1955 Porsche 356 Pre A 1500 Continental Cabriolet by Reutter

1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Cabriolet by Reutter
Sold for $330,000 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2014
Chassis no. 60719
Engine no. 34059
55 bhp, 1,488 cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with two Solex 32PBI carburetors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with transverse torsion bars, trailing arms, and telescopic shock absorbers, independent rear suspension with torsion bars, trailing arms, swing axles, and telescopic shock absorbers, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 82.7 in.
•One of only 228 Continental Cabriolets built in 1955
•Unique, special-order car with rare accessories, including a Petri steering wheel
•Three owners from new; matching numbers
•Freshly restored by a marque specialist
•Porsche Certificate of Authenticity included
Porsche’s first series-produced 356 Cabriolets appeared in 1950, with Karrosseriewerk Reutter building five examples and Gläser of Dresden issuing another 33. Production amped up the following year, with Reutter assuming all 356 Cabriolet production in 1954 and continuing production through to the end of the 356 series in 1965. As it was both luxurious and expensive, the model enjoyed popularity with touring drivers, and its fixed windshield, multi-layered folding top, and fully bolstered seats made it a comfortable choice for all-day cross-country travel.
By the time that the car offered here left the factory on December 22, 1954, Porsche had sold several hundred Cabriolets, most of them to the U.S. market, which was rapidly becoming the small automaker’s most important source of revenue. Nearly all of them were imported through Max Hoffman’s legendary dealership on Park Avenue in New York City. Hoffman suggested that since American manufacturers were applying stylish names to their products, Porsche coupes and cabriolets delivered in the United States should be named Continental, a name which was applied to the 1955 models. The name quickly caught the attention of Ford Motor Company, which claimed rights to that name for the stateside market. As a result, the gold Continental fender scripts appeared only for that year.
The car offered here was the third-from-last 356 Continental Cabriolet produced in the 1954 calendar year. It is unique in that it was a “paint-to-sample” order, with its original buyer specifying orange paint, a black leather interior, and a black top. Orange would not appear on Porsche’s palette until the 1957 model year, and even then it was only available as an extra-cost Special Order item. To answer the order for this car, Porsche actually had paint manufacturer Lechler create a specific shade of orange, number 916. This Continental Cabriolet was probably the only orange example on the planet when it was shipped across the Atlantic to its original owner in Los Angeles in early 1955.
Nearly 30 years ago, the car was acquired, in rough but mostly complete condition, from its original owner by noted 356 collector Lawrence Redman. It was sent to a Nevada shop for restoration by Craig Stevens, but it remained uncompleted. Redman returned the car home and stored it in a hangar near Oxnard, California, until 2009, when, shortly before his passing, he was persuaded to part with the car by its current owner.
After its purchase, Ed Palmer’s shop in Camarillo, California, took the body down to its bare metal, finding evidence that the car had indeed been originally finished in Orange, as was confirmed by its Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche. The car was purchased with most of its original components, but marque expert Michael Shatz undertook a lengthy search for some missing critical trim items. Most of the correct original parts were eventually found through various sources, with the only exception being the parking brake handle, which was carefully fabricated to match an original piece. Meanwhile, Palmer had completed the necessary bodywork and applied fresh paint in the correct shade.
The car was then completed in Shatz’s shop, with the 1500 Normal engine, transaxle, brakes, and electrical system carefully rebuilt. Autos International rebuilt and reupholstered the original seats in black leather and made up new carpeting, and a new top was made by AI and finished by Conejo Upholstery. The instruments were rebuilt by Palo Alto Speedometer.
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Robert Myrick Photography