1959 Porsche 356

356A cabriolets are the rarest of the 356 T2 series. Being 40% more expensive than coupes or Speedsters/ Conv't Ds. not many were sold. They are much more comfortable and drivable than Speedster/ Conv't Ds due to the taller top. coupe seats and a radio. Plus with taller gearing (and 59s had the much nicer 716 transmission) they cruise at 75-80 mph. And the top doesn't leak when it rains!

This car is a 1959 356A cabriolet. It is NOT a super. It is only badged that way. This car was completed on 9/01/1959. It is the 24th from last 356A to be built and believed to be the last A model cabriolet before the B model was introduced. The engine & transmission numbers match. The paint color is correct. The COA didn't list the interior color. This car also originally had US type bumpers. If you are a purist looking for a car that is exactly as it left the factory then this is not the car you're looking for. I built this car to my taste and as a continuation of how the original owner had it.  

This car was acquired from the original owners widow in 1999 when I was part of Alegra Motorsports. It had been restored sometime in the 70s and was a terrific old "driver" that we used to use to zip around town etc. The original owner had modified the engine to "super" specs (and installed a super badge) on Weber carbs. larger sway bar & Z bar. plus he increased the offset of the 4. 5" wheels by moving the barrels out. He was a 356 registry/ early PCA member who used the car for auto-X events. It was agreed between all parties that we would keep the car as he had it and I have done my best to keep that promise.

I ultimately wound up with the car in 2003 and continued to use it as a driver at least a few times a week. Finally in 2012 I decided it needed a new wiring harness and some suspension work so I fully disassembled it with the intention of doing a "light" restoration. I then realized that it needed more than just floors and a battery box. so I had the car media blasted to bare metal. It additionally required the pan under the fuel tank. a patch under the rear seat and where the dash meets the windshield as well as the bottoms of both doors. This work was carried out by a very talented metalsmith local to me. From there I took the car to a painter that has done other high end work for me (he is best known for doing XK series Jags) and he painted the whole car in black epoxy primer before commencing bodywork. We retained the original Ivory color in a Dupont base/ clear. The engine was rebuilt using AA 86mm piston/ cylinders. a light flywheel and an SC cam. Compression is 10. 2:1.  The stainless carrera type exhaust system is from Ahnnendorp and it sounds fantastic.  I fabricated adapters to put the original type Solex filters on Weber carbs and all of the engine tin is powder coated. I retained the "super" badge and engine tin colors because I like it that way. The transmission has been completely rebuilt with stock gearing. All the suspension has been completely rebuilt and all components are powder coated. All brake components are new and brake lines are completely done in -3 AN with shrink tubing over them. A new YNZ wiring harness was used along with new battery and braided ground straps. New fuel line was run and I installed an electric fuel pump that pushes through a gutted mechanical pump (so it looks right). I used glass and internal door parts from an earlier car to have full glass door windows. All of the original vent windows and glass are included and will bolt back in.  The radio was restored and it has an Ipod connection. The battery is an 8v unit from a golf cart. It's a great modification that makes everything work better/ shine brighter. The battery fits perfectly in the stock location and the regulator has been adjusted to produce 9. 2 volts.  The horns were also restored by a specialist. The gauges were restored at N. Hollywood Speedometer. I installed correct early Bosch fog lights and the corresponding lighted switch (not on the COA). The fuel tank was relined. All the chrome was redone. All aluminum was polished. Tires are Firestone pie crust bias (they drive and look great).  All hardware is either new stainless (ALL screws are correct slothead) or sent out for nickel plating.  Any and everything that was available new. I bought. Seals. trim. lenses. emblems. badges. nbsp;brake parts. nbsp;top. top boot. sending units. whatever.  It was literally a brand new car 11. 00 miles ago.

Lastly. the interior. The original interior color is not listed on the COA. I chose this color combo because. again. I like it (coupes and cabs didn't come with plaid as an optional seat insert). The guy that does my interior work is amazing. He added several small tasteful touches to some of the pieces to get everything to flow together better than they do stock. The door panels are Convertible D type. The front luggage was made from pictures of the original. The trunk has been carpeted and the spare tire cover help keep everything clean. The interior style is consistently everyone's favorite part of the car.

When it was all said and done I spent over $110. 00 on the restoration in addition to doing all of the disassembly/ reassembly and 16 months of non stop work and worry. Things got carried away.  

Following the completion of the restoration I took the car to the 2014 Lake Mirror Concours where it won it's class! I didn't originally intend to make a show car out of it. but that's how things go. The following summer I took a trip across the country from Tampa to Portland (we took the scenic route) to participate in Monte Shelton's Northwest Classic Rally. From there we made our way out to the northern coast of Oregon before slowly winding our way down the coast all the way to San Jose. Then back up to Monterey for the Beginning of the Monterey pre-historics. From there the car was shipped home. In all we were on the road for 8200 trouble free miles. This trip was documented in the 9/15 issue of the 356 Registry magazine. This past fall we took another trip from Tampa up to Asheville for an 8 day 1600 mile run. The Asheville trip was featured in an article in the Florida Owners Group 356 magazine and the car was on the cover. Currently it has 11. 00 miles on it and hasn't had a single issue since it hit the road in 2014. There are a few stone chips in the paint from these treks and I hope the next owner adds several more.

After the west coast trip I had to have the seats reupholstered. The cotton plaid wasn't properly UV protected and it began to fade. Fortunately I was able to get the same pattern woven in wool in England.  

Included with the car is a Leitz rack painted to match. a very nice reproduction tool kit. the original door glass and vent window assemblies and the original hardtop. Also I will include service items such as an extra generator. fuel pump. coil. bulbs etc. that I take with me on road trips.

Also published at eBay.com

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