Award-Winning Porsche 356 B Is a Stunning Restoration

High Bar

We've seen our fair share of finely restored Porsches, and thanks to how special these cars are, most will be preserved in this way for future generations to enjoy. Still, we never cease to be amazed by the quality of restoration that we see on a daily basis, and this amazing Porsche 356 B is the perfect example of how high the bar has truly been set.

Photos: Porsche

Prestigious Awards

This 1961 Porsche 356 B - which has been painstakingly restored by Porsche Center Melbourne - racked up three prestigious awards at Motorclassica 2022, which is an annual three-day celebration of Australia’s finest classic, sports, and racing cars held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building.

Photos: Porsche

Proud Moment

Along with winning the category for New Age Classics - British and European (1961-1970) - the stunning Aetna Blue 356 B was also awarded Best Porsche as well as Restoration of the Year, marking only the second time that one car has taken away three awards. It was a proud moment for the skilled artisans behind the 356 B’s return to glory, including Peter Bowen, Porsche Classic Specialist Technician at Porsche Center Melbourne.

Photos: Porsche

Solving the Puzzle

For Bowen, who has 38 years of experience in motorsport and historic Porsche models, the project was a labor of love. He was responsible for the car’s mechanical restoration, which included bringing back its original 1,600 cc engine and four-speed gearbox to as-new condition. However, that task wasn't without its fair share of challenges. "The first big challenge was that much of the car was disassembled when we received it," he said. "There were boxes of parts, so we had to solve those puzzles first.”

Photos: Porsche

Restore It All

"So much of the car was original," Bowen added, underlining the rarity of this Australian-delivered 356 B T5, which was sold new by Hamilton’s, Porsche’s original Australian importer. "The body, engine, gearbox, and window frames are all original. Even the window regulators, radio, instruments, and steering wheel are. They were all fitted to the car when it was new and they’ve all been meticulously restored, not replaced. This was important. The owners wanted to save every component possible; the goal wasn’t to replace parts but to restore everything we could."

Photos: Porsche

Parts Hunter

Achieving this level of authenticity took time and care. It also took a vast amount of research. For example, when it became evident replacement right-hand drive headlight lenses were needed, owners Theo and Niki Dimopoulos were adamant that originals be sourced. A thorough exploration resulted in Theo Dimopoulos finding an original pair from a lady in Malta. Still brand-new from the 1960s, they were wrapped in their original Genuine Porsche parts packaging.

Photos: Porsche

Bonus

Work commenced in late 2019 and while Bowen worked on the car’s exhaustive mechanical restoration, the body and upholstery were undergoing their own revival. By mid-2021, Bowen’s work was almost complete, bringing with it one of the project’s most rewarding phases. “The biggest joy for me was how well it drove when it was finished,” he said. “We went the extra mile sourcing date-correct parts and restoring everything that was able to be restored, and that’s important on such a special classic Porsche. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to work on cars like this. Seeing it complete, and how happy the owner is, makes it all rewarding. And to see the car being recognized with awards at Motorclassica is a bonus."

Photos: Porsche

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