Join the Family

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.

Already a member?

How was the drive?

We're glad you're back.

Not a member yet?

Forgot your password?

Reset Your Password

We'll get you back on track.

Featured: Pre-A Porsche 356 Runs Great In The Wintry Rockies

Pre-A Porsche 356 Runs Great In The Wintry Rockies

By Petrolicious Productions
December 31, 2013
13 comments

Jeff Zwart certainly has some enviable Porsches (as evidenced in our video featuring his two 911s), and here is yet another. He’s owned this 1953 Pre-A Porsche 356 with Michelin World Rally studded snow tires for about a dozen years, and took some time to photograph it in Woody Creek, Colorado. Most people prefer practicality to style as they navigate cars through the snow and winter, but this man prefers style through and through.

“It’s my daily driver during winter in the Rockies. We just jet the carburetors for high altitude and the car works great. The heater starts working after about 30 minutes of driving, so you basically dress like you are if you are headed out on a long trip to go snowmobiling,” Jeff tells us about his winter 356.

Would you rock this as a daily driver in the snow?

Photography by Jeff Zwart

Tags Colorado/ Daily Driver/ Jeff Zwart/ Pre-A Porsche 356/ Rocky Mountains/ Woody Creek
Join the Conversation
View Comments

13
Related
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Thomas G Löckner
Thomas G Löckner
5 years ago

no problem as long as there is no salt on the roads!
Salt ruins every car.

1
jackc
jackc
5 years ago

What was true 4 years ago when this was published is still true today in and around Aspen, CO. The highways are treated with magnesium chloride, first cousin to salt and no friend of 50+ year old german classic cars. Jeff has nice property outside Aspen and many roads which are not “treated” by the Colorado Dept of Transportation. I’m sure he uses a vehicle less vulnerable to corrosion to get in to town and back.

0
robert Gawlas
robert Gawlas
6 years ago

Did it not snow in the 50’s in Germany. Glad to see it being used.

0
Brett Evans
Brett Evans
9 years ago

Great to see this beaut out and running in the snow. There’s nothing like some nice, relaxed snowy driving!

0
Kenneth Beckman
Kenneth Beckman
9 years ago

I’d have an Eberspacher in there pretty quick. I don’t know why more Porsche and VW enthusiasts in cooler climes don’t have them. Once you study the manual they are easy to maintain and repair. The heat output has to be experienced to be believed.

0
Johnny Breinholt
Johnny Breinholt
9 years ago

So nice to see a classic car being used all year around. Compliments on the beautifull pictures !!

0
Jim Bair
Jim Bair
9 years ago

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I used to dread winter. Since moving to Colorado several years ago, I have learned to actually look forward to it. I’d look forward to winter even more if I could rock a great classic like this 356 as my daily driver. Love the car, and love the pics!

0
Antony Ingram
Antony Ingram
9 years ago

Infinitely cooler for being used in the snow than kept for fine weather. Kudos – and a beautiful car.

-1
Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
9 years ago

Neat story. Not sure I would like the 30 minute wait for the heater to kick in though.

0
Christian Peta
Christian Peta
9 years ago

Awesome license plate!

0
Todd Cox
Todd Cox
9 years ago

There’s nothing quite like the experience of driving a rear engine car in the snow. You quickly become familiar with how much sand or kitty litter will get you to a 50/50 weight distro as the steering becomes a vague memory without. It was not unlike driving my ’71 Karmann Ghia or any number of my Bugs year-round.

Salt = Death to these old German cars.

0
motoring con brio
motoring con brio
9 years ago

Snow is not the problem, salt is. Maybe they don’t use salt where Jeff runs this car, which would be great. If they do, more power to Jeff and to others like him who are financially comfortable enough to expose a car with pre-galvanized steel to corrosive deicing elements.

1
ASB
ASB
9 years ago
Reply to  motoring con brio

Ugh. I hate Salt. My “good” car is an o5 xk8 but I would never run it in the winter. Here in PA, Penndot makes it their goal in life to destroy sports cars with their salt and grit campaign. Jerks.

1