Swiss Porsche 356 at Team Martin
Our team, led by Martin, is currently working on a 1963 Porsche 356 B 1600 Super 90 Coupé. The car was delivered by a customer from Switzerland and is undergoing ongoing restoration. While it's not a matching-numbers vehicle, preserving its original technical and visual character remains paramount. Especially with a Porsche 356 B Super 90, the goal isn't simply to transform an old coupé into just any modernized vehicle.
The car arrived gray and had seen almost six decades of use, repairs, and overhauls. At first glance, it was clear that a lot of work lay beneath the surface. However, after complete disassembly, it became even more apparent how much previous repairs had obscured the original sheet metal structure.
Bitumen from above and below
This Porsche wasn't simply repaired in the past; instead, it was covered in thick layers of undercoating and bitumen in many places. This wasn't limited to the underbody. Areas on top had also been "protected" with thick layers. Such work often looks like protection at first glance, but it poses a problem during a Porsche 356 restoration.
Under thick protective layers, old welding, rust, covered sheet metal, and filler often remain invisible for years. Moisture can be trapped, edges disappear, and the vehicle's actual structure can no longer be assessed. Only after disassembly and exposure of these layers does it become clear which areas are sound and which need to be rebuilt.
Typical 356 rust spots
On the Porsche 356 B Coupé, the critical points are located in the usual places: sills (or longitudinal sections), floor panels, battery box, heater pipes, door bottoms, wheel arches, front end, rear end, bumper mounts, and window frames. These areas must be thoroughly inspected and documented on this particular car.
With a 356, dealing with panel gaps is particularly important. Doors, hoods, fenders, sills, and floor structure are closely interconnected. Replacing individual panels without checking the body as a whole will only lead to problems later. Therefore, in this project, doors, hoods, and joints are repeatedly inspected before any welding, soldering, adjustments, or preparation takes place.
Covered metal sheets and old filler areas
A major issue is the numerous layers of sheet metal covered over. Previous repairs weren't properly removed, but rather simply layered over. In addition, there were areas filled with body filler that visually concealed old damage. For a proper Porsche 356 B restoration, simply smoothing these layers and repainting isn't enough.
These areas must be opened, assessed, and, where necessary, cleanly cut out. New sheet metal isn't simply inserted to close the gap; it must match the shape, stability, gap dimensions, and subsequent assembly. This is time-consuming, but for a 356, it's the only sensible approach.
Super 90, MFK and originality
The Super 90 is one of the more interesting 356-B variants. Therefore, the air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine, the braking system, transmission, chassis, electrical system, and all existing original parts are individually inspected. Even though this coupé is not matching numbers, maintaining the correct technical specifications remains crucial.
For the subsequent Swiss vehicle inspection (MFK), the car must not only look good, but also be technically sound. Drum brakes, the 6-volt electrical system, and original components are not hastily replaced with modern solutions. What matters is what suits the vehicle, the Swiss registration, and the character of a Porsche 356 B Super 90.
Ongoing restoration instead of rapid reconstruction
This restoration is still ongoing. The current focus is on disassembly, assessment, uncovering old repairs, and building an honest body shell. With a Porsche 356 Coupé that has bitumen, undercoating, covered sheet metal, and filler, you can't start with the paint. The underlying structure has to be sound first.
This is precisely where it's decided whether this Swiss 356 will later become just a beautiful car or a meticulously restored Super 90 Coupé. Team Martin therefore works step by step: uncovering, inspecting, documenting, repairing, replacing, and only then thinking about painting, mechanics, and final assembly.
