Lot 267: Porsche 356A 1600 Coupe

Although Ferdinand Porsche had established his independent automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, his name would not appear on a car until 1949. When it did, it graced one of the all-time great sports cars: the Porsche 356. The work of Ferry Porsche, the Type 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father, Ferdinand and like the immortal 'Beetle' employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension. Having commenced manufacture with a short run of aluminium-bodied cars built at Gm�nd, Porsche began volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coup� at its old base in Stuttgart, at first in premises shared with coachbuilders Reutter and then (from 1955) in its original factory at Zuffenhausen. In 1951 a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with Le Sarthe. The first phase of development saw the 356's engine grow to 1.3 and then to 1.5 litres; the original split windscreen replaced by a one-piece; and a Porsche synchromesh gearbox adopted. 1955 marked the arrival of the restyled 356A, the newcomer being readily distinguished by its rounded windscreen and 15 - down from 16 - wheels. At the same time, a 1,600cc engine replaced the old 1.5-litre unit and would be standardised on the successor 356B model. First registered '38 RMG', the car we offer was exhibited on Porsche's stand at the 1958 International Motor Exhibition at Earls Court and was later the subject of a full road test published in The Autocar magazine on 10th October 1958 (copy article included). The current vendor acquired the car in 2001 from Wayne Hardman, a well known 356 enthusiast and member of the Porsche Car Club, who had owned it for many years. During this time he used the 356A in various club races and rallies, details of which accompany the car. In 1994 Mr Hardman began a complete 'last nut and bolt' restoration which was carried out by well known 356 specialist restorers, Dr Tony Standen and Eric Studder. Stuart Mettrick at Downton Bodyworks undertook the body restoration including the making of new rolled panels and the use of lead loaded filling to ensure a perfect finish. Completed in 2000, the car was extensively photographed the following year to illustrate a seven-page article on the marque in the December 2001 issue of '911 & Porsche World' (copy included). Since acquisition by the vendor in 2001, it has been used sparingly on dry summer days only. Recently serviced by Tower Porsche in London, this exceptional Porsche 356A comes with sundry restoration invoices, current road fund licence, Swansea V5 document and fresh new MoT.