful 15bhp increase over the standard 1600. 

All the trimmings

As well as the rare hardtop and wheels, the Melbourne-delivered 356 benefited from a number of other optional extras including a tinted windscreen, an electric clock and a sunblind with make-up mirrors.

Trading up

The car was bought secondhand by its late owner in 1970 when it was 12 years old.

The accompanying history file shows that she paid $1162 for the car – less $250 credit for trading in her Volkswagen Beetle.

On hallowed ground

After enjoying the Porsche for a number of years – no doubt relishing in the performance improvement over her outgoing Bug – the car was eventually stashed away beneath a church in Newmarket, Brisbane.

At that point, this 356 had covered just 12,482 miles.

Local hero

During its active years, the Porsche was regularly spotted cutting a dash around Brisbane wearing the fitting numberplate ‘356POR’, before the registration eventually lapsed. 

In high demand

Auction house Shannons had expected the car to fetch between $90-120,000 in its February sale, but with 90 minutes still to go, bidding had soared beyond this upper pre-sale estimate to $150,000.

By the time the auction closed yesterday (23 February), the Porsche had attracted an astonishing winning bid of $230,000.

Original and best

Despite being in rough condition with a torn steering wheel and rusting dashboard, the interior of the 356 is largely original and all complete.

This is crucial, because some of the rarest components required during a total restoration tend to be small pieces of trim.

Threadbare and careworn

As well as the factory red leatherette folding seats, the original carpet can be seen in the rear footwells – though, sadly, it seems to be beyond saving.

Subtle changes

The 356A 1600 Super featured bumper guards and round tail-lights, which were changed for striking teardrop-shaped units by March 1957.

Plus, the brake lights were integrated into the rear tail-lights.

Smooth classics

As well as the electric clock, this 356A is fitted with a smart period radio – most probably the original.

We wonder which station it was last tuned to…

Going spare

The spare wheel seems to be a match for the Rudge knock-offs fitted to the car, but there’s no sign of the original toolkit.

Porsche has recently launched a range of exact replica toolkits, with originals fetching astronomical sums.

Future focused

After its headline-grabbing sale with Shannons, who knows what’s next for this tired-looking Porsche?

Let’s hope its winning bidder is ready to take this project on, so this 356 is returned to its former glory – and maybe back to the streets of Brisbane, too.