Porsche 356A Coupe, 1958
Porsche 356 II (A)
Porsche 356 II (A)•
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Chassis No.: P68139
Auction: Monterey 2015
Auction date: August 15, 2015
Lot No.: S130
$110,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Silver
- Interior: Red
- Body: Coupe
- Rare and collectible with only 30,015 original miles on the odometer
- Recently benefited from a restoration by Porsche specialists, Classic Showcase of Oceanside, CA
- Numbers matching motor and transmission, and is registered with the 356 registry
- Reutter Coachwork, and desirable color combination
- Interior is trimmed in German materials, and fit by master upholsters
- Bright work was replated as needed
- Sheet metal and the engine compartment were restored, as well as the undercarriage
- DVD of restoration
Performance is in the DNA at Porsche. In the September 1972 issue of Panorama, the Porsche Club of America magazine, Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (the son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the company) commented, "…I had always driven very speedy cars. I had an Alfa Romeo, also a BMW and others…by the end of the war, I had a Volkswagen Cabriolet with a supercharged engine and that was the basic idea. I saw that if you had enough power in a small car, it is nicer to drive than if you have a big car which is also overpowered. And it is more fun. On this basic idea we started the first Porsche prototype.
To make the car lighter, to have an engine with more horsepower…that was the first two-seater that we built in Carinthia." By 1955, Porsche was well established and growing still. Refinements made the cars versatile for the streets and race tracks, and respect was gained for the robustness. Built in four distinct variants, the Pre-A, 356A, 356B, and 356C, they were available as Coupes, Cabriolets, or Speedsters. In late 1956 the 356A entered production bringing with it a more modern 'curved' front windshield as opposed to the "V" or "Split" windshields used prior, as well as a number of other refinements.
This 356A Coupe has undergone a restoration by Classic Showcase of Oceanside, California. The body and individual parts were stripped, then primered, sealed, painted base/clear coat, color sanded and buffed. Components received the same treatment off the car, and then fit with close attention to gaps and alignment. The engine compartment and undercarriage were completely restored as well. Sound deadening was installed prior to interior fitment with all the proper German and Porsche materials. Showing only 30,015 original miles on the odometer, this is a numbers-matching car, featuring its original engine and transmission and listed with the 356 Registry.
