June 1971. Well, there I was, just graduated from high school, my bankbook in my hand and out of the house. My parents were great in making sure all of us boys worked and saved our money. Now at 18 I had to leave the house, my parents having a sincere want that I would take my money and pursue a college education. This would come later, but not at this time.

I had my eyes on this 59 convertible D. Don’t ask me why the 356 appealed to me, I could have bought a 911 but I knew the 356 Porsche had class, beauty and performance. It had been sitting outside for a few years next to a home in the neighborhood and needed a lot of attention. I negotiated a purchase on the car and spent that summer restoring the car, at least as much as I could. Remember, then we did not have the support we have now from the club and vendors.

The parts manager at the local Porsche dealership and I got to know each other pretty well that summer. One day while trying to track down a base gasket for the windshield, he asked me if I would consider taking a job within the parts department. While I was currently working full time, I jumped at the chance to work within the car industry, and what could beat working for PORSCHE!

I worked the front and back counters, the back counter being the place the mechanics would come to get parts, tell jokes, get jokes, and occasionally return parts, like the fully charged condenser that they just pulled off the battery charger and would drop in your hand sending you through the roof and the whole shop would break out in great laughter, at your expense of course. That only happened once as you learned very quickly that the new kid was always the target for this stuff. I still remember one of the mechanics coming up and telling me that on Friday, payday, that I would have to buy a half gallon of whisky for the shop. I was only 18 and very gullible, so I got Jim Pasqule to go and get me a ½ gallon of Black Velvet. When Jim came back he asked why I was getting this much booze. That’s when I told him I had to buy the first bottle for the shop, Jim laughed and said well you got taken again and this is only your first week. Well, we did have a great time that evening. The wash rack became the bar and that ½ gallon went in the first ½ hour. Those were the days.

During some of the slow times I would page through the parts books familiarizing myself with the part numbers, groupings, and different models. The A parts book had a section on the Carrera motor. This was of great interest to me, as I had never seen one and nor had a customer ever tried to buy parts for one. In a way I developed a fascination with the Carrera during this time as it was something of a mystery with beauty and rarity. It seemed to me to be not only a durable and functional motor, but also a thing of beauty with its smooth lines. After all, this legendary motor powered the 550’s and a very limited number of street cars. I thought I would never see one, until that day.

I was working the back counter putting up with the normal abuse from the mechanics and this incredible 356 pulled into the shop and into a nearby stall. There were always 356’s in the shop but there was something that made this one stand out like white elephant in a herd of buffalo. I walked up to the car and noticed right away the Rudge wheels, sunroof, a spyder mirror cowling, head light stone guards, and look at that - a rear window wiper. I had never seen anything like that on a 356. But then I was startled to see the designation “CARRERA” just under the Porsche script on the back deck. No, this can’t be a real Carrera! The owner was just getting out of the car and was kind enough to tell me the car was being brought in for the owner of the dealership, Tom Carsten, to inspect the car and possibly to purchase. It was a T-1, early 57 Carrera GS Deluxe. I fell in love with the car immediately and knew I wanted that car.

Tom Carsten could have driven any car he wanted and certainly had his pick of 911’s, but Tom’s favorite was a 1965 SC Cab., black on black. This was a beautiful 356 and had many amenities. I spoke with Tom after his inspection of the Carrera and found he decided it was not for him. I immediately contacted the owner and found he wanted a lot of money for the car, $1,800.00. I looked at my options and how I could raise the money. The convertible D was sold the next day and I purchased my first Carrera. The year was 1972.

I can still remember first sitting in the car with its original interior still intact. And all those knobs on the dash, what could they all be for? Well lets see; there was the electric fuel pump, electric washer pump, electric antenna, those two distinctive ignition switches, and of course the rear window wiper. I often have commented that the rear wiper works better than the front, and it does. But what I remember most is the smell. I can’t describe it. If you have ever sat in an original 356 with at least 15 years or more under its belt, you’ll know what I mean.

The first time driving the car with the 1500 Carrera motor was a little disappointing. I was expecting this all-powerful Spyder motor pushing my head back as I accelerated through the gears. I soon realized this car was not going to compete with my friends 63 vette down the straight, but once I got the car out of the city and onto some open roads the car showed me a personality I fell in love with. The engine would spurt, sputter, and fart, then catch at about 2,200 and really does not come on until 3,000 RPM and accelerates smoothly up as high as I have dared take it. Where as my 59 convertible D with the 1600 normal was most docile in the lower RPMs and with good lower torque and accelerate up to a point.