When someone says a car feels “planted,” they mean it feels steady and confident, like the tires are gripping well. It doesn’t feel loose or wobbly when you drive it.
This phrase means the back of the car seems to help you turn. Instead of only the front wheels steering, the rear feels like it’s “participating” in the turn.
A CDI unit is an electronic box that helps your engine make the spark that lights the fuel. If it fails, the engine may not start or may cut out, even if the rest of the car is fine.
The Buick Century is a mid-size car made by Buick. It was built for everyday driving and comfort, not for racing. The podcast mentions it in connection with how cars were assembled during that period.
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of a BMW 3 Series. It’s made to be faster and more fun to drive than a standard model. People talk about it because it’s built for performance, not just everyday commuting.
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine Porsche roadster. They’re praising the smaller engine versions because the car feels lively as you rev it—more fun to drive than engines that only feel strong at low rpm.
The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine Porsche sports coupe. They’re talking about the smaller-engine versions because the engine feels exciting and “alive” when you rev it.
“Buzzy feel” means the engine gives you a noticeable vibration or texture as it revs. Some people love it because it makes the car feel more connected and alive.
A flywheel is part of the drivetrain that helps smooth out engine power. A single-mass flywheel usually makes the car respond quicker when you press the gas, but it can feel a bit rougher or more vibrating.
“Conrods” are the metal rods inside the engine that connect the pistons to the crankshaft. The host is saying the Carrillo version is lighter than the original, which can make the engine feel a bit quicker to rev.
A catalytic converter cleans exhaust gases. The “200 cell” part describes how many internal channels it has, which can change how freely exhaust flows and therefore how the car sounds and feels.
Headers are exhaust parts that route gases from the engine. “Equal-length” means the tubes are the same length, which can help the exhaust flow in a more even way and change the sound.
Term
aftermarket exhaust options
Aftermarket exhaust parts are upgrades you buy instead of the factory exhaust. People choose them mainly to change the sound, and the host is saying it’s a personal preference.
A track day is an event where drivers take their own cars onto a closed circuit for practice and fun, usually with limited or structured on-track sessions. It’s different from racing because the focus is on driving experience, learning the car, and building confidence rather than competing for results.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a 911 made for track days. It’s tuned to be quick and fun on a circuit, and here the host is talking about learning the car on their first track outing.
PDK is Porsche’s fast-shifting automatic transmission. It uses two clutches to change gears quickly, and the host is saying that on a small track it can make the driving feel less special than a manual.
Tire pressure is how much air is in the tires. On a track day, setting it correctly helps the tires grip better and behave more predictably as they warm up.
A seagull is a bird. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because bird droppings can land on a car and make it look dirty. They’re saying the car’s bodywork is clean and not covered in that mess.
The Porsche 356 is an early Porsche sports car. It’s famous for being light and fun to drive, and this episode is basically about why it’s such a big deal.
They’re setting up the episode like a guided experience—what it was like to drive a Porsche 356 for the first time. Think of it as the storyline for the rest of the discussion.
They mention Philip Rabie Specialist Cars as the place that had the Porsche 356s available for them to drive. It’s basically the specialist shop involved in the episode.
The London to Sydney rally refers to a long-distance motorsport event that historically tested cars over extreme distances and conditions. Mentioning that a “race version” Porsche 356 did the rally signals that it was prepared for endurance-style competition, not just showroom driving.
The Porsche 911 is Porsche’s famous sports car. It’s known for having a flat-six engine (six cylinders), which is what they’re hinting at when they say “the sixth cylinder thing.”
A flat-six is an engine with six cylinders arranged in a special horizontal layout. The Porsche 911 is famous for using this kind of engine, which is why they’re talking about the “sixth cylinder” aspect.
When someone says a classic car was “fully restored,” they mean it wasn’t just serviced—it was rebuilt and repaired in a thorough way. That typically includes fixing the body, refreshing mechanical parts, and restoring the interior.
Williams Crawford is mentioned as a restoration company, but the speaker says this particular Porsche 356 wasn’t restored by them. With older cars, who does the work can make a big difference in quality.
Broughton Engineering is mentioned as a company that specializes in Porsche 356s. The idea is that they know these cars well enough to restore them correctly.
A “3-5-6 specialist” means a shop or person who mainly works on the Porsche 356. That usually helps because they know the car’s specific parts and how it should be put back together.
Term
cocoons around you
The speaker is describing how the car feels around the driver—like the cabin and seats hold you in place. It’s about the snug, wraparound driving position, not a technical feature.
Concept
out of production
“Out of production” means a car model is no longer being manufactured by the factory. In this discussion, it’s used to explain why the Porsche 356 wasn’t on the speaker’s radar during their younger years.
“Cow look” is a Porsche 356 styling nickname for a period-correct, more aggressive look associated with certain aftermarket or enthusiast modifications—most famously the wider, more “bulky” front-end appearance. In this segment, it’s used as a reference point for what was trendy in the speaker’s teens and what they associate with early Porsche culture.
The Volkswagen Type 3 is an older VW with an air-cooled engine and a rear-engine layout. Here, it’s mentioned because the speaker thinks the Porsche 356 will feel similarly solid and enjoyable to drive.
The Volkswagen Type 2 is a classic van made by Volkswagen. It’s known for its recognizable shape and for being used as a practical vehicle. The podcast mentions it because someone’s past experience with one influences how they think about another car.
“Rally use” means the car is set up for rally racing. Rally cars are modified for rough roads and lots of hard driving, so they often add extra safety gear and changes to the cabin.
Harnesses are stronger, multi-belt seat belts used in racing. They hold the driver in place better than a regular seat belt during hard driving and crashes.
“Entry-level Porsche” just means the most affordable Porsche option in that lineup. Here, they’re saying the 356 was the easiest Porsche to buy at the time.
A boxer engine is a type of engine where the cylinders move sideways opposite each other. The hosts are pointing out that the Porsche 356 used this kind of engine layout.
Fit-and-finish is how well the car’s parts line up and how solid everything feels when you close doors and panels. Here it’s being used to say one car feels looser and less precise than the other.
Steering feel is what the steering wheel feels like to use—how responsive it is and how much feedback you get. The speaker is saying the Porsche 356’s steering feels especially good and easy to place on the road.
Door gaps are the small spaces around the door where it meets the rest of the car. If those gaps look uneven or messy, it can be a sign the body panels weren’t aligned as well.
This phrase means the car’s main structure is a separate frame, and the body is attached on top. The idea is that this can change how solid the car feels and how well the body fits together compared with more modern designs.
Term
supple chassis
A “supple chassis” refers to a suspension and chassis setup that absorbs bumps smoothly and keeps the car composed rather than feeling harsh or rigid. The speaker is using it to argue that the car being discussed doesn’t have that softer, more compliant feel.
The Triumph TR5 is a classic British sports car from the 1960s. Here it’s mentioned to compare how older English cars can feel a bit rougher in build quality and design details versus a Porsche 356.
Torque is the force that helps the car pull and accelerate. More torque usually means it feels easier to drive fast, especially when you’re not at the very top of the rev range.
A learning curve just means it takes time to get good at something. They’re saying the Porsche 356 is harder to master than the 911, so you need more seat time.
They’re talking about the “classic Porsche” vibe—how older Porsches feel and come across. It’s more about the overall experience than a specific mechanical detail here.
A “flat four” is a four-cylinder engine laid out horizontally. The host is saying they don’t connect with the car’s personality as much when it’s a four-cylinder instead of a six.
If a car “steers from the rear,” it means the back tires help the car turn more than you’d expect. That can make the car feel more playful or like it “wants” to rotate as you drive. It’s about how the car grips and balances front vs. rear.
“Rev-wise” means how the engine feels at different engine speeds (RPM). They’re comparing where the engine likes to work—higher or lower in the rev range.
Term
competition setup
“Competition setup” means the car is set up to drive more like a race car. It usually makes the steering and engine response feel more focused and predictable.
For old cars, “restoration” means rebuilding and fixing the car so it’s in great shape again. The speaker is saying this one has clearly had a lot of work done to it.
A gearbox is the set of gears that helps the engine deliver power smoothly. The right gearbox can make the car feel easier to drive and change how it accelerates and shifts.
Concept
set up in a different way
“Set up” means how the car has been adjusted or configured, not just what model it is. Two cars can both be the same model, but still drive very differently if they were set up differently.
Concept
different stuff done to it
This is basically saying the car has been modified in some way. Those changes can make one car feel and drive differently from another car of the same model.
Concept
emotional tether
An “emotional tether” just means a strong feeling that keeps you connected. In this case, it’s the idea that seeing 911s still driving today makes the car feel more real and personal.
“Seat time” just means time spent driving the car. The more seat time someone has, the more they can honestly describe how it feels to drive.
Term
1600 standard
“1600” is a way of saying the engine is about 1.6 liters. “Standard” here suggests it’s the more basic version of that setup rather than a special performance variant.
Porsche 356 International is a particular version of the Porsche 356. Here, the host is talking about using that exact car for long trips around Europe.
The gear stick is the lever you move to change gears in a manual car. How smooth or precise it feels can make the driving experience feel more connected and satisfying.
Alignment is how the wheels are set so the tires point the right way. If it’s off, the car can feel weird or nervous when you steer; if it’s right, it tracks smoothly and feels better.
Suspension adjustment means changing the car’s suspension settings to improve how it rides and how it steers. With the right setup, the car feels more controlled and more enjoyable to drive.
A bucket seat is a snug, supportive seat that keeps you from sliding around. The tighter fit can make the car feel more connected to you—especially what the tires and steering are doing.
Driving “at the limit” means you’re pushing the car close to the point where it can no longer handle the situation safely. The idea is that the car feels most fun when you’re right on that edge and it communicates clearly.
A “B road” is a smaller road, usually with lots of turns. “Twisty” just means it’s curvy, so the car’s handling feels more obvious even when you’re not going very fast.
“Pushing the car” means driving it harder than usual, closer to what it can handle. On curvy roads, that’s when you really feel the suspension and tires working.
The Fiat 500 is a small Italian car that’s known for being easy to drive. Here it’s mentioned as a comparison for how solid the Porsche feels versus other cars the speaker has driven.
The Fiat Uno is an older small Italian car. The speaker brings it up to compare how solid it feels versus the Porsche 356.
Concept
build quality feel
“Build quality feel” is how solid and well put together a car seems when you touch and use it—like how the doors close and how everything feels. People use this to compare cars even when they’re from very different eras.
Suspension adjustment is tuning how the car’s wheels move and how the car rides over bumps and into turns. On older cars, the suspension can be set up in a way that makes the car feel “right” or “off.” The host is saying the right setup can fix the driving feel.
It means putting wider tires on the car than it came with. Wider tires can grip more, but they can also make the steering feel heavier or less “quick” if they’re not the right size for the car.
They’re saying the car had tires that were too big for how it was meant to drive. That can make the steering and handling feel less light and precise, even if the tires have more grip.
This is going back to the tire size the car was originally designed for. The right size helps the steering and handling feel “as intended,” instead of being altered by oversized tires.
They mean the back of the car seems to influence where the car goes more than you’d expect. That can happen when the tires or alignment aren’t right, changing how the car rotates in a turn.
“Digging in” means the tires are gripping the road when you accelerate. Instead of the rear sliding around, it stays stuck to the pavement and helps you go through the turn.
“Pound per smile” is a tongue-in-cheek way to measure value by dividing money spent by how much enjoyment the car delivers. It’s not a technical metric—more of a hobbyist philosophy about whether the experience is worth the price.
In car-market talk, “softening” usually means prices are starting to drop or stop climbing as fast. It’s about demand—fewer buyers paying top dollar. They’re saying 356 prices may be easing, but not as much as some other classics.
This means the kind of people buying these cars is changing over time. Different buyers can want different things, and that affects how much cars sell for. They’re connecting that shift to how 356 prices are moving.
The Jaguar E-Type is a famous classic British sports car from the 1960s. It’s often used as a “classic car benchmark” when talking about how prices change. In this discussion, they’re comparing how much E-Types have dropped versus 356s.
The “original engine” is the engine the car came with from the factory. People care because it can make the car feel more authentic and more like it’s still built the way it was when new.
Hubcaps are the covers on the center of the wheels. Taking them off can help you see what’s really going on with the wheels underneath.
Concept
modified to have a super engine
They’re saying the car’s engine was upgraded to a stronger, higher-performance setup. The goal is usually more power than the factory version.
Company
Lindsay Saker Johannesburg
They’re talking about a local Porsche-related dealership/workshop. It’s relevant because that’s where the car could have been serviced or supported by people who knew the brand.
Brand
Porsche Center Johannesburg
This is a Porsche dealership in Johannesburg. Dealer support can matter for keeping an older Porsche maintained and using the right parts.
Provenance just means the car’s history—who owned it and what happened to it over time. For older collector cars, that background can help prove it’s real and cared for, which collectors value.
Left-hand drive just means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. That’s the setup most countries use, so it matters when you’re talking about cars that were built for different markets.
Leatherette is a synthetic or imitation leather upholstery material. When a build sheet specifies “red leatherette,” it helps confirm the car’s original interior material choice rather than assuming it was real leather.
An original build sheet is the factory’s record of how that exact car was ordered and built. It’s useful because it can confirm the car’s original colors and options.
If a car is built for a long time, it often gets updated over the years. That’s why people can talk about different versions of the same model name.
Concept
made in two different locations
Building the same model in multiple locations can lead to differences in parts sourcing, supplier practices, and manufacturing details. For collectors, that can matter because it may affect how specific cars are identified and how original they are.
LIVE
Oh dear. So did you watch the 356 video on Nomax TV?
I did, mate. I did. It came out quite well, didn't it?
Yeah, you're happy with it?
Yeah, well, well edited, may I say. It was a little, well, good few weeks afterwards.
And as we've said before, it's when it's a little time after you've actually shot it,
I'm sure it takes a lot longer to edit.
Yeah, you almost, you forget, you forget why you've shot certain things,
maybe at certain angles and it's intriguing because you're watching it back almost as a viewer,
but all of the raw footage.
But whereas if you shoot something in the morning and then by the afternoon
or certainly the next morning you're editing it,
you remember that actually the first five minutes of what I was talking was, you know,
more guff than usual. So I remember I threw it.
Yeah, that's it. So it does, is it elongated?
Then when you've got like a second camera and person in there,
you're doubling the edit time really.
It was quite interesting as well because, you know, I really enjoyed it.
And I have to say, Andy, I really enjoyed watching you in the second car
because you could just tell that card genuinely got under your skin.
Like you were very enthusiastic about the car and like your character came out,
you were just more trying to think of the right word really to describe it.
But you just, your enthusiasm was just, you know, bubbling basically
and it was so lovely to see that. It was so genuine in the way it came across.
It was really quite nice.
Yeah, yeah, both great cars.
But yeah, that second one, it did get up and go and felt more planted, didn't it?
Yeah.
Where the grey car felt like it, as I think we'll probably get on to later,
it sort of felt like it needed a little bit of the back end settled a bit more.
It wanted to steer from the back end.
One's a looker, one's a goer.
Yes, absolutely.
Like without a doubt, one of them I could just looked at and the details of it all day.
It was beautiful restoration on it to my eyes.
But yeah, really good. I hope people go and watch that.
It was a bit interesting because I thought kind of retrospectively,
it's the oldest Porsche's both you and I have ever driven.
And it's new territory for NineWorks TV.
So I was interested as to how that would be received by the audience.
And yeah, I think it's 35 sixes and a quiet taste among the demographic
who subscribed to NineWorks TV, I think it's fair to say.
So I was quite intrigued to see how the audience react.
There's some lovely comments on there, so I hope people go and check that out.
But before we get into the main part of the episode without spoiling it,
we're a couple of, I think six weeks on whatever it is from that road test.
Has your opinion changed since then?
I'm still intrigued by them still.
Yeah, I think I said at the end of the test that it really reminded me of a Type 3 Volkswagen that I had.
That sort of elevated quality and drive over a Beetle.
Because you know, lots of people think that they're the same
and they are absolutely not very, very different.
So yeah, I loved it.
You? What are you feeling?
I still feel exactly the same.
Exactly the same. I'm not going to spoil it.
We'll reveal that once we get into the episode.
But yeah, I still feel exactly the same.
Okay, exactly the same.
Right, so you're stuck into the episode.
Sign up now at NineWorks.co.ut
There we go.
He's off. He's off with Andy Bean, his RSR.
Andy Brooks, how are you, mates?
I'm good. It's good to be back for real.
I guess we were back sort of episode zero last week.
Don't know if we'll review the rewards, but yeah, nice to be back and chatting to you.
Lots happened since we were last on the airwaves for real, isn't there?
Oh, loads, mate. Loads.
It is so good to be back on the airwaves of NineWorks Radio.
I hope everybody listening has had a lovely bit of downtime, really,
and out driving, driven, not hidden style while we've had a little break as well.
You're right, mate.
Lots has happened.
Obviously, we had the NineWorks Awards that we spoke about last week.
With you and I personally and our various Porsche projects,
all sorts has been going on in the interim,
and we're also prepping for a huge road trip that we'll be on
by the time people are hearing this, actually.
Yes, they will.
Yeah, we'll be well on our way, won't we?
I think when we last spoke, I was just a few days before Wales,
so I'd recently got the engine in the car,
and I was sort of doing some shakedown miles,
and I believe your engine may have just been built and wasn't in the car yet.
So, yeah, lots has happened since then.
I've bashed out 875 miles, I think it was, round Wales.
Yes.
I only broke down once.
But thankfully, that was an electrical problem
with nothing related to what I'd done to the car.
Right, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I had a spare CDI unit, so I was very lucky to get back on the road straightaway.
Yeah, yeah.
How about you?
Well, no, mate.
What's progress been?
I was going to say, yeah, just like with you in Wales,
if you break down in the middle of Wales,
that's a long time for a recovery.
It's not a straightforward procedure that, is it?
So, it's quite lucky you had another CDI unit on you, really.
It was, very much so, yeah.
I was doing a bit of diagnosis and was thinking it was a fuel problem,
and then, yeah, found that we didn't have a spark,
and then it was like, oh, I think this could be CDI.
Oh, I think I've got a spare one of those in the front.
Excellent.
Chuck it on, and boom, away it went.
So, yeah, very thankful.
Water is out.
Water is out.
It literally was.
It was like, what's it called?
Devil's Staircase.
Yes.
Yeah, go in towards that, and there is no reception around there.
There's nothing.
And I think there was myself and three speedsters.
And the rest of the group had gone on,
and they actually got stuck because there was a coach trying to get around a hairpin,
and it grounded itself down.
So, we stopped the three speedsters,
and what was the funniest thing was that they, it started raining,
and they all had their roofs off, didn't they?
I think two were RSs,
so they were all scrabbling to try and get their roofs back on.
Well, I was hanging out the back of my car fixing it.
Oh, I love it.
What a mess.
What a mess.
All good.
Great weekend.
Absolutely amazing.
Yeah.
Yeah, can't get enough of Wales.
I can't remember who you said this to.
I was party to the conversation.
I think it might have been when we were in the RAC,
the night before the awards,
and somebody said to you,
how does it feel, Andy,
because a lot of the majority of the cars that go on the road trips
tend to be like modern metal,
and there's like a few GT cars in there.
How do you fare with your SC,
and your response was brilliant because you turned around and you went,
no, it's fine.
Yeah, they're usually in my rear view mirrors,
they're all they're about.
Anyway, I thought that's absolutely magic,
and to be honest, not far from the truth, I for you know.
Just pedal that old thing.
It really does amazing every time I drive it.
Yeah.
Well, I will say, you know, and we had a splendid night.
Now, what some people might not know is the night before the awards,
when we very amazingly hosted Grant Larson for a couple of days in the UK.
Yeah.
The night before the Nineworks Awards,
we had a night in London basically, didn't we?
And thanks to PP, we managed to get into the Royal Automobile Club,
which was such a splendid occasion.
We went there with hero drivers from the collective
and just had the most wonderful nights.
And obviously, I got the train up to collect Grant
and we whizzed into town on the Lizzie line,
which was great because it's not the usual underground fare
of, you know, dark, dank and just generally horrible.
It was quite a nice convivial affair, actually.
And yeah, obviously, yeah, you then drove up separately
and you and I whizzed back to the coast at the end of the night.
And yeah, I think it's fair to say you were just testing the engine.
It's to make sure that we're all good for the Norway.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
There was stress testing, wasn't there?
It was obviously, you know, it was bang on 70 mile an hour.
I did see that on the clock,
but it did make me laugh because we were deep in conversation at one stage.
And then when you started doing your diligence,
the cabin just went silent.
I'm not disturbing me.
No way.
I'm looking at an A-pillar that's about as thick as a fag paper.
But mate, she goes so well.
Like, you know, when these cars are assembled on the production line
at Zuffenhausen, you know, in your case,
getting on for 50 years or whatever it is, 40 years, isn't it?
Oh, no, it's over 40.
No, near 50, yeah.
Yeah, you know, were they in...
So, you know, 48 and a half years ago,
when that was being assembled on the production line by hand,
you know, were they thinking, yeah, in half a century's time,
Andy Brooks is going to be lighting up the M3.
And it's, you know, the car was just singing, wasn't it?
Yeah, the autobahn.
Yeah, exactly.
It was the autobahn of Peggy Pond.
The A3, wasn't it, you know, in Germany?
But this is being just like the most incredible machine,
the most incredible machine.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's crazy, isn't it?
Crazy, blows my mind every time.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How's yours doing?
I was going to say, mate,
moving on from excellent engineering.
Yeah, the fifth generation 911, which possibly not so.
Yeah, mate, all good.
So, yeah, I think that, as you rightly pointed out,
at the end of last series, the engine had been rebuilt
by the Chaps at Barnesboro and up to a dry, long block.
And, yeah, the engine has since gone in.
It's, we had the first switch on.
We've done some running in miles.
I think the guys at Barnesboro did 100 miles
before I got the car back.
I then did about 600 miles.
Excellent.
As part of a running in process.
And there's a little bit of jeopardy because,
Andy, you and I record this on the Thursday.
By Sunday, we're off to the Arctic Circle
for our huge road trip for the year.
And we wanted to get a thousand miles done before then
because it needs a final oil change.
And to add a layer of jeopardy to the situation,
about six days after I collected little Irish back,
I dropped it off at Charade Bristol
for a planned tickle of body work.
And as, yeah, as always,
it's the case with these things escalate.
So it's Thursday afternoon.
I still don't have the car back.
So, you know, we need to get it back.
Which should be tomorrow, which is, yeah, more than convenient.
And six more miles on,
my brother's then going to do the oil change back in Essex,
literally like the night before we hit the channel tunnel
and bugger off into Europe.
So it's exciting stuff.
It's great.
And what I will say is,
so there are some videos coming thick and fast
to NineWorks TV on that very subject.
They've already gone out to works and hero drivers
of the driven or hidden collective.
You've just got to be logged in on the website.
You get full access to all of them.
I think there's at least four up there, Andy B, so far.
Is there?
Wow.
Documenting everything from looking at, you know,
a gamut of parts on Scott's desk
to, you know, me driving off in the green machine
a few weeks later on.
But, yeah, for the public.
Coming out to the public, yeah.
Yeah.
So the first one will have already dropped.
So obviously with this going out on the Monday,
that would have been on Sunday, the 17th of May,
the first one.
And then to be honest,
I don't want to keep people waiting
because I'm driving this thing around Europe at this point
in reality.
So I'll do probably, you know, a Sunday, Wednesday,
Sunday, Wednesday vibe.
So every four days crank it through
up to where we are.
Yeah.
So great stuff.
Great stuff.
You kid.
Great stuff.
And pleased?
Relieved, mate.
Relief is the optimum adjective for that,
to be honest, because, yeah, you know,
the first start was emotional, definitely.
Yeah.
That really was.
But the act of collection was just relief.
I can't wait to just put the whole episode
in the rearview mirror and crack on.
You know, I've not found the process particularly
enjoyable.
What I have found, there have been positives to it.
Of course there is.
For a start, the generosity of people helping me
get that car back on the road.
Because I tell you now, without that,
from Driven Not Hidden Collective members,
that car wouldn't be on the road probably for a year.
It just wouldn't happen.
So, especially at this sort of time,
where there's all sorts going on in the world as it is,
to be reminded of the positives of humankind has been,
yeah, very emotional.
But, yeah, it's just, I just want to get back
to doing what I'm doing and being in my happy place.
And for many people, I think Listen to This podcast
could possibly resonate with that.
You know, it's, that's a little green box of happiness for me.
And I just want to be back in it and cracking on.
So, thanks to a lot of people listening to this,
that that's the case.
Not to learn in terms of how an engine goes together
and like intrinsically,
because obviously watching Scotty put it back together
hour by hour, you're seeing every last nut and bolt
and where it goes, why it goes there, what it does.
So, I've definitely got a more rounded overview
of how a Flax 6 engine works.
So, that's a real positive.
Yeah, that's great.
But, yeah, otherwise just got to crack on really.
Yeah.
Well, I look forward to being beside you on the road
for so many miles over the next couple of weeks.
Oh, mate, yeah, 100%.
I mean, funny after you drove the car before I did,
didn't you actually?
I did, yes.
You didn't run any miles for me, which I was very grateful of.
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Yeah, it felt great to me.
Yeah.
I still got, it's a little revvy character,
you know, that smaller capacity character,
which I adore, I think, you know,
my particular love is those 2.5s and 2.7 boxters
and Caymans, and I think the 3.4 and the 9.6
has that same little, that little buzzy feel.
Yeah, fantastic.
It's going to be great, mate.
It's going to be great.
Yeah, I think so.
I mean, what I will say is, you know,
and I've been quite particular about this
for a while now with my car, you know,
never been interested in a capacity increase.
Don't care for that.
Got a GT3 for all that sort of tomfoolery.
But I think, as you rightly point out,
that little 3.4 is so characterful,
and just with a couple of little lifts in the right places,
it delivers what I, exactly what I want from that car.
And, you know, obviously, as a single mass flywheel
has gone back in, kept the capacity,
but, you know, those Carrillo Conrods are lighter than stock.
We know this because we weighed it.
I think it was about three quarters of a kilo saved
across all of them, which is not an insignificant amount
when you consider so close to the crank.
Excuse me.
So it's, you know, I've only kind of been doing
gentle loads on the car so far and gradually increasing,
but I think that's going to be a zippy little thing that, you know?
Yeah, definitely.
Zippy things.
The only thing I will say is it sounds terrible.
So I've bolted these cheap, equal-length headers
and 200 cell cats on them.
And as you know, excuse me, as you know,
I just wanted to do that because it's a big decision, isn't it?
And it's very subjective, you know, how a sports car sounds.
Not helped by the fact about five years ago,
I've got 9996 years,
all with different aftermarket exhaust options side by side.
And I did a video on my TV on it,
and I found that the best solution was the 300 quid gundo hack,
which is what I then promptly did on Little Irish,
but obviously that was using all factory components.
Factory components are extremely expensive.
Like if you're talking cats, it's a couple of grand each side, right?
Each bank.
And then you're going down the aftermarket route.
It seems to me, if you want a full exhaust system,
it doesn't matter which brand you're looking at.
It's about £6,000.
And it's a hell of a lot of money to just, you know...
It's on red, isn't it? You know, in a casino.
Yeah, yeah.
So I thought, I'm going to take a bit of time.
I want to find a system on a car and judge that
before I kind of take the plunge.
So I've chucked these cheapies on.
And oh, Christ of life, mate, it sounds awful.
It's...
I don't think it sounded awful.
Oh, it does, it does.
It's...
No, it doesn't sound awful.
It's like a fart in a tin can, mate, honestly.
And funny enough, I went out for...
I went out for a drive around Wales a couple of weeks back
with Steve and Owen.
And a couple of others as well, actually.
Paul and Carl.
And I apologised to them when I tell them,
I was like, sorry, this sounds horrendous,
but you know, it is what it is.
And when we stopped for pizza, I think Steve Cav did say,
cool, yeah, you did a downshift at one time.
And I did think it was a bit naughty.
So...
So, yeah, I think that's probably
turbocharged my haste to deal with that, if I'm honest.
Time.
Oh, I do.
I'll get some ear plugs in for the next week then.
Yeah, oh yeah, absolutely.
You're only doing 4,000 miles, aren't we, in 12 days?
So what's the worst that could happen?
But on the subject to that,
can we talk about seagullsite for a minute?
Yeah, of course.
You're thinking what?
I'm not going to go into technical detail of it,
because it is a portion car podcast after all.
But I think at the same time you were doing the Wales roadtrip,
there was a few of us from the collective
heading over to France to take part in the
Abbaville track day with Johan and the guys at Nine Level Motorsport,
which was phenomenal, by the way,
absolutely superb, and we will be back for that.
But obviously I took the GT3,
which was my first track outing in the GT3.
And to be honest, I was really glad that it was at Abbaville.
It's a small technical track,
ideally suited to the older stuff or manuals.
A modern PDK RS is a waste of time on that track, in my opinion.
But I just needed some time in a relaxed environment
if you'd like to get to know that car,
which took me a good morning to do
just to get tire pressures right and all the rest of it.
But, yeah, queuing up at Folkestone to get on the Euro tunnel.
Mate, I heard this thud, and honestly, it was a thud.
And I thought, what the hell is that?
It sounded like something had dropped like a hamburger
from height onto the roof of my car.
And I had to get out and have a look,
and oh, mate, it was just horrendous.
I'd been bombed. I'd been absolutely bombed.
And, yeah, and obviously, you're sitting in the Passport queue.
What can you do? Nothing.
I had a bottle of water on me that I was planning to drink that day,
and then I found one rag in the front boot,
so I'm going over it, trying to get all of this stuff off.
I mean, what a clear out, I have to say.
That little flapping thing must have gained another 300 foot in altitude after that.
I'm certain. What a clear out.
But, honestly, I've never seen anything like it.
I got most of it off, but unfortunately, it had etched into the paintwork.
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah, you wouldn't believe the luck, mate.
You wouldn't believe the luck.
So, I have in the off-season also been to Garage Therapy,
and Maz, the legend that he is, has buffed that car back to
its subliminal-looking, midnight blue beautiful bodywork that it was.
Without seagull poo marks.
Yeah, exactly that.
Obviously, we're going to be in Folkestone in a couple of days,
and for anyone listening to this, if you are going abroad,
there are different breed over in Folkestone, mate.
So, just look out for those airborne bodywork saboteurs.
Because, honestly, they are a menace.
Couldn't believe my luck there.
I've got a story about Lyme Regis. I'm never going back there.
So, Sarah and I were there probably a couple of years ago now,
and we were having a little walk around town,
and for some reason we had both cars.
Oh, I remember, boy, it was when that time we interviewed Mike Brewer.
And I was away on holiday at the time, so we had to take two cars.
And we stopped in Lyme Regis, and we were having a wander around.
It was really busy.
I think the dog was being a bit of a tit, and it was all too much.
And then I got shat on right on the shoulder.
Got a big seagull shit.
Walked back to my car, and the car got seagull shit on it as well.
So, that was it. Never got back to Lyme Regis.
Not happening. Not happening.
I still can't fathom how so much can come out of something so small.
Honestly, a heave funny enough, he took a picture,
because he found it way more funny than I did.
I'll pop it on the WhatsApp chat.
Instagram doesn't need a picture of that.
But, yeah, incredible, incredible.
But, yeah, you know, the fallout from that was, literally, was, yeah.
Like, Maz had to save the day and polish the whole bloody car,
because it had ruined it.
So, yeah, we'd love for the second half of 2026
to have a bit of a change of luck, to be honest, on the old P-car front.
Well, they do say that being shat on is good luck, don't they, so fingers crossed.
Yeah, yeah, fingers crossed, indeed, mate.
Shall we move on to some 356 action?
I think we should.
Yeah, we've got a fun-packed episode of 356 ramblings.
Yeah, we've never covered 356s, per se, before on the podcast,
or indeed, Nine Might's TV, as we highlighted in our kind of chilled-out intro
that we tend to do these days.
Yeah.
So, it will be interesting.
It was quite an experience for us, kind of looking forward to hearing what others
think of the 356 as well.
Maybe within the, you know, DNHC, let us know, feel us on 356s.
But the episode will kind of go as follows.
We're hoping we're taking you on a journey, taking you on our journey,
through the day of driving a 356 for the first time.
So, there was a recording en route to Philip Rabie Specialist Cars,
who had two 356s ready and waiting for us.
There was a third in the showroom as well, I believe.
Yeah, the blue one, wasn't it?
Yes, yeah.
So, we drove a road and a race version, which had done the London to Sydney rally,
among others, I think.
Yeah, that's right.
And, yeah, so we're going to share with you our views en route,
which really is kind of like expectations.
We'll then sit down with Phil as a Specialist,
selling these cars to get his insight on them.
As an enthusiast as well, because, let's be honest,
he isn't an enthusiast for these, for Porsches.
And then we're going to weigh in with the views of an owner,
which is going to come from the lovely Ben Bailey from the Drivenor Hidden Collective,
who is a real 356 stalwart, to be honest.
Yeah, he's got a beautiful car.
I love that car.
Yeah.
If you ever thought about selling it,
I might have to sell a kidney to buy it,
because it is just...
Really?
Oh, it's so nice.
Yeah.
Wow.
High praise indeed, Andy B.
It's got such a nice history to it as well,
which I'm sure he'll fill us in with later on.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And that is the thing with the 356, isn't it?
You do feel like you're driving history.
We didn't touch on it in the video,
or in our kind of breakdown afterwards,
but certainly the feeling I got,
there was a palpable feeling that you are driving history.
And you are a part of its story,
rather than the other way around, you know?
Yeah.
Shall we listen to our preconceptions
of what we thought it was going to be like?
Ash, record on that.
Looks good to me.
Give us another whiz if you can.
Hello, hello, hello.
How are we doing?
Oh, let's give you a tickle down.
There we go.
Tickle down.
Whoa, tickle down.
Whoa.
So you've just joined us.
We're in the back of...
We've nearly gone into the back of a Tesla.
Wasn't it, just?
Better random braking going on ahead?
Andy and I on the road to Phillip Rayby.
There's actually three 3-5-6s that fills currently.
We're only going to be driving two of them today,
but we thought we'd basically bring you guys and girls
on the journey with us because...
Andy, you're very much a 3-5-6 fan.
I am, I am.
A sort of festering fan, I think you'd call it.
Really, yeah, okay, okay.
Yeah, I've always taken an interest in them,
but there's always been the sixth cylinder thing
of the 911s, hasn't there?
But as I get older and older,
I feel less need for going faster and faster
and quite interested in the more gentile side
of 3-5-6 life, I guess.
Right, okay.
So has that kind of come on in recent years
or has you've always had a...
It's kind of been there, but it's getting warmer,
if you know what I mean.
Right, okay.
Yeah, getting warmer.
I once sat in one, well, I've sat in a couple now.
I've never driven one, so hence this little trip today.
The first one I sat in was...
I don't know if you know the guy, René Santos.
Nope.
He's a Dorset PCGB guy.
He's got a 3-5-6 that he's had a few years
that was fully restored by the guys,
not Williams Crawford, but the other guys that are in Devon.
Is it Broughton Engineering?
Okay.
They're a real 3-5-6 specialist.
And I asked him if he could have a little sit in there.
And I remember him saying that once you get in one,
you'll be ruined because you just get...
the 3-5-6 and it kind of gets into your bones.
Yeah.
And it really did.
It was like, oh, when you sit in it,
the way it cocoons around you and the smells,
it was just wonderful.
I've also sat in Ben Bailey's Silver 3-5-6.
I think his is A, if I remember rightly.
René's is a B, but that's as much as I know.
What makes it an A and a B?
They look slightly different,
but I wouldn't be able to tell you with any authority.
So maybe this is the start of the story of me understanding 3-5-6 as well.
Both of us understanding 3-5-6 is a bit more.
Yeah, definitely.
I think you're probably more clued up than I am.
I would describe myself as agnostic when it comes to 3-5-6s.
So they've just never really been on my radar.
I think for me, with a reference to my age as well,
obviously even from my youngest days,
the 3-5-6 had long since kind of been out of production.
And I guess you even, you missed out on the sort of cow look days really, didn't you?
The Beatles and then people went into 3-5-6s,
and that's kind of before your time.
Yeah, definitely.
Where cow look, that was bang on trend when I was in my teens.
Yeah, that was the thing.
And a smoothed out 3-5-6 has always been on the radar.
Really?
I can't even imagine that kind of concept.
I've not seen that before though, and I'll see familiar with the cow look.
But I think because obviously there is an overlap in production
between 3-5-6 and 9-11,
beside the fact of editing Tell 9-11 magazine,
I think for me as an enthusiast,
where the 9-11 of the same vintage has remained relevant
is because I drive a 9-11 today,
that there's a clear pathway and a clear lineage to those early examples,
which obviously there isn't there with 3-5-6.
So that's been, that served as quite a dramatic cut off for me.
So I've never, I would say, had a reason to have an interest in a 3-5-6.
But going into today with a complete open mind,
shout out to Mr Bailey again,
because he and I have spoken about it previously,
and he has said that, you know,
there is a synergy between a 3-5-6 and a 9-9-6
in terms of lightweight head back.
Oh, there we go.
We always have to bring it back to a bloody 9-9-6, don't we?
I can feel, I can feel the head roll or the eye roll from everybody,
but I think that was Ben's way of basically trying to get me into a car.
So I'm quite interested to see how that kind of goes really.
And yeah, just going into it with an open mind
that I've possibly not had before for the model.
It'll be interesting to see what we think, won't it?
Yes.
What's your sort of preconceptions then?
My preconceptions.
So, you know, there's different grazes in the age of sports cars,
modern, modern, classic, classic.
And then before that, you've got vintage.
And then for me, in my head, you know,
then you've got like the pre-war stuff, you know?
And like even the vintage stuff,
when I think of a vintage sports car,
I think of, you know, those metal AA grille badges.
Yes, yeah.
I think of them and needing to use it.
Are you being stuck at the roadside?
Something's not working.
Oh, he's in the AA badges.
He's using the AA badges.
You know, it's there for a reason,
but that kind of tends to relate more to British sports cars.
Yes, yeah.
Triumphs and MGs and all that sort of jazz.
So, yeah, to be honest with you,
I don't really know, Andy, I haven't got a clue.
I'm going in with a complete open mind.
How about you?
I think my preconception takes me back to a Volkswagen Type 3.
So, which I had when I was 18,
I had it for about six months.
And I adored the drive of that vehicle
and the feel of solidity about it.
Yeah.
And I feel that the 356 will feel like that for me.
So, it's not just a, you know, a Beetle
with a swoopy body on it.
It's the Porsche engineer
and I think it's going to shine through
and it will have that sort of sophistication
that the Type 3 had over the Beetle.
I think we'll see the same sort of thing.
That's what I'm hoping for.
Okay, okay.
I have to say I'm looking forward to the smells.
Yeah.
You know, old vintage, oily, you know,
those air-cooled cars, you know,
we say they have a Porsche perfume
and I'm expecting...
It's strong.
I mean, it's going to be strong.
I think we'll probably go home
and walk in the door at home
and your wife's going to go,
oh, you smell a bit funky.
What oily rags.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, it'll be interesting.
The other thing I'm acutely aware of, you know,
obviously summer 2026,
we're going to be driving a car that was made
before our time, both of us.
And the original owners probably aren't here anymore.
True, yes.
And there's a bit of a magic to that, you know,
with these being vintage vehicles
and the power of Porsche vehicles
and still being on the road that we all well drilled it.
Yeah, that kind of...
It's almost a bit of a privilege to just sit behind the wheel
for a day, really,
and be a little bit of a part of the car's story
and vice versa.
Yeah, and reminisce about what it would have been,
what was, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely.
So, yeah, we'll give it a go.
We're shortly pulling up to Philip Rabies,
who, as I said, has three of them,
three of the buggers on, yeah, up for sale.
So, we'll have a look, dive into the different models
and see how we get on with our made-in 356 experience.
Yeah, look forward to learning.
Absolutely.
So, that were our perceptions,
rocking up to Philip Rabies specialist cars.
Next, we sat down with Phil to discuss
356's in general.
We're here at the showroom of Philip Rabie,
and we are joined by Philip Rabie.
Hello, good to see you both.
Thanks for having us back as always, Phil.
So, yeah, look, just the other side of this glass window
or bay window looking into the showroom,
there are three 356's sitting next to us.
Yeah, this is really unusual for us,
we never see 356's,
and then all of a sudden we've got three,
which is very exciting.
And I feel quite privileged to have them.
Yeah.
And all quite different cars, as you'll discover
when you have a look at them.
Well, can you offer any insight on them?
Yeah, well, there's 356B,
which is finishing in slate grey, fully restored.
That was an Australian car, so it's right-hand drive.
And then we've got a slightly newer 356SC
in a lovely shade of blue.
And the third one, which is really interesting,
is a car that was owned by one of our customers,
and he drove it in a rally from London to Sydney,
as well as some other rallies as well.
So, it's got a really interesting history with it.
And it's been modified for rally use.
It's got recaro seats, a roll cage and harnesses,
cup holders, all sorts of alterations.
But what a wonderful story it's got.
That's amazing.
How many miles is that?
Apparently 16,000 miles.
Now, sadly, our customers died,
but I seem to remember him saying London a Melbourne.
Now, whether he was, he'd forgotten,
or maybe continued from Sydney to Melbourne afterwards.
Who knows?
Went to see some family.
Now, I don't know Australia that well,
but I think Sydney to Melbourne's a long way.
Yeah.
It's only by English standards.
So, the rally one, what's that?
That's a C.
That's a C, okay.
Yeah, it's a 1965 car.
So, quite late.
Yeah, overlapping with 9-Eleven production there.
As the Porsche resources that we've been pillaging
in the run-up to this podcast are showing,
that when the 9-Eleven came out,
the 356 still proved popular.
There were still lots of people buying those cars.
I guess it would have been cheaper than the 9-Eleven
of the same period.
Because it was replaced by the 912.
So, the 356 would have been the entry-level Porsche.
It would have been the boxer of his day, I suppose.
Yeah, yeah.
And also, the 356 haven't been made for 17 years.
Then this new 9-Eleven's come around, a bit of an unknown.
Yeah.
It's, you know, the 356 was a safe bet.
Yeah, absolutely.
Resistance to it, yeah.
Exactly.
There is every time a new 9-Eleven comes out,
there's that, isn't there?
It's the same with the transactional cars
when they came out.
Yeah.
Obviously, the 9-Eleven that was meant to die
didn't say, yeah, the 356 did the same for a little bit.
Yeah.
Definitely, definitely.
Where do you stand on 356s then, Phil?
You mentioned that you've not had too many of them
in before over the years.
Well, I wouldn't profess to be an expert on them,
but I do love them.
I mean, well, you'll find out when you drive them
that they are fantastic cars to drive.
And what I think is interesting,
they date from the early 60s then before.
But compared to an English Porsche,
we got a TR5 sitting out there,
which is the doors don't fit properly.
It's a bit rattly.
I mean, it's a lovely car.
Yeah.
But it's not engineered like a 356.
I mean, the 356, it's got this beautiful Porsche steering
that you'd expect.
It's a nice light steering.
The doors open and close with a nice click.
It's just beautiful.
The bonnet opens and stays up on the catch
and the same with the boot release.
It's just a properly engineered car.
And I think it shows English sports cars
in quite a poor light, really.
Yeah.
I know what you mean there.
You see an English sports car
and the door gaps are all a bit shoddy, aren't they?
It's kind of like a body laid over a big old frame
where they're a very different engineered car, aren't they?
Yeah.
I mean, that's a very good point.
This doesn't have a supple chassis.
So it's a more modern car than a Triumph TR5 or whatever.
And yeah, you're right.
The panel fit is pretty good.
Okay, it's not up to modern car standards,
but it's a time slot better than an English car.
Yeah, definitely.
That is quite interesting.
It charms in with the conversation
we were having on the way here
and talking just at top level
our initial thoughts on 356s as old cars.
And I said, well, I don't look at a 356
as an old vintage Porsche.
I look at it as an old car, I guess.
And my views or my recollections of that
is always like a car stuck at the side of the road.
And we were saying, it would be interesting
to see Porsche's take on that.
So that doesn't happen this afternoon.
No, I'm sure it won't.
But it's interesting that you're now saying that
and going, actually, because we boat,
well, I mentioned the Triumph and the MG.
And I just, I picture lots of MG stuck at the side of the road.
And now you've referenced, I've had, actually,
that 356 shows those cars up.
I think it does, yes.
And hopefully they won't break down.
I'm sure it won't, won't.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting behind the wheel.
See what they feel like.
You mentioned off-mic fill as well about
you in the last week driven a long bonnet 911.
So that'd be interesting to just,
yeah, get some like driving notes
on a really old 911 versus the 356
that was around of a similar age.
By coincidence, I was out in the 356B at the weekend.
And then I had to jump into a,
I think it's 72 911 target.
I had to drop it down to my body shot.
And so it was interesting to sort of jump from one to the other.
And the 911 is definitely quite different to the 356.
Obviously you've got the 600 engines,
you've got more power and torque.
But it feels a bit more modern.
It's a little bit more planted on the road.
It inspires a bit more confidence.
Whereas the 356,
I think you need to spend a bit more time with
and just learn to drive it.
To be able to sort of wring the most out of it.
But I'm more used to driving 911s, I guess.
I'm not that used to driving 356s.
Even though I'm not that ugly.
But I want to spend more time in these
because I think there is quite a steep learning curve
and it would be a lot of fun.
How have you found the reception to the car
since they've gone live on your website
and the Normox marketplace as well?
People, we get an interest in them.
Anyone who comes into the showroom will comment on them.
Especially this sort of powder blue one we've got here.
People love the colour of it.
And yeah, we get a generally very good reception to them.
But they're different.
They're not cars that we normally stock.
So it's great to have them here,
but I'm having to learn about them.
Yeah, aren't we all?
Excellent.
OK, well Phil, thank you for your trust in allowing us
to spend a bit of time with them today.
We're really looking forward to getting stuck into it, to be honest.
I hope you'll love them.
And the sunshine too, at last.
Always helps, always helps.
Thank you, we'll get stuck into the 356 driving experience.
Enjoy. Thanks.
What followed was the most splendid of late spring afternoons
around the back roads of Goodwood, wasn't it?
As you and I, Andy, got to know both road and race versions of 356.
We drove out to a little pub at the back of Goodwood,
stopped for some lunch, swapped cars, then came back.
Andy, you found some time to run out of fuel as well?
I did, you stitched me right up.
We got some fuel for the other car earlier on,
but didn't put any in the silver car.
And then, yeah, when I had it, I promptly ran out of fuel,
I don't know, about five miles away from Phil's place, I guess,
on some little country road.
It kept sort of having little moments.
I thought, is it the car, or is it fuel?
And then, yeah, it was gone.
So, yeah, had to make the emergency call.
Hello, come and get me.
You know what, as well, I'd like to add some detail to that.
That was when fuel prices were going up,
almost by the hour, it felt like, daily.
So, it wasn't panic buying,
but lots and lots of people were buying fuel.
It wasn't far off, was it?
Yeah, you and I, we'd actually got split up, if you remember.
I was sitting at the roadside, because I thought,
well, I know we need to go this way, you'd gone straight on.
I thought, I'll just sit here, Andy will come back.
I sat there for a good while, then it became apparent,
Andy wasn't coming back.
So, I thought, well, I see you back at the ranch, basically.
Got back to, yeah, Phil Rabies, and you weren't there,
and I thought, that's interesting.
Then I looked down, picked my phone up,
and there was a couple of missed calls on there,
and then a message ran out of fuel.
So, Phil and I, we went to the first petrol station,
no fuel, we're gone.
So, I remember thinking, like, this is going to be a right afternoon,
this is, we're trying to find fuel.
It was sorted in the end, but I tell you what, mate,
if you're going to be stuck at the side of the road,
next to a beautiful car, I mean, the 356 isn't a bad one.
You couldn't have got too many English waves,
if you know what I mean from my...
No, no, I got plenty of thumbs.
Thumbs up rather than English waves, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it was great, great afternoon.
Shall we play what our, what would we call them,
our after feelings?
Yes, our review, really, of our made and 356 experience.
Yeah, what we made of them.
There we go.
So, Brooksy, the sun is setting.
Oh, on a great day.
It's been fun.
It's been real good fun.
What a, what a different experience from Ironworks TV.
Yeah, absolutely.
Bit of vintage stuff.
Yeah, vintage indeed.
So, we have both cars back at the base,
back at the ranch here at Phillip Rayby.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, mate, we may have run out of fuel.
That's classic, isn't it?
Classic Porsche motoring.
What do you reckon then?
What have you learned today?
My expectations were of a VW Type 3 experience
as far as quality felt.
And I kind of got that.
It definitely has that sort of feel to it for me.
Way better than an equivalent year Beetle.
There's a big difference.
Yeah.
It's definitely not a Beetle in drag.
There's a big, big difference, isn't it?
So, just that elevated sort of echoed vintage-ness.
But I loved it.
Yeah.
So, you loved it.
Yeah.
You had a smile on your face quite a bit.
Yeah, what I was going to say, there was a moment where,
I mean, I don't know where we've been today,
to be honest, we've been all over,
but yeah, we pulled up in LA by at some stage
and I looked across at you
and you just had a big grin from ear to ear,
which is good because you've wanted to jump on the wheel
and one of these for quite a long time.
So, I'm really pleased that it's, you know,
the reality has stacked up.
Yes, it has.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, on that.
It's well done.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay, interesting.
Yeah, I enjoyed it.
There was a period,
and I know we'll dive into the nuances of these cars,
but yeah, there was a period in driving the London to Sydney car
where, for me, everything just clicked.
Back road, humming along, really lovely B road.
Yeah.
And absolutely in both of these cars,
although they're incredibly different,
something they share is like that delicacy of the steering.
Yes, absolutely.
All the controls are delicate, aren't they?
Yeah, I guess, but just like the,
the steam for me was the magical bit of the car.
Yeah.
I didn't get a lot of love from the engine.
Right.
And I have spent the majority of the day
thinking I'd love a flat six in here.
And I, you know,
I've apologized earlier on in the video for saying it,
but the flat four doesn't do a lot for me.
I enjoyed it.
It was, it reminded me of that 912.
The Camcar.
Camcar.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah.
Definitely the silver car.
Yeah.
It's got that sort of gruffness to it and.
Yeah, yeah.
Get up and that car needs revs.
Yeah.
Yeah.
To get you down the road.
It loves to be rung out.
Yeah.
And to be driven.
But there was, yeah,
there was a bit going along this country road and, you know,
the car is, and you're not doing a fast speeds,
50 mile an hour tops.
But, you know, the car's kind of bumbling along
and you're just shimmying the wheel is kind of how it is.
And the car's kind of dancing around as a result of it.
And I had momentum.
So that was nice.
And there was a sweet spot of, of, yeah, you know,
15, 20 minutes when everything came alive.
And I felt I got it.
Yeah.
This is what 356 experience is all about.
Which was great.
I kind of feel, and this is possibly,
I don't know if it's like my age or what, but.
When I was in that band, it was great.
And I, and I therefore think as a result,
you have to be in the mood to drive these cars with,
with all of its nuances and everything else.
And I kind of felt like by the time we got the cars back
to here at Philip Rabie, I was kind of done.
I was no longer in the mood for it.
So I've really loved today.
I personally, I would not want to drive from London to Sydney in one.
No way.
I'll go, I will go as far as Folkestone.
Do you know what I mean?
And then I'm probably getting the bus.
You know, I could do a Euro thing.
There was, you know, what the 356 crew do, you know,
the club, they do a trip to a different country each year.
I could do that.
Really? Yeah.
Yeah.
As long as you had a good rest at the end.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I could do it if the Mrs wasn't talking to me.
But yeah, that is, it's, it is just very nuanced.
And again, you know, just contextualizing everything.
I could probably put up with everything if,
if there was that emotional attachment there,
but I found that it's just not there.
So I'm judging it on a merit of this is,
this is an old car.
Do I like it?
Yes, no.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What I will say is the way I'm so impressed that these cars are 60 years old
and you almost wouldn't believe the cars are 60 years old.
Yeah.
And certainly I've never driven any other vehicle on planet Earth
that is 60 odd years old in the manner we've done today.
Yeah.
And both of them have done it with aplomb.
Yes, absolutely.
So that is, yeah, a doffer the cap to,
to the way these cars are made.
They were engineered.
Yeah.
What they must have felt like, I've said it many a time.
What my SE must have felt like to somebody when it was brand new.
Yeah.
Compared to everything else.
Yeah.
And these are exactly the same.
They must have felt like spaceships compared to everything else.
Definitely.
You know, you have to consider when these cars were being made,
you know, by hand at Zuffenhausen,
you know, did people really think that you and I 60 years later
would be driving it?
I mean, I was born 24 years after these cars finished production.
Yeah.
And, you know, and there we are,
bumbling around the back roads of Goodwood.
That really is so incredible.
Yeah.
But I have to judge it on how the car would be.
You know, I have to have to judge it on how's the drive for me
as a millennial today.
Yeah.
And yeah, I enjoyed it, but I just wanted a,
I just wanted a 9-11, a flat six, you know,
a long bonnet 9-11 for me.
But that's, I think, the emotional attachment for me.
Hmm.
Would I swap my SC for one?
I think I would have it in addition to,
I don't think I could swap.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But yeah, I loved the earlier experience.
The feel of being particularly this grey car with the red interior,
that's got some ricaros in it,
which have, you know, obviously very modern
and don't feel quite right in there,
but that just felt right.
Amazing how different the two cars felt, actually.
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Go on, go on.
This car, I think, sits a little bit high at the back,
and that equates into when you're driving down the road.
It feels like, you said it earlier,
it kind of steers from the rear rather than from the front.
So it's kind of, yeah, very different to the silver car,
which definitely feels more planted and more 9-11y.
Yeah, yeah, more, I mean, again,
yeah, there's obviously a difference in power between the two cars.
Not sure what that is,
but we'll pop that along the bottom of the screen at this point.
But yeah, this car, I felt, you know, 40, 50 mile an hour,
really fun, really engaging.
Lots going on.
Lots going on.
And I was happy with that.
I didn't feel at any point I needed any more velocity than that,
whereas this car, certainly rev-wise,
it wanted to be revved a bit lower down, a bit more grumpy.
Yeah, it was grumpy, yeah.
Typical kind of competition setup, really.
You know, once you start,
and that's where I had the moment today in that car
where it was like, wow, this is brilliant.
Everything's making sense.
It was about 50, 60 mile an hour, high revs, great noise,
planted predictable steering,
and everything made sense in that car.
This was really nice to just bimble down the road,
but I didn't get beyond this as nice.
It's art to look at and to sit inside,
and it's so well done,
and it's had so much money clearly chucked at it
in terms of restoration.
I think if I was to buy this,
I would want to make it drive like that.
Yeah.
It's where I'd be at.
Yeah, want to go.
Agreed.
Yeah, I would want this car with that engine,
but this gearbox and for me,
that's the perfect thing,
but it does highlight how different these cars are.
So different, aren't they?
And a bit like 911 stuff, really.
You can't just call it a 911, and that's it.
They're both 356s for sure,
but they represent very different expressions of 356.
And everyone's individual, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah.
It's not just the, this is different
because it's a different model.
It's because it's been set up in a different way.
It's been, it's had different stuff done to it.
Yeah.
So yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's been mine-filled, but...
Yeah.
I think you've put that really well, actually,
like on reflection,
that it's a great car to have in addition to
something else from within the Porsche stable.
Definitely, because there is appeal to driving it
for a period of time,
but I wouldn't want it to be my only Porsche experience,
you know?
Yeah, yeah.
Particularly for where they're at financially,
you know?
Yeah.
So, and again, it raises another question,
where will these be in a few years' time
and down the line when people my age are getting on a bit?
How will people my age and younger than me see these cars?
I think there's always a...
I've adjusted myself over the years
in that I've gone older and slower.
So I think maybe you'll feel that as well in the future.
So I don't...
We do talk about, you know,
that you always lost after the cars that you had as a...
You know, around when you were in your teenage years
or your early 20s.
Yeah.
But I think there is a case that you do,
as you get older,
and I'm understanding that now,
is that you want to go further back.
Really?
So I remember, like, and this was, I don't know,
15 years ago.
And the landlord of the, like,
the flat that Mrs. Sibs and I were in,
he had like a...
It was an old, like, Bentley Blower thing.
And I remember looking at it and just thinking,
that might as well be a spaceship to me.
I have no idea really anything about the car.
I had no emotional attachment to it,
no real inclination to go up and have a look around it.
It's a car from another completely different time.
You know, I might as well go and look at a horse,
because that was also a form of transport at one stage.
I would have felt the same about it, but I'm...
You're into it now.
I'm more into that older stuff.
Yeah, really?
Yeah, yeah.
You know, we said before on this channel,
and it had some stick about it in a recent video.
So I'm saying, you know,
it's trendy to bash the new cars these days.
It's not, but you can't deny how you feel about something.
And I've realised that the new stuff is too new for me,
but there is probably a line where I would go to
in terms of the old stuff as well.
And I think for me, the emotional tie with the 911 is
the cars...
That car is still on the road today,
whereas these cars are not,
and that therefore doesn't give me a tether,
an emotional tether into the car that a 911 does.
But that is just my own personal opinion,
and I have had the most incredible day
driving around these back roads for you.
Smell a bit of old car.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Smell oily.
My eyes are a little bit stingy slightly.
Yeah, yeah.
Which is all part of the charm of these older cars, right?
So, yeah, look, we've had a phenomenal day.
That's our view on 356 Experience, really.
Definitely, in your case, lived up to the hope.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I think I want to learn more about 356s.
Okay, okay.
I understand all the different models,
all the...
Yeah.
I've become a 356 spot, I think.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I can see you doing that, too.
So, today has cracked the door open for you for 356 life.
Yeah, interesting, interesting.
I would like to get to know more.
Yeah.
It's almost reserving judgement in a little way,
but I think, like, so far,
I won't be going home and diving into the marketplace
to snap up 356 as quickly as possible.
Yeah.
So, yeah, that's our views.
Let us know what you think of 356s in the comments below.
I can hear that.
And, yeah, particularly those that are, you know,
far more informed than we are.
And, you know, let us know why we're wrong.
Absolutely.
I'm sure you will.
Yeah.
Thanks to Philip Rabie for letting us drive these amazing cars today.
They really are in such great fetal.
And for somebody out there,
we've got two amazing Porsches sitting right here waiting for you.
So congratulations in advance for when you purchase.
Take a look at these and all the other cars on the number.
We'll see you again soon in another episode,
Bruxy and I, of Nomos TV.
That was our, our view of the 356
from our small few hours of driving them.
Should we speak to Ben Bailey?
He's got a little bit more seat time, I think,
I would say.
He's gone pretty much all over,
I wouldn't say all over the world,
but he's certainly done a good bit of Europe so far in his 356.
Yeah, yeah.
Far more qualified to talk about 356s with some authority
than you or I.
So hopefully, well, of course,
for the benefit of everybody listening,
we'll get Ben on now to pass over.
Yeah, his experiences in the world of the Porsche 356.
We are so chuffed to be joined once again
by the legend that is Ben Bailey,
driven or hidden collective member of the year.
Thank you very much, Chaps.
Thank you.
Delighted to be here.
Still feeling a bit of an imposter
as the driven or hidden collective member of the year,
but, you know, feel very honored that people thought to vote for me.
Still getting the miles in, Ben.
Still getting the miles in.
Well, yeah.
But this is just it though, Andy, you know,
do we deserve a medal for driving loads of miles
and spending loads of money on Porsches?
Absolutely.
100%.
I'm not so sure.
I have to say, when I loved it,
when your name was called out at the awards
and as you're walking up on stage,
I thought you looked angry.
So he's going to get the award and club us with it.
That's just his resting big face.
Loved it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That was actually a great night, Chaps, wasn't it?
Really, really good fun night.
Had a great time.
And what a great guy Grant was as well, wasn't he?
Just a proper enthusiast.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
And this is it, you know, like, it's one of the reasons,
obviously, your enthusiasm for the 356
is well known amongst the wider collective.
Hence the reason your, you know, views, opinions,
and insight is going to be so valid
and valuable on this conversation.
So we are super grateful of your time.
But away from the awards,
like the day before when Grant flew over,
we met up just for a quick jar in the pub.
And you two got chatting quite a lot on 356s.
There was a real kind of commonality in your enthusiasm there.
It was quite nice to hear that enthusiasm
from inside and outside of Porsche as well, you know?
Yeah, no, it was really nice for me
just to hear his 356 journey as well, right?
So, you know, he's obviously working hard on his third car,
his project car, but yeah, yeah,
really interesting what he's got planned for it.
Yeah, yeah, way, way much more experience
in the room with you two than Andy and I,
which as Andy has said previously,
we're kind of starting our 356 journey, aren't we, really?
And we'll see where it goes.
But Ben, as a top level, would you mind starting off
by just giving a bit of insight to listeners?
How long have you had your 356?
How many miles have you done in it?
Yeah, of course.
So I purchased my 356.
I was thinking it was just the other year,
but actually it was 2021 now, so coming on five years, right?
And I got that.
I was, yeah, I was down in London.
I was looking at cars, and I'd seen this one
that was way over budget, and I'd spoken to a few people
that always give me a bit of advice,
and just one bit of advice that kind of kept ringing in my mind
was that by the best example you can afford,
because you'd spend much more restoring one of these
than you could buying one.
And so that was just an excuse to up the budget, right?
But yeah, so my 356, 2021, which was my first Porsche.
Well, way to go in.
Wow.
And so mine is a 1959 A,
but it's the last year of the A's, right?
1600 standard, right-hand drive.
It was actually a South African car.
And yeah, I tried to do as many miles in it as I possibly can.
I love driving that thing, so the first year that I got it,
I've just missed out on the 356 International,
but the following years, I've done it every year.
So I've been to Portugal, been to Italy,
and we're going to France in it this year as well.
So yeah, probably about 2,500 miles a year in it,
something like that.
And it's quite a lot of that.
Yeah, isn't it just?
It's quite a lot of that, the actual trips that you do.
Yeah, I've got big storage problems, Andy,
as you probably know, right?
So for the summertime, I tend to drive the 356
down to a storage place to keep it just outside of Oxford
and lives there during the summer months.
I haven't taken it down there this year,
so I don't get to drive it that much unless I'm kind of heading down south.
So yeah, and then it will just be the 356 International
and the odd show that I take it to during the year
and then bring it back to the cool northeast, usually September time.
Can you tell us about the internationals?
What are they like?
Well, I think I was spoiled.
Basically, it's hosted by the 356 clubs across the world.
So I think there's something like 23 nations have got their own 356 club.
Ours just falls within PCGB,
but some of the countries are 356 only clubs, right?
And it takes it in turns to host the international,
so basically invite members from all the other internationals over to come over
and to spend a long weekend out there.
And so it's lots of driving, lots of sightseeing,
lots of organised lunches and that type of thing,
but usually I would say the fun is getting there.
I guess with any road trip, right, is the mission or the task that is
to kind of get there and how you get there, who you go with, which routes you take,
which is why this year is maybe a little bit disappointing
because we're not actually going that far.
Oh, you know, I think we're getting the ferry from Southampton.
Portsmouth, maybe?
Portsmouth, yeah.
Is it to St Mall?
St Marley.
St Marley, yeah.
And then we're pretty much there.
I think we've only got an hour and a half down the coastline
and then we're kind of there, which is a bit disappointing.
But I think next way is Denmark, which would be a bit more fun, right?
I love how, you know, it's just disappointing.
There's not enough miles to do on this.
It's just so, it's so you, I love it.
I absolutely love it.
This is where the fun is with these cars, right?
Or sitting in the driver's seat and driving them, right?
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I mean, this is it, Ben.
This is where we'd like to get inside the nuts and bolts of it.
So what is it about a 356 that you hold so dear and so special
because just as a quick qualifier,
when we've been away on a previous road trip,
a question was put to you of, you know,
you're in a burning building, all your cars are outside.
You know, you grabbed the keys to which car
and I believe you said the 356 was one of two.
Yeah, 100%.
So the 356 is, for me, a forever car.
But then, you know, we're trying to rationalise this hobby of ours,
but actually you can't really rationalise it, can you?
Because there's a lot more to the statistics, I guess,
or what you can rationalise.
Because a lot of it does come down to your heart, right?
But I think when it comes to driving the 356,
I think it is the simplicity and the delicacy of the automobiles.
And I think there's nothing that,
as a kind of an extension of your arms and your legs and whatever,
it's just, I guess, the closest that you'd get
to actually moving the little car along the road yourself, right?
So I think that's it.
I think the delicacy of it, whether that comes from the steering
or just the feel or the engagement
or the interaction with the gear stick and the pedals,
it is just that, I would say.
Which kind of on your video, which I did enjoy thoroughly,
by the way, Chaps, I think I mentioned that already,
but I think maybe your 356 journey needs to continue
because I think it's maybe a bit of an unfair representation
of the mark, the two cars in particular.
Because I think one of them obviously a decked out race car, right?
So I don't think you're going to get the delicacy or feel from that car.
But then I think it's fair to say the other one could definitely do
with a suspension adjustment and maybe having the alignment set.
Because for your reaction to it, you shouldn't be feeling that way
at the wheel of a 356.
You should be happy to push on for as much as the car's got to give.
And I think you'd really, really would enjoy the process of it.
But then I think I'm a bit like...
I'd definitely subscribe to Andy Prowninger's method here
where you want a bucket seat in your sports car.
Because you feel what the front wheels are doing through the steering wheel, right?
But then I also feel like you feel what all four tires are doing
through your buttocks if you're sitting in a bucket seat.
And my car, I'm very fortunate.
Now, it was one of the reasons I picked that car, to be honest,
was the previous owner had retrofitted some Speedster bucket seats in it.
So these little seats are very minimal padding
and you are kind of sat right on the chassis, I guess.
So you're feeling kind of everything that's going on.
But yeah, delicacy or feel, I think, definitely.
You know, I think they were two buzzwords that Andy and I...
Well, delicacy was definitely a buzzword that Andy and I picked up in the podcast.
Like, without a doubt, I really liked your other buzzword, Ben,
in being simplicity as well.
And that is, to varying degrees, we as enthusiasts,
that's kind of what we chase as our idea of a sports car.
You know, we all end up somewhere on that kind of spectrum, if you like.
But the 356 is probably the quintessence of it.
Yeah, but also, I'd say, you know, I feel like a car is at its most fun
when it's at the limit of what it's capable of giving, right?
And this is why I probably do shy away a bit from brand new cars,
because I feel like their level is so high,
so far beyond what you can achieve on the public road
without being thrown in a jail cell,
whereas the 356 just brings it back a pace.
So at 60 miles an hour on a twisty B road,
you're having the time of your life, you know,
because at that kind of speed, you are pushing the car
and you're feeling it kind of wriggle around underneath you.
Do you feel like, obviously, the values of 356 is very wildly, don't they?
You'll probably know that better than Andy or I at present.
But do you feel like, reputationally,
among the wider kind of portion enthusiasts fear
that they get the adulation that they deserve?
I think it's mixed.
I think if people know them and know what they are,
I think, you know, I mentioned this to someone the other day.
I still remember like it was yesterday,
the first time I saw a 356 in the flesh.
And I mentioned it to my wife, because we're staying in a hotel.
And I was like, oh, that was the place where our first Kensington High Street
is spotted of 356.
Do you remember?
And she laughed at me thinking like, what the hell are you going on about, Ben?
So I think, if like me, you're a fan of these cars
and you don't often see them, when you do see them,
then it brings a lot of emotion, right?
But if somebody doesn't know what it is,
I guess the opposite end of that spectrum is,
I remember a mum, I think I parked up somewhere
and a mum was walking a little toddler down the road
and the toddler turned to her mum and said, what's that car?
And the mum said, it's a Porsche.
They're like, that's not a Porsche.
That's not a Porsche.
You know, it's the kind of looks at it.
And I thought, so that's like two ends of the spectrum, right?
So, but yeah, but I think it does, it kind of does bring joy.
And I feel like that's my responsibility to take it out as much as possible
and to drive it around and let people see it.
But also that if I am driving it around,
that I'm driving it around like a Porsche,
not like an old knackered classic car,
you know, people want to see it being driven as it should be, right?
Yeah, yeah.
It kind of dovetails in quite nicely to a point Andy, you made.
And when we were at Philip Rabie,
there was another classic car next to the 356 in the showroom
and you were like, look, this is the difference between the 356
and something else that was of a similar vintage.
And you opened the door and closed it
and you were like, listen and then have a go
and feel just the quality of the door shuts.
And you were like, this car, you know, you mentioned simplicity,
but was so well engineered for its time, wasn't it?
Yeah, 100%.
I think it was an MG of some sort, wasn't it?
That we were referencing.
Or was it that Lancia that you took a shining to?
No, the Lancia had a lovely door action to it.
It was beautiful.
I'm pretty sure it was an old MGA or something like that.
And it was, yeah, you opened the door
and it was like opening a barn door rather than the very difference
for the 356.
I mean, I was thinking about this the other day.
So I started driving in 1996
and I had a brief flirt with a Fiat 500
and 1987 Fiat 500, not Fiat 500, sorry, a Fiat Uno.
And that Fiat Uno probably feels, you know,
the Porsche feels more screwed together
than from 1959 blows my mind
that that Porsche feels more screwed together
than a 1980s Fiat, right?
But it does and it's actually to drive,
it feels more modern and more stable on the road, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
You've been very good as well,
like certainly away from the mic and whatnot,
you've offered me a drive in your car
like several times, which is very kind,
but I think, you know, it underlines your feeling
that, you know, you can't beat seat time
and obviously your car is like really nicely set up
and it seems like there is a lot of adjustabilities,
one thing, but where all of these cars are kind of
of at least 60, 65 years old now,
every single car is going to drive differently, right?
Oh, 100%.
Yeah, 100%.
Like, I mean, again, to bring it back to a subject
that would know well, you know,
you could jump into one 996 C2
and then jump into another
and there could be like jokin' cheese, right?
And the same can be said for 35.
It's all about finding a good one,
isn't it, on having one that's been set up well?
And I think that Philip Rabie car,
looking at it was a beautiful car,
but it was just something that like a four-wheel alignment
and adjusting the suspension would sort right out, right?
But then I think another thing was,
and I think this was Jerry Seinfeld.
So when I first bought my car,
there was a big move to kind of get a bigger,
wider rubber on these cars to kind of fill out the arches.
And so a lot of these cars went through a period
where they were kind of over-tired almost
and Jerry Seinfeld talks about
that's the biggest ruiner of how they feel
because you want them to feel light and nimble on their feet.
So that was the first thing I did was go back to
the standard size tires that it should have had
when it left the factory.
And the transformation that made to the car,
just the way it kind of felt under you,
giving you that delicacy you feel was phenomenal, yeah.
Because it does, it should just dance around under you,
but you should feel, when you're taking a corner,
it should feel like any other 911
or a rear-engine sports car, right?
That you should be going slow in and fast out,
which wasn't the feeling I was getting
with the car that you drove on that video.
Yeah, like we said in the video,
it was almost like rear-steering, wasn't it, Andy?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And it shouldn't be like that.
It should be like any early 911
where as soon as you're seeing that apex
and you put your foot down, the back end should be digging in
and just pushing you around the corner, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think it was doing the opposite, wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Whee!
The values is another subject, right?
Because again, this is an area
that we shouldn't really try and rationalise this hobby.
Because if we did,
we'd all be driving 986 boxters, wouldn't we?
If it was kind of pound per smile,
we'd all be in 986 boxters.
But then if we...
Because we wouldn't, you know,
a 993 C4S now, which is what,
£135,000, if we were to compare that
to a 996 C4S at £25,000,
you know, when we look at the fun that they bring,
that's not really kind of in level.
And the same can be said for 356s, right?
So if we're looking at these cars thinking,
okay, it's going to cost me X to enter this,
is this going to be more fun than a £25,000 996?
Absolutely not.
Because it's not, is it?
You know, we're paying for more than that, right?
So I think it's maybe a touch unfair
to try and get them to bring that amount of fun.
But yeah, I think the values are probably softening.
It's fair to say, you know, as we see a change
in demographic of the owners of these cars,
but maybe it hasn't softened as much as other cars
of the period, you know,
if you compare them to like E-types,
which have probably come down a huge amount
more than 356s over recent years.
And 356s have softened,
but the good cars are still getting pretty strong money.
That is an interesting point on that versus other cars
or other iconic cars that perhaps all of us have grown up appreciating.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely.
Of course, you know, nobody lasts forever, unfortunately,
but you know, yeah, you've touched on the change
in demographic, you know, there's obviously,
there has to be a bit of a younger audience,
but you know, how young are you seeing, you know, millennials
and even Gen Z taking an interest in these cars
or is it still sort of like for the older enthusiasts?
Yeah, but then I think someone's either got
an old head or a new head, right?
So I mean, I take myself back to it.
I mean, I can remember in the 90s,
standing around in my part-time job,
speaking to my mates of a similar age,
and me just lusting after all this old crap
and then saying to me, Ben, you're an absolute,
you know, at the time, whatever was new in the late 90s,
but whereas like that wouldn't have interested me at all,
I just wanted old crap.
So I think if somebody is that wants the latest or the greatest,
they're never going to be into these cars, right?
But you do.
And I think we are seeing, you know,
PJ Gibbons kind of jumps out at me,
who's like a young, trendy guy, right,
who runs classics at the clubhouse
and he's got a beautiful, beautiful car.
And I think we are starting to see a few more people like him,
but then I think the benefit of softening prices are
that these cars are just being opened up
to a wider target audience as well, right?
Yeah, yeah.
And certainly the work that Rod Emery continues to do,
stateside, I think, is flying the flag,
particularly to younger people of 356s
that might see a 356 for the first time,
not at the roadside, but on Instagram.
Yeah, 100%.
Such as the world we live in.
But yeah, maybe, you know,
maybe if we were over in California,
maybe we would see a younger demographic
kind of getting into them,
because I guess they're used to seeing more of them on the road, right?
100%.
When Max and I were over there just before Rendsport reunion,
you know, we saw more than a couple of 356s
parked roadside, but obviously it's Los Angeles,
you know, there's no winter hibernation of these cars,
so it kind of, you know, there's a more compelling,
I guess, use case to have that car
as kind of a more central part in one's lifestyle,
where there's obviously, for everybody in Europe, certainly,
it's far more of a seasonal proposition, isn't it?
Well, yeah, I mean, for me up in Newcastle,
I really have got four months a year, right,
that I can use it in between the salt being checked about.
Yeah, yeah, what, how prolific, I guess,
is the, not so much outlaw movement,
but like the hot rod or modified movement on those cars.
Has that grown over the years,
or have people always modded them as much as they've tried
to keep them a pristine original?
I would say the ratio is probably similar
to any other generation of Porsche, right, Lee?
So you'll have, you will have people who have got their cars
perfectly pristine, exactly how they left the factory,
and there will be people that will be kind of modifying them.
Again, in terms of the modified scene,
you know, I've spoken to people who have had engines sent over here
from Wilhoit, you know, over in the States,
and so that does go on, but yeah,
I'd say probably the ratio is pretty similar.
I mean, mine has got a couple of mods,
but they are all easily reversible,
and I think it's probably quite similar to the modifications
made to my 930.
You know, there's nothing there that would scar it full-time
that anything could kind of go back to how it left the factory.
Yeah, which mods are they, Ben, out of curiosity?
Yeah, so we touched on their Speedster buckets, didn't we?
You know, and that's it.
That's it, really, Lee.
I've, you know, whipped off the hubcaps.
It was, it's not running its original engine, Mike.
Our mine's been, and it left the factory as a normal,
so 55 horsepower.
It's been being kind of modified to have a super engine,
so it's making about 70 horsepower,
which obviously makes a big difference,
but yeah, so other than that, it is pretty standard.
I wonder if you could tell us a bit about the history of it,
because I believe it went through someone's hands
that sort of lavished lots of care onto it.
Yeah, well, so as I say, it started life in South Africa in 59,
and then I haven't got a lot of the South African history,
but it was purchased in 1984 by a young German
that was living and working in Johannesburg.
And his, I've actually spoken to him, a lovely,
a lovely old boy now, but he was mates with the guy
that worked at Lindsay Saker Johannesburg,
which is now Porsche Center Johannesburg.
So he would, you know, on a Friday night,
he would walk down there.
He would have a chat, to meet up with his mate
to go for a beer after work on a Friday,
and he said that this car did just,
every Friday he walked past, it just winked at him,
because he was born in 59, and the car was a 59.
So he bought it and ran it over there for about six months
before he then moved back to Germany.
And then I've got the paperwork from when he imported it into Europe,
brought it into Germany, and then it lived in Germany
for like the next 30 or 40 years.
So yeah, so, but it wasn't him.
So he'd had it for a few years, didn't have it that much longer,
but it was purchased by, by a guy
who sat on the board for Lufthansa Airlines.
I think he was a director of whatever,
but a doctor of engineering,
and it was him that kind of lovingly restored it.
I've got loads of photos from him taking it on various European jaunts
and the odd rally, and yeah, which is really, really nice to see.
Oh, it's a fantastic machine.
We thought we'd talk about, you know,
because I guess most 356s that are still on the road
do come from California,
because California was a safe environment for these,
well, I guess not just that, but California was probably the biggest,
you know, definitely the USA was Porsche's biggest client
at the time, California was the biggest.
But yeah, so most of them are left-hand drive,
but I just think it's funny that my car,
a little right-hand drive car,
was living in Germany with the steering wheel on the wrong side,
you know, when all of these left-hand drive cars are kicking up out.
Yeah, that's the point,
because yeah, the right-hand drive cars,
they are exceedingly rare, aren't they, really?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Just again, because, you know, the ones that did come to the UK
just didn't really survive with the salts on the road,
so to find a UK-supplied car is really, really rare.
Mm-hmm, yeah.
And the exterior colour silver, what silver is it?
It's just silver metallic, Andy,
that was the colour and period,
yeah, silver metallic over red.
So yeah, I've got the original build sheet,
it is, the original colours was silver metallic over red leatherette.
Lovely.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, absolutely beautiful.
I guess, yeah, we're really grateful for your time, Ben.
Like if, by like way of a sign-off,
is there any last pearl of wisdom that you'd like to pass on
to any listeners that might be, say, 356 curious?
And you just like to, yeah, push them over the edge.
I mean, I think I said this to you, Lee, right?
And even when I got my car,
I don't think it's enough to drive one of these cars.
I think you've got to, when you get behind the wheel,
you've got to treat it as it was intended.
So it's a Porsche sports car at the end of the day, isn't it?
So it's not until you do start to kick the shit out of it
that it really starts to bring the fun back, right?
So it's not there to tootle down the road,
but it is there to bring some enjoyment, yeah.
So I think people need to drive one,
but ideally one that can take round the block
and kick the shit out of ideally.
I love that, love that.
Great advice, great advice as always, Ben.
So thank you.
Yeah, look, unless there's anything else that you feel
like we've possibly not covered or not done enough justice to.
Yeah, no, no.
I mean, I think as you 356 journey kind of develops,
I think there's probably is more to talk about, isn't there?
Between the different ages and the different styles
and that type of thing,
because there is some intricacies within that.
But let's come back to that, right?
Let's park that.
Brandy, yeah, if you're happy with that,
that's certainly fine by us.
I know Andy, you in particular,
you're super, super keen to have a little bit more of a look
into 356 life.
Yeah, yeah.
Need to get the history books out, definitely.
Well, you know, you two are more than welcome
whenever you fancy hopping up to Newcastle
and taking mine out for the day,
anytime the office open.
What a dude.
What a dude. Thank you, mate.
Yeah, we'd love to do that.
Probably love to do that.
So, yeah, Ben, thanks as always for sharing your wisdom
with the lovely listeners of Nymox Radio.
Thank you very much for having me, guys.
Love it to see you both.
And you.
Cheers.
Oh, love hearing the stories of that little 356 of his.
Yeah, yeah.
Top car, top man as well.
What a big old episode that is, Andy.
I think it's fair to call this a 356 deep dive.
Although, as Ben kind of pointed out after the red button was stopped,
or after we hit stop, there's a better description.
There's still lots on the table to dive into.
You know, we've not covered the, you know, never mind the generations,
all the different models as well that fall under that 356 umbrella.
You know, as we said in the video, and if you've not watched it yet,
of course, we encourage you to go and do that via Nymox TV.
But the 356 production spans 17 years,
you know, made in two different locations as well.
It's a hell of a story.
And it's the start of the Porsche story.
First 35 or the first Porsche ever made being a 356 for the road.
So, yeah, there's more for us to cover.
And I think Andy, like, particularly from your side,
there's a real enthusiasm to see justice to that.
Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, we will do that for sure.
Good.
I think we should leave the episode there.
I don't think we've probably not bored people,
but I think it's time to sign off.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
We'll be back in a couple of, well, you'll hear a lovely interview
with a prominent collector next week.
So we are still going to stay air-cooled in our content.
But then after that, we'll have more of a debrief of the road trip we've been on,
update everybody on the boot room from the Driven Not Hidden Collective,
because lots of people have been strapping on the purchasing sandals.
And, yeah, who knows where the podcast is going to take us from that point.
Yeah, hopefully some more conundrums as well.
Car Nundrums.
Yes, yes.
Please do send us your car Nundrums either via the WhatsApp group
if you're in the collective or maybe on Instagram, direct to Andy or myself,
or you can email us liat9works.co.uk or andyat9works.co.uk.
Great stuff.
Right, see you bright and early Sunday morning, sir.
Absolutely, see you at Folkestone.
Don't look up and watch those seagulls.
Yeah, and remember your passport.
See you there, bud.
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About this episode
A road-trip and showroom deep dive into the Porsche 356 turns into a broader debate about what makes early Porsches feel “right.” The hosts compare 356s to 911s (and even Type 3s and Beetles), talk about how setup, alignment, tires, and seat choice change the experience, and describe the 356’s “sweet spot” after 15–20 minutes. Between driving impressions, they also share real-world roadside and ignition troubleshooting, plus club culture and buying/restoration advice.
Is the original Porsche actually the best? In this episode of 9WERKS Radio, Lee Sibley and Andy Brookes embark on a total deep dive into the Porsche 356.
To truly understand the DNA of the brand, we get behind the wheel of both road and race-prepared 356s to see how 70-year-old engineering handles the pace of 2026. Is it a fragile relic, or the most rewarding analog experience money can buy?
In this episode, we explore:
Track vs. Tarmac: Driving the lightweight race versions vs. the refined road icons.
The Specialist's View: We sit down with Philip Raby to discuss the current 356 market, what to look for when buying, and why these cars are becoming the "smart money" alternative to early 911s.
Living the Dream: A member of the Driven Not Hidden Collective gives us the unfiltered owner's perspective on maintenance, reliability, and the joy of long-distance 356 touring.
Whether you're a seasoned 356 aficionado or a 911 purist looking for a new challenge, this is the definitive guide to Porsche’s first sports car.
‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.
The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.
If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.
