Evolution and sales success came quite quickly for the Porsche 356. Max Hoffman, Porsche’s US importer extraordinaire, exposed the American market to the virtues of Porsche performance and engineering, establishing a devoted following for the 356 and all its permutations. Excluding the rare and costly Carrera, the 1600 C and SC cabriolets were Porsche’s most exclusive road cars of the era, offering comfort, performance, and enjoyable handling. Representing the ultimate evolution of the 356, the C was produced until September 1965, when it was succeeded by the 911 and the 356-powered 912.

According to its Porsche Production Specifications, this 356 C was completed on 29 June 1965. It was finished in Irish Green over Fawn leather, as it appears today. The Reutter-built cabriolet was ordered with several desirable options, including two pairs of seatbelts, a chrome luggage rack, and a Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio with two loudspeakers and an antenna. The 356 was also equipped with Dunlop tires. According to a copy of its factory Kardex, the cabriolet was sold new through Grossklos in Saarbrücken, Germany to Kinsley Reed, a US Army serviceman stationed at the Toul-Rosières Air Base in France. While still in Europe, the car was serviced on 13 July 1965, but by the summer of 1966, the Porsche appears to have been imported to the United States. It was next serviced at P.C. Northeast on 7 June 1966, and though no longer covered under warranty, the $52.58 service was completed free of charge.

Today, this charming SC cabriolet continues to show nicely having benefitted from a repaint in its original color of Irish Green some years ago. The interior features its original dash and door cards, while the original bucket seats have been re-dyed in their original Fawn color. The carpets were redone a few years ago as was the tan convertible top which features a zip-down rear window. The 356 is powered by an earlier 1600 Super 90 engine, replacing the original 1600 SC unit which suffered damage, but accompanies the car. The original gearbox remains in the car. The 356 is accompanied by a copy of its Kardex, Porsche Production Specifications (PPS) certificate, tool roll, jack, and spare. It was recently serviced by the marque specialists at Boston Sportscar and is ready to be enjoyed.

This SC cabriolet represents a wonderful driving example of one of the most highly regarded of the 356-model range, benefitting from several years of evolution, perfecting the Porsche throughout its lifetime.