HomeSchrager Book Errata

Buying, Owning, and Enjoying the Porsche 356

The Porsche 356 Registry is pleased to offer Buying, Driving, and Enjoying the Porsche 356, written by longtime member and contributor Jim Schrager.

This compact and readable guide is designed especially for those new to the 356 world—whether you’re considering a purchase, recently inherited a car, or simply want to understand more about ownership. Drawing on decades of experience, the book provides thoughtful, experience-based advice across all phases of ownership. It covers everything from choosing the right car and understanding 356 values, to driving impressions, technical tips, and garage stories.

Chapters Include:

Welcome to an Exclusive Club – A look at the 356’s origins and early enthusiasts
Driving a 356 – Why it feels unlike any other car
Determining Value – What drives prices, from condition to provenance
Which 356 to Buy – Body styles, engines, and ownership goals
What to Look For – Inspection tips, especially around rust and originality
Finding a 356 – Where and how to search, including long-distance purchases
Test Driving – How to evaluate performance and behavior on the road
Keeping it on the Road – Maintenance basics, roadside tools, and preventive care
Selling a 356 – Getting organized and realistic when it’s time to part ways
Technical Tips & Garage Stories – Lessons from the author’s own cars
Glossary, Paint Colors, Registry Articles, Chassis Data & Spotter’s Guide – Useful reference materials for any owner

How to Get the Book - 20% off the 2001 price!

Free: Join the 356 Registry with a new three-year membership, and a copy will be sent to you at no charge. Join here

Members: The book is available for $20 (plus tax and shipping) from the 356 Goodie Store

This book was originally published in 2001, reflecting the best information available to the author at that time. In the decades since, thanks to the ongoing research of Brett Johnson and many other dedicated Porsche 356 enthusiasts, new findings and improved accuracy have emerged in several areas.

To help readers access updated information, see the links below for specific sources.

None on Movies: In Chapter 3, a list of films featuring the Porsche 356 is discussed. For reasons including cost, availability, and practicality, some studios used replica or “tribute” cars instead of original Porsche 356s. Nonetheless, this does not diminish the car’s cultural significance as a true automotive icon.

UPDATED RESOURCES

Market Values

356 prices have risen considerably since 2001 when the book was published. Determining exact values is difficult because they are constantly changing. The resources below can help. Actual auction results are available from Bring A Trailer. Hagerty valuation tools are often used to set insurance agreed values, and may be a little high. Members only resources on the Porsche 356 Registry website include classified ads and Marketwatch articles.

Links to Resources:

Bring a Trailer - Porsche 356 Auctions
Hagerty Porsche Valuation Tools
Porsche 356 Registry Classified Ads (Members only)
Marketwatch: The 2024 Monterey Auctions (V48517)
Marketwatch: Amelia Island 2023 (V47113)

Technical Information

In the last 20 years or so, much new technical information has been surfaced and made available to Porsche 356 Registry members. The resources below are in the members only section, but you can view the directory pages to see all the resources availble.

Follow this link to an index of technical articles:
Technical Index

Additional information on chassis and engine numbers from Brett Johnson are available at this members only link:
Chassis and Engine Numbers Tables

Paint codes: Additional information has been surfaced since publication. See this members only page for scans of factory documents:
Color Charts