• Year of manufacture 
    1953
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Lot number 
    164
  • Reference number 
    PA23_r0048
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Location
    France
  • Exterior colour 
    Other

Description

  • A highly desirable “bent-window” Pre-A Coupé
  • Same family ownership for more than four decades
  • First specified in Fish-Silver Grey with a 1,488 cc four-cylinder engine
  • Includes a copy of the original Kardex, two engine spares packages, and two workshop manuals

Dr Ferdinand Porsche’s legendary 356 was first brought to life in a small workshop in Gmünd, Austria in 1948. Increased demand led to production shifting in 1950 to Stuttgart, where the now steel-bodied cars were assembled by Karosserie Reutter. Initially built with a split windscreen, in 1952 the styling was refined with a more modern one-piece “bent-window”.

Among these highly desirable “Pre-A” examples is chassis 51368, which left the factory on 3 November 1953. Finished in Fish-Silver Grey and first fitted with a 1,488 cc engine, this home-market example was supplied new via Munich dealer Mahag.

At some point the car was exported to the United States, where it was purchased by the consigning owner in 1981. Then fitted with a 1.3-litre Type 506 engine, the car was subject to renovation work, with invoices and photographs on file detailing an ongoing restoration from 1984 until 1988, including a repaint and refinishing of the brightwork. The project was never completed, and the consignor emigrated to Athens, Greece the following year. The car joined its owner in 1992, though no further work was carried out and it remained off the road.

This hugely enticing restoration project offers a rare opportunity to acquire a desirable Pre-A Coupé fresh from long-term family ownership. The car is accompanied by a Type 616/1 1.6-litre engine and a correct-for-year Type 506 1.3-litre engine, in addition to two workshop manuals.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa23.


RM Sotheby's
5 Heron Square
Richmond
TW9 1EL
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Title 
Mr
First name 
Augustin
Last name 
Sabatie-Garat

Phone 
+44-2078517070