This 1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet was completed on June 12, 1958, and delivered to Competition Motors of California via Hoffman Motor Cars in New York. The car is said to have remained with its previous owner for approximately 36 years before being acquired by the current owner in 2010 out of California. Subsequent refurbishment work was carried out between 2015 and 2019, which involved refinishing the body in silver metallic and refreshing the interior in red leather. The replacement flat-four was rebuilt to displace 1,720cc, and the four-speed manual transaxle was also overhauled along with the four-wheel drum brake system. Following completion of the project, the car was awarded first in its class at the 2019 Carmel Concours on the Avenue. Equipment includes a black convertible top and matching top boot as well as 15″ ventilated steel wheels, Koni shocks, and a Blaupunkt push-button radio with an auxiliary input. Work performed in 2024 reportedly involved servicing the twin Zenith carburetors and adjusting the valves, clutch, and brakes. This 356A Cabriolet is now offered on dealer consignment in California with black California license plates, refurbishment photos and invoices, a car cover, a tool kit, a service manual, a copy of the Kardex, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and a clean Oregon title.
Finished from the factory in Silver Metallic (5706), the Reutter-built bodywork was stripped to bare metal and mounted to a rotisserie as part of the refurbishment completed in 2019, during which time it underwent rust repair prior to being refinished. The seller notes that the convertible top frame was refurbished and a black soft top with a zip-out rear window was installed. The windshield, exterior lighting, and weatherstripping were also replaced, and a number of trim pieces were either re-chromed or replaced. Exterior details include a black top boot, a left mirror, and body-color bumpers with chrome overrider bars and integrated rear exhaust outlets.
The 15″ ventilated steel wheels wear 165-width Michelin XZX tires and were media blasted prior to a repaint in silver as part of the refurbishment. Koni shocks were installed in 2017, and other work reportedly involved resealing the steering box, rebuilding the front steering gear, and replacing the steering damper and rear torsion bar bushings. The four-wheel drum brake system was also overhauled, and the seller notes that the brake shoes were re-lined and the brake master cylinder, wheel cylinders, and lines were replaced. Work performed in 2024 included adjusting and bleeding the brakes as well as greasing a number of suspension components. Manufacturer’s markings and 1958 date codes on the wheels are pictured in the gallery below.
The interior has been re-trimmed by Autos International of Escondido, California, and features red leather upholstery on the seats, door panels, and upper dashboard. The convertible top wears a replacement beige headliner, while the oatmeal square-weave carpets are covered with black rubber floor linings and Coco-style mats. Lap belts are fitted for the front occupants, and the Blaupunkt push-button radio has been modified with an auxiliary input and AM/FM radio capability. The seller notes that replacement speakers were also installed.
A beige steering wheel with a horn ring fronts VDO green-letter instrumentation and includes a central 6k-rpm tachometer, a 120-mph speedometer, and a combination gauge with readouts for oil temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 1,900 miles, which is said to reflect the distance traveled since completion of the refurbishment. Total mileage is unknown.
The replacement flat-four was sourced from a 1960 Porsche 356 1600S prior to being installed under previous ownership, and in 2019, it was rebuilt and modified with 86mm JE forged pistons, Biral big-bore 1,720cc cylinders, a Dougherty Racing Cams DR274 camshaft, and cylinder heads and valves machined by Competition Engineering. The starter was rebuilt and the wiring harness was replaced at that time, while the twin Zenith carburetors were overhauled in 2020 and synchronized and adjusted in 2024. The seller states that the valves were adjusted in anticipation of the sale, and an oil change was also performed.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle that was rebuilt in September 2016 with replacement bearings, synchros, and seals. At that time, a resurfaced and balanced flywheel along with a replacement clutch assembly are said to have been installed. The seller states that in 2024, the gearbox was disassembled and the ring and pinion gear was adjusted, the muffler was repainted gray, and the clutch was adjusted. Transaxle stamping 20282 is viewable in the gallery, and the sequence corresponds with the number listed on the Kardex below.
A copy of the Kardex lists the original colors and identification numbers as well as delivery through Hoffman Motor Cars in New York. The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity can be seen in the gallery.
Photos documenting various stages of the refurbishment process are presented in the gallery below.
