1965 Porsche 356SC Cabriolet - Certificate of Authenticity. Estimate $250,000 - $325,000. Photo by David Newhardt, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

The Porsche 356 series established the marque as a serious sports car manufacturer with an incomparable record in competition. Produced from 1948 to 1965, the seminal 356 was succeeded by the 356A in 1954, the 356B in 1959 and in 1964 the 356C, the first Porsche with four-wheel disc brakes and a new option that gave buyers the most powerful pushrod engine ever produced by Porsche, the 95 HP SC flat-6. By this time Porsche’s tradition of incremental improvements was integral to its reputation, but one thing that never changed was its long association with Karosseriesfabrik Reutter & Co. of Stuttgart. Established in 1906, Reutter’s partnership with Porsche began in 1932 with the original Volkswagen and continued until Porsche acquired the firm outright in 1963.

Completed on September 15, 1964, this 1965 356SC Reutter Cabriolet represents the ultimate iteration of the 356C and left the factory as a stripped-down road-going machine with only a handful of options: driver’s-side outside mirror, tinted windshield and Michelin tires. Carrying serial number 161161 and engine number 812921, it was originally finished in Champagne Yellow paint with a Black leather interior. Formerly owned by Don Davis, the car was sold on a string to the Dennis Higginbotham Collection, purchased back by Mr. Davis and reunited with its stable mates in his collection. It underwent a comprehensive restoration by a Porsche-specialty restoration facility, during which desirable options such as chrome wheels, Blaupunkt three-band radio, C steering wheel with wood rim and Carrera deluxe horn ring and dash-mounted factory exterior temperature gauge were added and the interior was changed to its present Green leather fitment. This final evolution of the 356 shows excellent fit and finish throughout, and now shows 42,100 miles on the odometer. It is accompanied with the owner’s manual, tool roll, full-size chrome spare wheel and a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.

Mecum Monterey 2015