1962 Porsche 356B Twin Grille

This 1962 Porsche 356B is one of just 248 “twin grille” roadsters built with bodywork from Belgian coachbuilder D’Ieteren Frères. Chassis 89748 was completed in December of 1961 and sold new in Tacoma, Washington. The car was acquired by its third owner in 1975 and remained with him for 42 years, during which time it was fitted with the engine, rear compensator spring, tachometer, and rear badging from a 356 Super 90. A restoration was carried out in 2017 and 2018 and returned the car to its factory color combination of Oslo Blue over red leather. The 1.6-liter Super 90 flat-four and original four-speed transaxle were rebuilt during the restoration by Chris Powell, a longtime member of the PCA Technical Committee and the proprietor of Chris’s German Auto Service. After being auctioned on BaT in April 2019, this 356 roadster was purchased by a dealer who listed it on BaT in September 2019. The selling dealer subsequently acquired the car in late 2019 and is now offering it at no reserve with a Porsche Production Specifications certificate, copy of the Kardex, driver’s manual, photos and invoices from the restoration, and a clean Arizona title.

The roadster model was introduced for the 1960 model year as a successor to the Convertible D, with bodywork shifting to T6 styling for 1962, the final model year. Prior to that transition, production was moved from Karosseriewerke Drauz in Germany to Belgian importer D’Ieteren. This example left the factory finished in Oslo Blue (6203), and its finish, trim, lenses, and badges are shown up close in the photo gallery below.  Paintwork during the 2017-2018 restoration was handled by 356 specialist Kertsan Rillos of Rillos Restoration. Previously refinished in red, the body was stripped to bare metal, block-sanded, and primed before the Oslo Blue paint was applied. The padded convertible top was reupholstered in navy blue canvas.

Ventilated 15? chrome wheels were refinished during the restoration, as was the matching KPZ spare. Five Michelin XZX tires were mounted, and new chrome Super-style hubcaps were installed. The four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes were rebuilt by Chris’s German Auto Service, who also refreshed the suspension system with four new Koni shock absorbers as well as new link bushings and kingpin bushings.

The interior was re-trimmed with new red leather, grey square-weave carpeting, and black rubber floor mats. Seatbelts are present for both occupants, consistent with factory equipment listed on the Porsche Specifications certificate and Kardex.  A three-spoke black steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation that includes a Super 90 tachometer with a 5,500-rpm redline. The 140-mph speedometer incorporates a five-digit odometer showing just over 51k miles, approximately 150 of which have been added since the restoration.

The 1.6-liter 616/7 Super 90 flat-four (*805662*) is from a car built in 1962 and was rebuilt during the 2017-2018 restoration by Chris’s German Auto Service. Work included installing new 9.5:1 compression pistons and cylinders, a new counterbalanced and forged crankshaft, an aluminum oil cooler, an alloy rocker assembly, and more as outlined in invoices attached in the gallery. The camshaft was ground by Elgin to 6708-18 specification, and the twin Solex 40 PII carburetors were rebuilt along with the fuel pump, generator, and distributor. The engine and ancillary components were also media blasted and refinished during the project. New spark plugs were installed in March 2020, and additional work at that time included replacing the accelerator pump rod, rebuilding the fuel pump again, adjusting the carburetors and timing, and installing a new distributor condenser.

The four-speed manual transaxle (50227) was rebuilt during the restoration with new synchros, and a new 12-bolt differential carrier was also installed along with a lightweight flywheel, new clutch, and Dansk sport muffler. Note the added compensator spring. A video tour of the underside is viewable below.

Photos from the restoration process are included in the gallery, is a sample of invoices from the project. An invoice from the 2020 work, which was performed by British Automotive Repair in Scottsdale, Arizona, is also shown. Additional restoration photos and invoices, as well as other documentation, are included in the sale and shown in a video below.

The Porsche Production Specifications certificate lists the original colors and components, as well as a completion date of December 21, 1961.