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PORSCHE 356 C 1600 COUPE - $Auction

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To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Dare to Dream Collection event, 31 May - 1 June 2024.
Offered Without Reserve | $90,000 - $120,000 USD

  • “The Colonel’s Coupe;” fantastic provenance, and retains its numbers-matching engine and gearbox, with service records dating back to 1965
  • Completed in December 1964; from the model’s final year of production
  • Desirably fitted with dash clock, four-wheel disc brakes, Becker Europa radio, chrome wheels, driver’s side mirror, and wood-rimmed steering wheel


Please note, this lot is registered in Canada and import duty will be applicable to all countries outside of Canada, including the United States.


The genesis of the Porsche 356—and with it, Porsche itself—may have been in the humble Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle. Yet by the time 356 production wound down in 1965, the beloved marque had developed a sports car formula that is still felt, both aesthetically and mechanically, in its present-day offerings.

Porsche’s 356 made its final transformation in 1963 with the debut of the 356 C. The new model featured upgraded ZF steering and suspension with four-wheel disc brakes. Buyers could opt for a 12-volt electrical system, among numerous other usability improvements. Excluding the rare and costly Carrera, the 356 C was offered with the choice of two engines: the standard 1.6-liter C unit producing 75 horsepower, or the SC engine with higher compression making for 95 horsepower.

This 356 C 1600 Karmann Coupe (chassis 221362) is one of 4,743 examples produced for the 1965 model year, and it was delivered to Porsche Cars Northwest in Beaverton, Oregon during early 1965. An accompanying Kardex copy notes an original specification of Bali Blue paint over black leatherette upholstery and chrome wheels wrapped in Dunlop tires.

The car was purchased new in August 1965 by Bill Manning, a career Air Force administrator who would eventually retire in the late 1980s at the rank of Colonel, following more than 40 years of active service at bases in Oregon, California, and Georgia. Of course, Colonel Manning always kept his prized 356 Coupe with him during these many transfers; the car’s stellar history files dating back to Manning’s purchase shows regular maintenance by Porsche specialists and more than 72,0000 miles accrued by November 1979!

In July 1987, after more than two decades within Colonel Manning’s original ownership and 86,000 miles of enjoyment, 221632 was sold to its second recorded owner. In October 1988, it traded hands again; over the next following eighteen months, this owner completed a total restoration upon the car, and refinished it in the color scheme of Ivory over charcoal leather. It was subsequently purchased by an Ontario-based Porsche enthusiast and exported to Canada.

In 2011, 221362 was purchased by the Dare to Dream Collection then showing 18,580 miles travelled since it previous restoration. Under current ownership it was furnished with more than $67,000 CAD of restoration work, which notably included the stripping down to bare metal to correct prior damage, a full color change to its current specification of black paint over black leather, new chrome throughout, and a comprehensive engine tune-up.

Now offered with a Kardex copy confirming its numbers-matching engine and gearbox, this 1965 356 C 1600 Karmann Coupe would no doubt be welcome at many exhibition and driving events, offering its next owner the opportunity to acquaint themselves with a model at the very foundation of Porsche’s ongoing legend.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/dd24.

  • 0 Miles
  • Transmission 69197354786223e29b85070a0695cc247a4c2b215c743673c2d02e864b4cd687 AUTOMATIC
  • Steering ca68a9643bbb915d30839040f432af59e679db8cf98e23a4378cbef2ed805059 RHD
  • RefCode: 5F3E2085-7BDD-6FDD-8A47-B9ED462A0EC4