1964 Porsche 356 Barn Find Gets First Wash in 58 Years, Becomes Stunning Survivor

Remember the rare Volkswagen Thing we showed you earlier in March 2025? Well, this red Porsche was parked in the same barn. The current owner's dad purchased the car brand-new in Germany, imported it into the US, and parked it after only three years. Retired from the road sometime in 1967, this 356 SC has been sitting for a whopping 58 years.

That's long enough to turn any vehicle into a pile of rust, but this Porsche took nearly six decades of storage like a champ. Not only is it still in one piece and sporting all of its original features, but it's also pretty much rust-free.

The interior is just as amazing for a classic that was neglected for this long. Yes, there's dirt everywhere and mold on the door panels, but I haven't spotted significant damage. Surprisingly enough, rodents haven't found their way inside the cabin. There's also only minor wear and tear from its short time on the road.

Fortunately, the owner's son decided it was time to return the 356 SC to its former glory and, much like it did with the Thing, commissioned the folks at WD Detailing to give the Porsche a makeover. The car got its first wash in 58 years and a thorough detailing inside and out. The process transformed the dusty sports car into a stunning classic.

Oh, did I mention this Porsche has only 17,000 miles (27,359 km) on the odometer? Yup, this vehicle fully deserves to be described as an "unrestored survivor," "a time capsule," or any other term that's being thrown around too easily on barn finds these days.

The 356 SC was introduced for the 1964 model year when Porsche launched the final revision of the sports car. It was essentially a higher-performance version of the standard 356 C. It featured a uniquely specced Type 616/16 engine with a 9.5:1 compression ratio, high-lift camshafts, larger intake and exhaust valves, upgraded exhaust ports, and Solex PII-4 carburetors.

Rated at 107 horsepower and 91 pound-feet (123 Nm) of torque, the unit sent the 356 SC roaring from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 11 seconds, about two clicks quicker than the standard 356 C. The top speed was rated at 125 mph (201 kph). The 356 SC looks similar to the 356 C on the outside but features seats with greater lateral thigh support and armrests on the door panels.

The 356 SC was discontinued alongside the 356 C in September 1965, a year after the then-new 911 arrived in showrooms. Despite this, sales rose to 14,151 units in 1964 and to 16,674 in 1965. How rare is this 356 SC? It's unclear exactly how many were produced in 1964, but SC output is estimated at below 20% of the total production. That's fewer than 2,800 units.

Although it's not quite as rare as the convertible, this coupe is still worth a lot of money. Its value exceeds $100,000 as is and will only get higher after a mechanical restoration. But that's enough talk for today. Hit the play button below to see this gorgeous Porsche 356 SC spring back to life.