It’s hard to believe that this gorgeous Porsche 356B T6 dates back to 1963; it has been restored to an astonishing condition, inside and out. The Porsche has an interesting history; it was first delivered to a customer in Melbourne, Australia, and was the 35th of just 44 356Bs sent to Australia. It was ordered in Slate Grey with a red interior, tinted windscreen, chrome wheels, compensating spring, luggage spider, electric washers (very rare), super hubcaps, external mirror and Dunlop tyres. The 356 then found its way to New Zealand where, in 2017, it was treated to an extensive restoration by the Gazley Motor Group in Wellington. Over 24 months the Porsche 356 was lovingly restored inside and out. The bodyshell was beadblasted and resprayed in its original colour. The interior has been recreated in luxurious leather (originally it would have been leatherette) to match the factory colour and style. Much time was spent ensuring that originality was retained, with the correct parts sourced or restored. Neat touches are the luggage rack, factory toolkit, and correct badging. A nod to modernity is a retro-look radio with USB connectivity. A huge amount of money was spent on the restoration and is all documented (see photos). The Porsche was then imported into the UK where it went to well-known Porsche specialist Parr where some £21,000 was spent on completing the restoration and ensuring that the 356 was in top condition. See invoices in the photo section. It has just had a service, the Weber carburettors serviced, and new Continental tyres fitted. The 356B was the penultimate incarnation of the Porsche 356. Compared to the previous version, it was heavily revised; the front bumper and headlamps were higher, the indicators lenses protruded further and the handle on the bonnet became wider. New vents under the front bumper fed air to the brakes. The cabin boasted a new three- spoked steering wheel, shorter gearlever, and restyled seats, front and rear. The engine capacity was increased to 1.6-litre and power to 60bhp – which may not sound much, but in such a light car, it makes for sprightly performance. Philip Raby says: “What a beautiful Porsche! This really takes you back to a bygone age, when cars were small, beautiful and exotic. What’s not to like about it?”