Vehicle Details
- Year: 1956
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 356A Speedster
- VIN: 81123
- Mileage: 31,697
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Signal Red
- Seller: RJS
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Quakertown, PA 18951
- Lot #: V-0015141
Now available for auction is this 1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster. Having left the factory on November 30th of 1955 finished Signal Red over a beige leatherette interior, this Speedster was reportedly kept in dry storage from 1973 up until 2003 when a bare-metal restoration was commenced by Klasse 356 of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The restoration was completed after the current owner's acquisition in 2010, and the car has since been fitted with a replacement Porsche 912 engine which was rebuilt and upgraded with a 1,720cc big bore kit. Several upgraded parts from the Porsche 911 were also integrated including a ZF steering box and dual-circuit master brake cylinder. Accompanied by a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, toolkit, reproduction owner’s manuals, and a spare rebuilt engine, this 1956 Speedster is now being offered for auction by its owner out of Pennsylvania.
During the restoration by Klasse 356, the Reutter bodywork of this Speedster was stripped to bare metal and refinished in its original color of Signal Red (6211) along with repairs to the battery box floor. The chrome door handles were refinished along with the round bezels of the early “beehive” style taillights. The tan soft top and removable side curtains were made more recently by Autobahn Interiors of San Diego, California. Equipment includes H4 headlights with chrome stone guards and 15” wide-five steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and Kumho Power Star 758 Radial tires sized 165/80. An additional set of five 16” wheels dressed in Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires will accompany the sale as well.
The cabin was reupholstered by Autobahn Interiors within the last ten years and comes trimmed in beige leather with red seat piping and tan square weave carpeting. Features include an ivory-colored two-spoke steering wheel, a black rubber floor liner, and a suite of analog VDO instrumentation rebuilt by North Hollywood Speedometer including a Störk oil temperature gauge.
During the 2010s, this Speedster was fitted with a replacement air-cooled flat-four engine sourced from a Porsche 912 and rebuilt by Bob Fox of Ambler, Pennsylvania, with a 1,720cc big bore kit. The rear wheels are driven by way of a 4-speed manual gearbox. Koni shocks absorbers are equipped as well as an upgraded Porsche 911 ZF steering box, Porsche 911 dual-circuit brake master cylinder, 911 wheel cylinders, and steel brake lines. The seller notes that less than 1k miles have been driven since the installation of the rebuilt engine. A spare rebuilt engine is also said to accompany the sale, whose serial numbers are reportedly 13 units apart from the car’s original engine. Images of the undercarriage can be found in the gallery.
This sale will include a spare engine, a toolkit, originnal owner’s manuals, reproduction owner’s manuals, an assortment of spare parts, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and a clean title. With upgraded air-cooled performance and the classic styling of the original Porsche Speedster, this 1956 356A awaits its next caretaker.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $289,250
- Auction End: Jan 03, 2022 08:27:04PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 30
Comments (45)
Sold for $289,250
Bid in the amount of $289,250
Bid in the amount of $289,000
Bid in the amount of $287,750
Bid in the amount of $287,500
Bid in the amount of $287,000
Bid in the amount of $282,000
Bid in the amount of $280,000
Bid in the amount of $275,250
Bid in the amount of $275,000
Bid in the amount of $240,356
Bid in the amount of $235,606
Get a life? Really? Nice.
@RJS See maxcliff comment. He is a trustee of the 356 Registry
@LewCM There is absolutely no mismatch in the paint. Get a life
The drivers side door is darker red from every angle. I saw the sellers explanation that it’s a shadow. I have trouble believing that.
Bid in the amount of $235,356
Bid in the amount of $230,000
Bid in the amount of $225,000
Bid in the amount of $220,750
Bid in the amount of $220,356
Bid in the amount of $200,250
Bid in the amount of $200,000
Bid in the amount of $140,000
Bid in the amount of $136,356
Bid in the amount of $125,000
Bid in the amount of $110,750
Bid in the amount of $110,356
Bid in the amount of $80,000
Bid in the amount of $75,000
Bid in the amount of $69,356
I know the seller, very nice gentleman with an affinity for 356's he keeps in top condition. Very detail oriented and known in the 356 community. GLWTS!!
Bid in the amount of $60,000
Bid in the amount of $50,000
Bid in the amount of $35,000
Had to make that first bid on this beautiful example! Doubt I can ever afford its real price, let alone its reserve!
Bid in the amount of $1,956
Looks like a really nice early car with the right kind updates. Should go for big bucks!
I know the seller well and I did see the car at the Carlisle Porsche swap meet this year. I didn't look at the car as closely as a buyer would but I don't recall any paint mis-match and that is the sort of thing that I notice. The seller is a very knowledgable 356 guy so I am guessing that some silly text like "911 wheel cylinders" and suggesting that the ZF steering box is from a 911 comes from a Pcarmarket employee. The car appears to be a 1955 pre-A and a serial number check on the Porsche 356 Registry website confirms that. It must have been originally titled in 1956. This car looks great in person and the seller is a real 356 guy so don't be afraid to bid.
DanL, It must be a shadow because it all matches.
Photos appear as if the doors do not match the rest of the car. We’re they sprayed at a separate time, or with a different batch of paint? Please comment.
Welcome to the auction. This is a late PreA with all the bells the bells and whistles with the new upgraded 1600 engine although this is not original. the car has been restored with all original parts. Sheet metal except battery box floor, transaxle,engraved bee hive bezels , glass reflectors , engraved Heyla license plate light ,original fuel stick, concourse tool kit ,orig manual,key fob and more.