What to do in ‘64? 901 vs Carrera 2

[Richard]

This is tough one. Time marches on. Sometimes the cars I owned back then seemed better than the later cars even though they weren't.
I never owned or have driven a 356 Carrera2...so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

In 1969 I returned from Vietnam with $3,500 in savings. I was planning to go back to college but I needed a car. I found a 1960 356 Super90 for a little over $1,000. It needed a complete engine rebuild. I spend $500 and it was on the road. I really enjoyed this car. It drove great and when it came up of it's S90 cam it put me back in my seat. But with some transmission and rust problems I sold it after a fun summer and returned to grad school in a '68 VW bug.

In 1976 I was able to afford a 1972 911T. As much as I enjoyed my old Supre90 I have to admit the 911T was a much better driver.

So...to the question. Would you be better off with a 356 Carrera or an early 911? Money aside I'd vote for the early 911 but a couple of years ago I picked up a '65 356 SC out of long term storage. I've got it back on the road and done some mild Outlaw mods to it that can be easily undone in the future. It's not a Carrera 2 but I'm enjoying this old 356 a lot. So, I'll leave the question open.

[joegt3cup]

Funny but its a question (356 vs 911) I ask myself today :O Most of my Porsche experience has been with 911's only owning one 356 a 63 Super90 coupe. Both are great cars its just the 356 may have a bit more charm that and old world build. That said their is nothing like the sound of that flat six to redline... decisions decisions.

[haul]

if I could afford and would not mind scratches or dents due to regular traffic,
or behaviour and deliberte damaging, f.i. door opening from
neigbours parked next to you..

if i put all
this aside...

the fuhrmann engine is very very nice, but so
delicate..sometimes a diva... and where is the capable
mechanic within a radius,......

well, difficult.....

still would go for an A with Polo engine....
daily driver, get it safe, upgrade brakes.. drive

this is what mr ruf decided:
https://youtu.be/vht-zD3aGXM
he wanted to have a reliable engine, different interaction/ behaviour of the engine..

[rower]

I’ve actually owned 3 different 356’s with Polo motors. Not the very latest iteration that Emory and Roth came up with though which looks really nice. There’s nothing like the sound of that 4 cam though...

Anyway, we’re discussing the decision made back in 1964!

I think I would go for the charm and beauty of the 356 Carrera.

[NeunElf]

I understand that in the very early days of the 911 many folks bought 912s because they didn't trust the new engine...

Personally, I think I would have gone with the 911 unless I anticipated that nearly 55 years later the Carrera 2 would be be worth four times as much. If I recall correctly, they were priced about the same.

But, the 911 was the new car and the 356 was looking at obsolescence. Also, the long-hood 911 is a vastly better cargo carrier.

You can go to members.rennlist.com/roadtest/ and download Road & Track tests of the '65 911 and the '62 356B Carrera 2. It looks like the 911 was faster' it also had FIVE gears (a big deal in '65).

July 1962 Road & Track

March 1965 Road & Track

[LongRanger]

. . . I was able to drive a friends 1964 356C Carrera 2 and it was very impressive . . .

. . . What would you have done then (not thinking how things turned out later and setting aside purchase price and availability). Not for racing but street use.

I would take the Carrera 2 as I find it much more elegant.

Any other thoughts? . . .

I'm guessing very few people here 've ever had to live with a 4-cam . . .

. . . or tune + maintain one . . .

. . . or get parts for one . . .


. . . or had to re-build one



And never mind the roller-bearing ones



(There's a reason why Real Carreras are rare . . . = IMO only a Racer --- or an idiot . . . would ever put up with something so devilish + archaic as a Fuhrman engine)



................

[NeunElf]

I'm guessing very few people here 've ever had to live with a 4-cam . . .

. . . or tune + maintain one . . .

. . . or get parts for one . . .


. . . or had to re-build one

And never mind the roller-bearing ones

(There's a reason why Real Carreras are rare . . . = IMO only a Racer --- or an idiot . . . would ever put up with something so devilish + archaic as a Fuhrman engine)

Speaking of 356 Carrera maintainability, one of the regulars on the 356 Club Flo's Cafe Run is a retired Porsche/VW mechanic. He usually drives his 912 soft-window Targa, often his 356A T2 Speedster, on one occasion his Mercedes Benz 190SL, but his 356B Carrera 2 never leaves storage.

[NTW]

I'm guessing very few people here 've ever had to live with a 4-cam . . .

(There's a reason why Real Carreras are rare . . . = IMO only a Racer --- or an idiot . . . would ever put up with something so devilish + archaic as a Fuhrman engine)



................

Yawn...all in a days work. I suppose every village needs at least one idiot.

[haul]

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-...ontent=app_ios

[62S-R-S]

..He usually drives his 912 soft-window Targa, often his 356A T2 Speedster, on one occasion his Mercedes Benz 190SL, but his 356B Carrera 2 never leaves storage.

Most would concede...as mechanical toys go with hair raising exhaust notes, flames to boot, they seem wildly entertaining.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KmqL7XqQelc

https:/hemmings.com/blog/2012/04/16/...now-available/