Editor's Desk

Putting it back together

By Glenn Hill
PORSCHEFORME Editor

 Here we are in the middle of another glorious Maine summer.  This is the season we all dream about during the other nine months of the year.  I hope you’ve all got your Porsches on the road or at least maybe you have a good excuse why you don’t.  I myself think I have a pretty good excuse…my Porsche has no wheels on it!  No front suspension either!  By now everyone who has been reading Porscheforme has figured out that my Porsche interests revolve primarily around the 356, and that I’m attempting to restore one or at least otherwise put it back on the road.  I thought some curious readers out there might be interested in how things are progressing, so for lack of anything more creative to write about, here’s where I’m at.

            My car is a 1961 356B Coupe with the Normal (60hp) engine.  The car has 49,000 miles on it and was resurrected from storage by the previous owner, who wanted to “try out” a 356 before committing to a more expensive pop-top version.  The car was advertised as being “white”…obviously a respray.  The car had indeed been painted refrigerator-white, but my wife and I noticed simultaneously that the dashboard was in fact light gray…specifically Heron Gray, a pretty rare color in the 356 world.  I love the Porsche grays, so we decided to get the car even though there were some holes in the longitudinals and a few “bubbles” here and there.  Don’t get the wrong idea; the car’s not a rust bucket.  Aside from a few holes, the car’s pretty darn solid.  In fact, it’s difficult to imagine an easier restoration.  Having said that, I should follow up by saying the project has been a huge pain in the behind and more work than I ever thought it would be!  Surprises have been few, but disappointing when found.  I have repeated some steps, not having been happy with my first effort.  I suppose that’s better than being haunted by memories of an unsatisfactory job years later.  I’ve always wanted to restore a 356, so I try and stay focused on the end of the rainbow, and have accepted an extra year or two of work as fair trade for a job well done, but evil visions of quick fiberglass patches and pop-rivets do invade my thoughts from time-to-time…usually after about three hours on my back.

            Don Michaud, our regional 356-restoration expert, was kind enough to swing by recently and eyeball my work.  I had secret fears that he would take one look at my efforts and demand the whole lower half of the car be cut off and burned, but that was not the case.  Much to my surprise, he gave me a thumbs-up…along with some hints and tips gleaned from his years of experience.  His visit gave me a renewed sense of focus and optimism, and for that I am most grateful.  If anything, I have learned that the restoration process is long, lonely, painful, and expensive, so any cheery, reassuring news that comes along is most welcome.

Some of the DER cars at this year's Bonny Eagle Car Show (Glenn Hill photo)

            So now that it’s warm and I can pick up sheet metal parts without them freezing to my numb fingers, I should be rocking and rolling, right?  Well, yes and no.  There are the assorted interruptions of summer that always seem to get in the way…barbeques, daytrips, vacations, working in the yard, etc, etc…pleasant interruptions, but interruptions nonetheless.  So when will I be done?  Let’s just say I hope the next article about my car highlights its completion!  Meanwhile, those of you with WORKING Porsches get out there and enjoy the season!  It’ll be winter soon, and I might just ask you to come over and help me weld this thing back together!

Glenn

Top of Page                Back to Porscheforme articles