If only cars could talk. This Porsche’s back story is not revealed in the listing here on eBay, but its condition suggests submersion in salty water at some point. And yet: most of its parts appear to be in good shape, too good to have participated in whatever event precipitated this sad state of affairs. Were these bits collected from other unfortunates, in anticipation of a restoration? Or perhaps the car was dismantled before disaster struck. Whatever the car’s history may be, the seller is looking for an opening bid of $19,500. Once the buyer pays up, he’ll retrieve the car from Mobile, Alabama.
The year was 1948, and Porsche’s design studio in Germany had been wrecked by the war. But Ferry Porsche was ready to build a car bearing his own name, so space in a former sawmill in Gmünd, Austria, was commissioned for the task. The first 356 emerged in June that year. This granddaddy of the lineage was powered by an air-cooled 1.1-liter Volkswagen engine placed between its axles and tuned for 35 hp. Its body panels were aluminum. Experience with car number one encouraged a shift to the rear-mount configuration that we all associate with the marque today. About 53 examples were built before Porsche returned to Zuffenhausen, Germany, where Reutter took over body production, now in steel. The revised 356 arrived for model year 1956, with a curved windshield and the letter “A” appended to distinguish it from its older siblings. By now, engine options included various flavors of 1.3- and 1.6-liter flat fours; the “Super”, for instance, dished up a few extra horsepower. This engine is a 1.6-liter – and we have no idea if it’s numbers-matching or not, a crucial ingredient in the value equation.
The 356A gained considerable favor from sporting types who were happy to drive small cars fast on track or road. About 21,000 356As were produced in two body types – the T1 was built through 1957, and the slightly updated T2 through 1959. I’m nitpicking in the extreme – given the overall condition of this husk – but that’s not the correct steering wheel!
The seller provides several photos displaying numbers stamped on panels and in other locations; the VIN plate, however, is barely legible. If a 356A is on your bucket list, it’s worth considering what else might be available. This ’59 out of long-term ownership running a 1600 out of a ’58 sold for $84,000 – a fraction of what will be spent to resurrect our profiled car. As another alternative, here’s a project that sold for $61,000. If I had a 356A to restore, I might make a discounted offer to acquire these parts, but I don’t think I’d be brave enough to tackle its restoration. What do you think?
The 356 series cars are made out of very thick steel which enables restorers to take on cars like this one. I know that because I’m one of them and have saved 3 cars worse than this one. If not already done this one needs a full dip stripping to get started. And I agree the asking price is too high. $85 and almost 150 hours of welding. Second one $4,000 and 4 years to complete. That one came with complete running gear but was on it’s way to the crusher.
Yep, they are dreaming, or fishing for a sucker who has more money than brains. It would be good to soda blast it to really see how the rust affected the metal. This is definitely something that can be restored, but the asking price is seriously too high for what they have. Who knows by looking at the pictures what parts on the pallet and still attached are useful, restorable.
Interesting… I never knew your supposed to let them sit in a pond for 10 years before you restore one….