| 1959 Convertible D
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Barry Lee Brisco
My 356 is a Convertible D purchased in 2003 (view a photo slide show). But my interest in old Porsches began long ago, before they were "old". Here's the story...
In late 1958, when I was almost five years old, my father purchased a 356A Normal coupe. To save money, he ordered it from Stuggart, and arranged for an acquaintance who was going to vacation in Europe to pick it up in Germany. When the man arrived at the Porsche factory, order in hand, he was told they had no record of any order from a Mr. Brisco! However, they showed him onto the factory floor and said "Pick one out and we'll have it ready for you tomorrow." He chose an ivory exterior with brown upholstery right off the production line. A couple of days later he claimed the car and put a few hundred miles on it driving around Europe before putting it on a ship for San Francisco, where my father took delivery.
For the next ten years my dad drove the car almost every day, eventually putting 100,000 miles on it before reluctantly selling it in 1968. A few weeks later he got a call from the Hollywood police saying that the car had been wrecked (they thought he was still the owner). All he had left to remember the car by was this photo and the key chain (which I now have).
Ever since I was a kid, my memories of that car — and of the times my sister and I spent playing in the "spacious" rear luggage area on family vacation drives — have never left me. I've always wanted to own a 356. Finally, in spring 2003, I decided to act. Maybe it had something to do with my upcoming 50th birthday, or just a feeling that the time was right after years of living out of the country (Canada and Singapore) and moving every few years.
So in the spring of 2003, to the surprise of my spouse, I announced I wanted to sell our practical, four year-old Subaru Forester (our second car) and buy a forty year-old, somewhat less practical, 1964 Porsche 356C coupe (VIN 126966). This was my first 356. We don't put many miles on our vehicles, and having a vintage car as a second car isn't a problem. That's because we run our own business out of our home and spend about 30 seconds every day "commuting" to our desks, located at opposite corners of our 1959 mid-century modern home in San Mateo, California, built by famed California developer Joe Eichler and designed by modernist architect A. Quincy Jones.
I loved the C coupe, but it wasn't long before I decided that what I really wanted was an A model like my father had. Unexpectedly, the opportunity came along to buy a Convertible D. I hadn't been thinking of getting a convertible, but the idea was appealing given the moderate, low rainfall climate of the San Francisco Bay Area. So in November 2003 I became the owner of VIN 86439.
This D, VIN#86439, was manufactured in the spring of 1959, based on dates found on the car. The first owner was a young woman who received it as a college graduation gift! It was originally Meissen Blue with beige upholstery, a black top, and overriders (no other options). Until 2003, the car was in Florida, owned by the son of the original owner. A few decades ago the car was repainted red, some of the original trim was replaced incorrectly and the overriders were removed. It was sold in early 2003 to Jim Caputo in New York. He had the engine and underbody restored, beige leather upholstery installed, and the top completely redone. John Audette than purchased the car, had it briefly in Oregon, and than sold it to me. It has the original engine# 74347 and transmission# 23676 (BBAB).
I have been working diligently to restore the car, but do not intend to take it back to 100% originality. I stripped the old red paint and went to "Steingrau" (Stone Grey 5710) a "Special" color used by Porsche from 1957 to 1959, based on a paint sample provided by Wilhoit Auto Restoration of Los Angeles. The GT-style aluminum deco strips on the bumpers are from Spyder Sports and were installed by Gregory Bates at Vintage Metalworks in Ventura, CA, who did an outstanding job fitting them and finishing the ends. The side spears and rocker panel trim were removed to give a cleaner "GT look". I replaced the Dansk sport muffler that came with the car with a Bursch Street Quiet muffler and Hedman Header 17188 exhaust tip to keep the soot off the bumper. Alan at The Stable in San Francisco has been a tremendous help in sorting out various mechanical issues with the car and it's now running smoothly.
Future plans include replacing the windshield and rechroming the windshield frame, getting rid of the rusting Brazilian chromes and switching to the new MgTEK magnesium wheels from NLA (a copy of the Technomagnesio aftermarket alloy wheels available in the 60's), replacing the deck lid with a GT-style six-louver panel, having a half-tonneau cover made, re-chroming some trim as well as attending to various other small items that still need correcting. I prefer to limit any changes to whatever could have been done "back in the day". This car is a daily driver that I drive several times a week, but not in the rain!
Barry Lee Brisco
San Mateo, California
Registry Member #16465
Contact me here
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