1959 Porsche 356A Convertible D Speedster 1600 Super

For sale by auction on Saturday 29 November 2014 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
In late 1955. with numerous small but significant changes. the
Porsche 356A was introduced. Its internal factory designation. br/>'Type 1'. gave rise to its nickname T1 among enthusiasts. In early
1957 a second revision of the 356A was produced. known as Type 2
(or T2). Production of the Speedster peaked at 1. 71 cars in 1957.
The four-cam 'Carrera' engine first became an available option with
the 356A. The Porsche 356A Convertible D model is arguably the
rarest 'production' Porsche 356 ever made and only manufactured for
one year (Carreras being special order cars that were not made in
groups on the assembly line and the T6 'twin grille' Roadster was
produced for only a few months). Only 1. 31 Convertible Ds were
built between August 1958 and September 1959. By 1958. the
Speedster model was four years old and sales were declining.
Porsche realised that significant improvements were necessary to
attract buyers but that there was certainly a market for a 'weekend
racer' with a removable windshield. The Porsche 356A Convertible D
was the solution (though a modern marketing department would have
picked a racier name!). Because overall. Porsche sales were growing
at a steady pace and the Reutter coachworks was straining to keep
up with the demand. Porsche contracted with the Drauz company in
Heilbronn to manufacture bodies for the Convertible D (the 'D'
stood for Karosseriewerke Drauz KG).

Delivered in April 1959. this is one of the last 356A
Convertible D to ever be made and. according to the register. only
a further seventeen cars were built after this one. It was
purchased by the vendor in Oklahoma. USA where it had spent its
whole life. Recently completely restored to the highest of
standards where everything is either new or has been rebuilt. On
arrival in the UK. the car went to PR Services in Essex and was
fully checked through. They also converted the electrical system to
twelve volts. This 356 has only covered 200 miles since the
restoration. Finished in ruby red with a new tan leather interior
and matching roof. it is UK registered and is supplied with a V5C
registration document and some paperwork from its time in the US.
The owner states that it is very difficult to find any faults with
this car and it is ready to drive and enjoy. To anybody who knows
anything about Porsche 356's. the convertible 'D' is the best
concept of the whole range. Speedster looks but with a convertible
roof and wind up windows. so you can actually use the car if it
rains.



Also published at eBay.co.uk

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