We don’t discriminate at Barn Finds, considering every classic that appears on the site as special in some way. However, a car occasionally appears on our desks that pushes that definition to the limit. Such is the case with this 1955 Porsche 356A. It is a sad and sorry sight that will represent a major undertaking if the buyer follows what I believe to be the sensible path of performing a faithful nut and bolt restoration. What makes it worth the effort? The seller claims that this car was built using Prototype body shell 001, making this effectively the first 356A to leave the factory. It appears they hold verifying documentation and are willing to provide a detailed history to interested parties. They have listed the Porsche here on eBay in Bon Aqua, Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, a classic of this caliber commands a premium, and the new owner faces the prospect of handing over $219,000 (and that’s not a typo) to take this 356A home.
Porsche released the 356A in late 1955, with the new model featuring a range of small changes from its predecessor. The “A” remained in production until it was replaced by the 356B in 1959. That was all in the future for our feature car, which the seller states was built utilizing prototype body 001. This is seemingly supported by the VIN Tag and other identifying markings across the vehicle. The seller is sparing with their information, indicating that its original owner was a personal friend of Ferry Porsche, who supplied small plastic components to various vehicle manufacturers. It appears that the seller has documentary evidence supporting their story, which is essential when you consider the asking price. The paint shade adds to the Porsche’s desirability, as only two cars wear this particular shade of Green. The other was a Speedster prototype that Ferry handed to his wife. Once we delve past this car’s history, it is time to assess its needs. The paint is faded and damaged, and the panels sport a selection of dings and dents. This will undoubtedly motivate the buyer to perform a nut-and-bolt restoration, which is justified with any classic of this caliber. The seller doesn’t mention rust problems, but if there are any, hanging the body on a rotisserie would be the best course to eliminate them. Some trim pieces require replacement, although a professional could probably polish the glass to eliminate minor scratches and improve the clarity.
The mystery of this Porsche deepens as we delve below the surface. The listing suggests that the original engine and the rest of the car went their separate ways at some point, although they have since been reunited. That means that the build will return this 356A to a numbers-matching status. The motor is the 1600cc “Super” that developed 75hp in its prime. This rear-mounted and air-cooled powerplant sent its power to the road via a four-speed manual transaxle, and although the power figure is modest by most standards, a curb weight of around 1,880 lbs meant that the little four wasn’t tasked with shifting a huge amount. I am not a fan of Porsches, but I have long admired the fact that the company seemed able to extract fairly impressive performance from cars with surprisingly little engine power. It demonstrated that it isn’t always about the available power but how the car utilizes it. The state of the mechanical components is unclear, but the new owner should probably factor a complete mechanical overhaul into their restoration budget.
Considering the exterior presentation, the state of this Porsche’s interior is unsurprising. The door trims retain their original Brown upholstery, but the car wears later seatcovers. Once again, every aspect of the interior requires lashings of TLC to return to its best. The parts required are readily available, but an online search suggests that this aspect of the build is unlikely to leave much change from $5,000.
I am sure that I am not alone in craving more information surrounding this 1955 Porsche 356A and the history that has brought it to this point. If it is all the seller claims, it is a vehicle that will be highly sought by purists craving a vital slice of the marque’s history. The price isn’t chickenfeed, especially considering how much work is required to return the car to its former glory. The listing statistics suggest the seller isn’t being inundated with inquiries, but it only takes one for this Porsche to find a new home. Some classics mark a defining moment in a company’s history, and that would seem to be the case with this 356A. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it return to Germany if Porsche gets wind of the sale because it is the type of vehicle that it would love to have sitting in its extensive museum. Part of me wants that to happen because that is seemingly appropriate for this car. However, I would love to see a private owner grab it and return it to its former glory before taking to the roads occasionally to enjoy the 356A as its creators intended. What are your views on the subject? It will be fascinating to find out.
Porsche.people.are.crazy
If the sellers claims are accurate why didn’t they follow the typical playbook for newly discovered historically important cars? When long sought after holy grail cars are found, before they go to market/auction “news” of their find are typically filtered through forums and enthusiast media. This happened with the Bullet Mustang, some exotic at the bottom of a Swiss lake, the courtyard full of 1950’s exotics in France, the 1970 L78 found in a self storage lot in the high desert of California, the1970 LS6 in a partially collapsed barn and others such as the Lambrecht Chevy dealer. Like said, the ad is light on details, releasing information in advance unleashed enthusiasts which will do the research for you, which if proven to be what is claimed will only serve to drive the price higher.
I have no idea if this is real and don’t really care, but why not follow that well market path to a potentially bigger payday.
Steve R
Yeah, I agree, then I remember the much hyped all black challenger in Detroit claiming to be a street racer that was shown to be a made up story, I don’t remember what the buyer paid for it.
You are right, I forgot about that car. It sold for $975k plus tax and fees.
Steve R
Right, the “Black Ghost” Challenger. Chrysler (Stellantis) even made and sold some new-Challenger tributes to it!
AI ses this….
The 1955 Porsche 356A’s value varies significantly based on model type, condition, and market factors:
Price Ranges by Condition
Perfect Condition: $330,000–$1,230,312
Excellent Condition: $221,200–$330,000
Good Condition: $129,250–$221,200
Fair Condition: $18,150–$129,250
Key Data Points
Median Sale Value: $221,200 (across all bodystyles)
Highest Sale: $1,230,312 (auction record)
Lowest Sale: $18,150
So. Is this worth it? I have no idea.
Thank you Elky for putting into perspective, and we all just saw the ad for the $90000 Bronco……..what’s next?
I consider myself very lucky to have had 22 years of Porsche cars and in that period owned 14 356s. They were all fun and we daily drove all of them except the race cars. When we went into business rebuilding, repairing, and restoring mostly Porsches in the ’80s our customers were mostly folks who liked and had fun with their cars. In the mid ’80s Porsche, out of the blue, greatly increased the price of their cars and the parts to keep them going. Example is the $89 911 fuel pump went to $360. Dealers hiked their hourly repair rate and the fun of owning a Porsche went down the toilet. In the late ’80s l bought a very rusty ’57 Speedster and two engines from a friend for $1,500 and started what was going to be a very long and expensive job. The sheet metal from under the dash all the way back to the upper edge of the passenger compartment was gone to give you an idea of the condition of the car. Had the doors and hood rebuilt when a friend also in the Porsche game offered me $15,000 for it. I was already in a long rebuild of a ’60 Roadster race car so I let it go. He sold it a few months later to a shop in Germany for $30,000, That started it all up to where it is now. Got out of the shop, sold all the Porsches, and never looked back except to remember all the pure fun we had with the cars we had owned.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Porsche and its corner of the market.
Steve R
HO CHI MAMA! The historical, if verified provenance value will skyrocket. This belongs not just in the hands of mere mortals, but in the Porsche Museum, in Stuttgart! Someone, tell them.
Anyone willing to pay $219K for this should think about what else that kind of money can get. It was cost a boatload of cash to restore it.
And the car somehow ended up in TN?! Odd
I’m with you Adam, I think if this thing was legit that Porsche would be all over it. The whole thing just seems a little “too good to be true”. How could what may be the rarest 356 on the planet just suddenly appear and how in the world did the owner just happen to find the original engine? I’m not saying that the described scenario absolutely couldn’t happen, let’s just say that I’m somewhat skeptical. Crazy things do happen, (the Bullit Mustang comes to mind) but somehow, I’m just not feelin’ it with this particular car,
According to “The Restorer’s Guide” by B. Johnson, the “bible” for authentic Porsche 356 cars, the first 1955 356A VIN was 52845, not this one. 55001 was the first one produced in October of 1955, well into 356A production for that year. So this one really has no special significance.
According to my Stoddard Parts and Reference book, 55001 would have been the first 1956 356A.
That’s ground breaking News here! Thank you for saving me $219000:)
“ Rare factory delivery”. Hardy har har what a bad joke.
I’ll read the kardex myself when I get to work Monday. Very curious what it actually states.
– Matt
Nice prototype Porsche car!
Remember, from the 240 instruments built by Stradivarius, 348 are in the USA.
Ad says the other car painted the same was a cabriolet not a speedster.
No idea if any of that is true but just noting it.
I’m curious what they believe the car would be worth without it having that particular body number.
Scam. Of course, that what what you get if you turn our once nice little hobby into a plaything for the one percent.
Following up, I checked the kardex and it is definitely a super rare example, and with the matching engine. It is officially listed as a Werks car, which means it was created and/or sold internally. Very cool rare green with a very unusual and beautiful interior, all listed in the record. The first owner is also listed, so it would be possible to find out what his significance to the Porsche family was. The kardex doesn’t cover other parts of the history, but what I see in the specs alone tells me it’s a very rare and desirable 356! – Matt
Apparently, the real deal!
Haven’t we seen similar vehicles in worse shape in Astoria, NY and Beverly Hills, CA? Asking for a friend.
You couldn’t get that price in Newport Beach, California.
I lived there.