Legacy Metrics

1961 Porsche 356 B Super 90 D'Ieteren Roadster

89665roadGermany
Engine
Flat-four, enlarged to 1,776 cc, over 100 bhp
Colour
Black (factory code 701)

Chassis 89665 is a 1961 Porsche 356 B Super 90 D'Ieteren Roadster, one of only 58 Super 90 T6 roadsters built, distinguishable by its twin engine-cover cooling grilles characteristic of Belgian coachbuilder D'Ieteren Frères. Delivered new in December 1961 in special-order black over red leatherette with an extensive options list, it has accumulated a thoroughly documented ownership history in California, underwent a full restoration to its original colour scheme in the mid-1990s, and claimed Best of Show at the 356 Registry meet in 2014.

Ownership

  1. Auction sale
  2. 1961-12-01 →Factory delivery
    Werrner Ehrenpreis
    full documentation

    California-based original buyer who took delivery via the Islinger Porsche agency in Mannheim; car was heavily optioned at his request including chromed wheels, radio, fog lamps, and luggage rack.

  3. → 1993-03-01Acquisition unknown
    Sam Cabiglio
    partial documentation

    Southern California enthusiast who offered the car for sale in March 1993 with approximately 108,000 miles on the odometer; engine had recently undergone partial rebuilding at that point.

  4. 1994 → 1994Private sale
    David Heller
    partial documentation

    Purchased in 1994 and resold relatively quickly thereafter.

  5. 1994 →Private sale
    Patrick Patterson
    partial documentation

    Commissioned a comprehensive restoration to the original factory color scheme, carried out by Bob Campbell; entered the car in concours events in 1996 and 1997.

  6. 2001 → 2007Acquisition unknown
    Michael Hackney
    partial documentation

    Owned the car for approximately six years before it passed to the current owner.

  7. 2007 →Acquisition unknown
    Alex Dearborn
    full documentation

    Current owner and longtime Twin-Grille registry keeper; undertook engine rebuild in 2010, transaxle overhaul in 2011, new windshield and hood, brake and major service in 2017, plus various comfort and safety upgrades.

  8. Date unknown
    Gary Dixon
    partial documentation

    California resident under whose ownership the car was repainted red with a black interior, departing from the original color scheme.

Competition

  1. 1963SCCA National Championship
    1963 SCCA National Championship
    Driver: Alex Dearborn

    Dearborn competed in this event using a different car, a 1962 Super 90 GT — not the vehicle being catalogued.

  2. 1996
    Porsche 356 Club Concours, Monterey
    1st place

    Car claimed a first-place award while under Patterson's ownership, following its full restoration.

  3. 1997
    Porsche 356 Club Concours, Monterey
    1st place

    Repeated its first-place concours result the following year, still under the same ownership.

  4. 2014
    356 Registry Meet Concours, Florida
    Best of Show

    Defeated a 904, several Speedsters, and roughly 40 other entries to take the top honor at this meet.

  5. 2015
    Boca Raton Concours
    Runner-up

    Finished second overall and was notably the sole entry in its class driven rather than trailered to the event.

  6. Mountain Mille
    Driver: Alex Dearborn

    Owner drove the car through the Smoky Mountains on this touring event; exact year not specified beyond being recent relative to catalogue writing.

Maintenance & restoration

  1. 1993
    Engine rebuild

    Partial engine overhaul carried out shortly before the March 1993 sale listing, at approximately 108,000 miles.

    Work was done for then-owner Alex Bivens of Huntington Beach.

  2. 1994Restoration
    Bob Campbell

    Full restoration returning the car to its factory-original black exterior and correct interior colour scheme, reversing the earlier repaint to red.

    Commissioned by Patrick Patterson after he acquired the car from David Heller.

  3. 2010Engine rebuild
    George Nelson

    Engine fully rebuilt at 115,480 miles with displacement enlarged to 1,776 cc; engine bay was also carefully detailed at the same time.

    Work carried out for owner Alex Dearborn.

  4. 2010Mechanical
    Vic Skirmants

    Transaxle overhauled with installation of a taller fourth gear ratio to allow more relaxed cruising at highway speeds.

    Performed in the same year as the engine rebuild.

  5. 2011
    Bodywork

    Replacement windshield and new folding canvas top fitted.

  6. 2017
    Mechanical

    Complete brake system overhaul carried out alongside a major general service.

  7. Modification

    Owner added several comfort and safety upgrades: additional sound insulation, a discreetly fitted third brake lamp, LED rear bulbs, halogen headlights, and a set of 5.5×15-inch chromed steel wheels.

    Exact date not stated; described as recent work carried out during current ownership.

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Each chassis record is compiled from public auction archives and links to its source material. Ownership, competition and maintenance entries are extracted from those catalogue listings by an LLM, which can make mistakes — please contact us with any corrections. The summary is Legacy Metrics’ own writing; we do not reproduce catalogue text.

“Full” and “partial” documentation labels indicate how well each entry is corroborated in the underlying sources, not an audit of the car’s physical paperwork. Names of recent or living owners are withheld for privacy.