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1961 Porsche 356B Roadster With Racing History Offered in Phoenix
A 1961 Porsche 356B Roadster modified with a five-speed transaxle and 911-specification rear suspension, raced in the 1960s and recommissioned by Porsche authority Duane Spencer, is offered for sale in Arizona.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
A 1961 Porsche 356B Roadster that was modified for competition, campaigned in vintage racing and later refurbished for road use is being offered for sale in Phoenix, Arizona, on consignment. The car carries a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, hand-written notes from the late Porsche racer and engine builder Duane Spencer, a tool kit and a clean Oregon title.
The 356B is among the most recognisable shapes in motoring history, and this Drauz-built example left the factory in Heron Grey with a build date of 31 January 1961. It was modified with a 901 five-speed manual transaxle and 911-specification rear suspension, and it was raced throughout the mid-1960s. Replacement rear quarter panels from a donor coupe were fitted in the mid-1980s, along with replacement doors, and the car was repainted red in the early 1990s.
Its modern history is closely tied to Duane Spencer, a noted Porsche racer, engine builder and author. He acquired the car as a non-running project in the mid-1980s, recommissioned it and used it in numerous vintage races through the late 1980s. Following its final full race at Riverside in July 1988, the car was refurbished for road use and repainted red. It was previously featured on Bring a Trailer in August 2009, and the current owner acquired it in 2020.
Work under current ownership has focused on the replacement flat-four engine, which was sourced from a 1965 356C and features SC-specification cylinder heads and a custom camshaft. AA Performance 86mm pistons and cylinders with 8.8:1 compression were installed by Patrick Motorsports of Phoenix in 2020, along with replacement push rod tubes, spark plugs and engine gaskets. The ignition points and condenser were replaced in 2026, and the carburettors were cleaned and adjusted. Power reaches the rear wheels through the five-speed 901 manual transaxle.
Equipment includes a black soft top, a louvered engine lid, a removable windshield frame and chrome 15-inch Rudge wheels mounted with 165SR15 Michelin XZX tyres. The car was factory-equipped with drum brakes at each corner. Inside, the front bucket seats and rear jump seats were reupholstered in tan vinyl, and beige squareweave carpets were installed when the car returned to street use. A wood-rimmed steering wheel frames green-letter VDO instrumentation, including a 120-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a 6,000-rpm redline and a combination gauge for oil temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 42,000 miles, approximately 2,300 of which were added under current ownership; total mileage is unknown. The shift shaft seal and boot were replaced in April 2026.
The T5 body was introduced for the 1960 model year with revised front-end styling, including raised bumpers and headlights and a redesigned front trunk lid handle. The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity displays the car's factory colours, equipment and serial numbers, while Spencer's hand-written notes add a personal record of a machine that has moved between race track and road without ever losing its identity as a competition-bred 356.
