Description
Beginning with the 1955 model year, Porsche added the “Continental” moniker to US-bound 356 cabriolets and coupes at the urging of US importer Max Hoffman. The cars carried Continental fender scripts for one model year before the name was supplanted by “European” due to objections from Ford. This example was originally Turkish Red and features a bent single-piece windshield, a single-grille engine lid, and separate body-colored bumpers.
The car was repainted in white prior to its acquisition by…
Beginning with the 1955 model year, Porsche added the “Continental” moniker to US-bound 356 cabriolets and coupes at the urging of US importer Max Hoffman. The cars carried Continental fender scripts for one model year before the name was supplanted by “European” due to objections from Ford. This example was originally Turkish Red and features a bent single-piece windshield, a single-grille engine lid, and separate body-colored bumpers.
The car was repainted in white prior to its acquisition by the previous owner, and was refinished in blue following sheet metal repairs in 2009. After the current owner’s purchase, the car was again repainted by Charlie Potts of Burlingame, California. New sealed-beam headlight assemblies and bulbs were installed in 2019 and are covered with chrome stone guards. Lighting also includes yellow front fog lamps as well as four beehive taillights.
Painted 16” wheels are said to have been custom-made to accommodate wider tires, and wear chrome hubcaps and turbine-style trim rings. Avon Turbosteel wide-whitewall tires are mounted all around as well as on a matching spare housed in the front compartment. A second set of 16” wheels and Firestone bias-ply tires is also included along with an additional four hubcaps and turbine-style trim rings. A new front sway bar kit was fitted in late 2018, as were a new master cylinder, wheel cylinders, front shoes, and hoses for the four-wheel drum brakes. Four new Bilstein shock absorbers were installed in 2019.
The cabin was reupholstered in saddle leather in lieu of the original yellow leatherette prior to the current owner’s acquisition. The heating system was rebuilt during the 2009 project. Additional features include beige square-weave carpeting, black rubber floor mats, black lap belts, a rear window blind, and tinted Lexan sun visors, the latter of which were fabricated in 2018.
A two-spoke steering wheel frames green-lettered instrumentation that was refurbished by Palo Alto Speedometer in 2009, including a 120-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and gauges monitoring oil temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 95k miles, with the actual total unknown. A Telefunken AM radio is situated in the dash.
The replacement flat-four (62440) is from a 356A model and was rebuilt from 1,600 to 1,720cc by The Pit Stop of Brisbane, California. Replacement components included 86mm JE pistons and cylinder liners, a counterweighted crankshaft, Clevite main and rod bearings, and a custom-ground Elgin camshaft. The case halves were machined, and the pistons were coated with heat dispersant and skirt film lubricant. New titanium valves, seats, and springs were installed, the intake manifolds were ported and polished, and the carburetors were modified with 34mm bores. A high-efficiency oil cooler and a high-flow cooling fan were also added. A rebuilt starter was installed and the carburetors overhauled in 2012.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle that was updated with a new clutch and flywheel in 2012 as well as a Type 901 throwout bearing in 2018. Number 6469 is shown stamped on the transaxle housing in the gallery, matching that listed on the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity below. Floorboard and battery box repairs were carried out in 2009, at which time the suspension was also overhauled and the steering box rebuilt. A new muffler was installed in 2012.
Additional images and invoices from the refurbishment while with the previous owner are shown in the gallery below, as are records from current ownership as well as additional receipts dating back to 1992. Among restoration photos are images of the last two digits of the chassis number stamped on the inner door panels.
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