Equipment
1582/75hp, 4-speed, Michelin XAS tires, gold brightwork.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
Bodied by Beutler of Switzerland. Sold new to Brumos in Florida. Replacement engine. In storage for the past decade. Old paint with scratches, chips, cracks and some odd smudges on the front, and a few more on the tail. Clean wheels and tires. Pitted window frames. Aged steering wheel but mostly good interior. An unusual, rare coachbuilt Porsche. Looks like a 356 in more conservative dress and with a couple of itty-bitty back seats.
Market commentary
Although there were several rare 356s under the Gooding tent in Amelia, including multiple Carreras, this one was eye-catching just for how unusual it is. Making a 356 look more boring but also more expensive is a tough sell, so only five 356Bs are thought to have been built with this bodywork. Then again, the Beutler brothers of Thun, Switzerland did most of their work in small batches, so a frumpier four-seater Porsche was never meant to appeal to the masses, anyway. It certainly appeals to collectors, though. Despite the condition and replacement engine, this one sold for a healthy premium over a standard factory car, which in this condition would normally sell for under $100,000.