The Porsche 356 movement and all 356 Registry Discussion

mazaguy · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:22 pm Post subject:

The varied and interesting responses all lead me to believe the 356 scene is varied and interesting Smile

The responses from Mr Raby are particularly telling (in a good way to me).

Now, onto something similar but different, I was wondering, can I fit Beetle rear drums/Thing rear drums or one of the many Beetle disc brake kits on the rear of my 1958 356A? My rear drums are originals are they're past their useful service life. Incidentally, I have Beetle front discs on my car.

Jacks · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:58 pm Post subject:

It is entirely possible to convert a genuine 356 into a VW with a Porsche body...

TC/TeamEvil · Samba Member Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1616

"Incidentally, I have Beetle front discs on my car."

You also have VW part numbers on your stock 356 front trailing arms. Plain old boring VW front suspension pieces with a metal sleeve added to take up the room in the larger id 356 torsion housing.

Those VW front suspension parts were used throughout the entire run of the 356.

356 on a VW pan:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/555.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/44.jpg

Jake Raby · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject:

..and a 550 Spyder used a 519 tranny which is nothing more than a split case VW tranny with a flipped diff.

But who cares?
_________________
Jake Raby
Raby Engine Development
www.rabyenginedevelopment.com
"I've never given anyone Hell, I just told them the truth and they thought it was Hell"

Jacks · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject:

Jake Raby · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:52 am Post subject:

Wait till tomorrow when I can post pics I took of a factory 550 race car that I worked on at Bill Doyle's shop in 2008.. It's pretty clear in the photos.
_________________
Jake Raby
Raby Engine Development
www.rabyenginedevelopment.com
"I've never given anyone Hell, I just told them the truth and they thought it was Hell"

TC/TeamEvil · Samba Member Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1616

"But who cares?"

In context of the poster mentioning his Beetle brakes fitting a 356, it's a good reference for the varied, though somewhat limited, cross-over of VW and 356 bits and pieces.

Nobody cares, most likely, but if just one does and learns something . . good enough, don't you think?

EDIT:

Jake Raby · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:48 pm Post subject:

What I was saying is the VW logo or Porsche crest have been combined over and over again throughout the history of both marques..
_________________
Jake Raby
Raby Engine Development
www.rabyenginedevelopment.com
"I've never given anyone Hell, I just told them the truth and they thought it was Hell"

TC/TeamEvil · Samba Member Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1616

OK then, I apologize.

SplitPersonality · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 4:33 pm Post subject:

Interesting thread!

My belief is totally opposite the thread-starter.... The 356-movement has been increasing the last 4-5 years, and it will continue to grow a lot the next 10 years. It is indeed a growing "macro-trend" in the automotive hobby.

The "middle of the Bell-curve" in terms of the age of VW-enthusiasts of today is about 30-45 years I think.....most enthusiasts are within this year-range, but of course there are older and younger too. A lot of us got started in the early 90ies, so many have been at it for 20 years already. If you own, build, drive and think aircooled VW - one is bound to eventually dream of, and want a 356. For sure. So - as the majority of VW-nuts gets passed the "small-children & getting settled"-phase of life....and get loans reduced and salaries increased - we will see large enumbers of buyers for 356s now and the next 10 years...

And at the same time a lot of the "caretakers" that bought 356s when they were "special, but cheap" (in the 1970ies) - are now reaching the age of "I'll sell it to have a better retirement" - so we will see more of them coming into the market the next years as well.

So forget the thought "slow and dying" when speaking of 356s ..... it is thriving and growing, I would say!

Braukuche · Samba Member Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 5158

Brian Mathe · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

Not that this is a good thing, but think of all the "wives" that have put up with endless amounts of money and time that some of these guys have put into their Porsche. I have heard horror stories from some of the classic V8 guys that they picked up a nicely restored Impala from some widow cheap because she hated the amount of time her husband spent in the garage and wanted it out of her site. I feel this might happen to some of the 356's out there also. Not that I want anyone to go and die on us but there is probably a good amount of children and wives that have a lot of resentment issues with "daddy" and the time/money he spent on his car.
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mazaguy · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject:

dsrtfox · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject:

Don't hold your breath waiting for prices to go down, they won't.

I bought my first 356 in 1972 when I was making $11,000 a year. It was a 65 SC. I paid 2,850.00 for it. It almost got me divorced and all my friends thought I had lost my mind. they all said "you could have bought a new car instead of that stupid looking waterbug". That was true.

Zoom ahead 40 years. You can get a really nice 356 B in the low 40's. or you can buy a nice new car with all the bells and whistles. It's all the same, choices and priorities...

Jacks · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:56 am Post subject:

jt912 · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:20 am Post subject:

Interesting article about 550A-0141 in this months Panorama. It mentioned this car was taken to Bill Doyle's shop for it's mechanical work. The article has this to say about the transmission. "The single most challenging aspect of his procurement journey was related to the unusual five-speed transmission unique to the 550A Spyder. These units were in a split case with the shift lever coming out the shift housing in the reverse position"
There are pictures of the trans but I haven't figured out the easiest way to post them.

Unobtanium-inc · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject:

I sell quite a few 356's and more and more are going to a new crop of folks in the 30s and early 40s, I am 37. Also, I know lots and lots of guys in their 20s would love a 356, and when they start making more $$$ they will probably get one. One thing you will start to see is open cars and Carrera's not being attainable by anyone but the wealthy, but coupes will be the regular man's 356.

mazaguy · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject:

Unobtanium-inc · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject:

Every year there are more younger guys. Here is what I see happening, because it is already happening. More outlaws, Type 4 motors, aftermarket brakes, etc. The prices of 356's and their parts are going up and up, but so is the desire. That is why I keep looking for more cars, even the rougher ones, because there is a long line of guys with lots of ambition, time, know-how, welding wire, to make up for their lack of money.
Perfect example, two years ago I sold the worst 356 I had to a guy in the mid-west, he sent me a pic last week, the car looks great. This is a car I bought as a bare body and put back together, he took it to the next level and hopes to drive it to the Registry Holiday in August. But he also came back for more punishment and bought an A Coupe from me with the top cut off.
This car:
http://unobtaniuminc.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/how-to-make-a-porsche-356-speedster/
Some people will laugh at him but when he is done, he will be laughing.

Braukuche · Samba Member Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 5158

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The Porsche 356 movement and all 356 Registry Discussion
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