The 356 was the star, but a 911 or 912 here and there added variety.

Each room in the immaculate garages contained its own surprise. Since 1976, John and his team have set the standard for 356 restorations. The volume of interesting Porsches parked along the streets nearby indicated we were in the right place. John Willhoit’s shop in Long Beach was the next stop on our personal open house caravan. Guests looked over an assortment of 356 parts and manuals available for sale between bites of lunch provided by Bill and his team. It’s easy to forget how relatively primitive very early Porsches were, but the shape is clean, classic and unmistakable. The highlight was a red 1951 Pre-A 1300 Coupe. There was a quintet of Porsche 356 cars on display in his garage. The foyer of his shop is a timeline of vintage racing events, with displays of trophies, ribbons, plaques and photos.īill generously shared stories of racing interesting cars such as the 550 he steered around Laguna Seca for the 1998 Monterey Historics in honor of Porsche’s 50th anniversary. Bill Perrone originally started selling parts to finance his racing. Tour complete, our next stop was The Parts Shop in Huntington Beach.

That one customer searching for a tool kit or interior door trim piece could call tomorrow. It is a true case of transforming trash into treasure. An unfortunate 992 was on the lift during our visit, having covered only 400 miles before its front left corner met an immovable object. Porsche 993 and 996 parts sit next to Boxster and Cayman pieces on the shelves. If it was part of any Porsche 911 since the early 1980s, LA Dismantler probably has it. The warehouse is stuffed with bins of brake calipers, stacks of wheels, shelves of bodywork and cabinets of dials. Engines are in high demand-especially those in running condition. Inventory typically comes through auctions of cars with shortened lives due to crashes, floods or fires. Porsches that have met with misfortune end up here and are reduced to parts.

Located about 20 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles, the sight of deconstructed Porsches was initially jarring. On Friday, our day began on a brisk morning at LA Dismantler in Sun Valley. The sheer number of events makes it easier for those traveling to justify the time and expense required. While the Lit Show is the Saturday morning anchor, shops began opening their doors for tours on the days before and after. Southern California has always been a stronghold for Porsche owners and the businesses that support them. With such a draw, other events have also sprouted up over the years. Vintage, rather than modern, is the predominant theme. Hundreds of vendors bring rare service manuals, dealer sales materials, reproductions of hard-to-find parts, clothing, badges, new and used books, racing posters, steering wheels, carpeting, artwork, die-cast models, magazines, and more. Staged in the ballrooms of the Los Angeles Airport Hilton, the “Lit Show” has been the place to find Porsche treasures for decades. Thankfully, the tradition resumed in 2022 after a 2021 hiatus. Crowds converge in Los Angeles for the LA Literature, Toy, and Memorabilia Show-and for the accompanying Porsche shop tours. Every year on a late winter weekend, the Porsche world turns its focus to Southern California.

L a dismantler porsche