Beschreibung
DESCRIPTION
The Porsche 356, which made its debut in 1948, astonished the automotive world. Despite having an engine capacity of just 1131cc and 44 horsepower, it could approach 90 miles per hour and cover 40-plus miles per gallon at high cruising speeds. No other car in the 1948 world was as nimble, agile or delivered such unadulterated driving bliss as the first Porsche. Porsche quickly developed a formidable reputation among the Australian automotive cognoscenti. The 356A arrived in late 1955 with a 1. 6-litre engine and curved windscreen as key differentiating features. It would not be until September 1964 that its 911 successor would be released and the 356 remained in production for a further seven months.
HISTORY
- Thorough ground-up restoration a decade ago
- Brilliant provenance
- Ultra-high performance for a 356A
- Matching numbers
This Porsche 356A has extraordinary provenance. It was sold brand new by Diesel Motors of Sydney to one K. J. (Ken) Tucker of Sydney in early 1957, who campaigned the car enthusiastically and with some success. The Northern Hill Climb Championship was held at Inverell on 27 October and Tucker set the fourth fastest time. In 1958 he competed in the Waterfall Hill Climb and the 7000-mile Ampol Trial, an event which drew international attention. He came 37th outright and 12th in the 1500-3000cc class. Documentation of these feats is supplied with the car along with a photograph album which covers every step of the ground-up restoration by the current owner. There was a second custodian, who acquired the car in the early 1980s and stored it unused and partially disassembled in a weatherproof barn until about 2008, when the current owner acquired it with the view to undertaking a ground-up restoration. During this process, the last three digits (886) of the body number 57886 were found factory-stamped under the bonnet, inside both doors and under the engine cover, confirming these to be the panels with which the car left the Stuttgart factory in late 1956. The owner (wisely) decided to retain louvres in the rear engine cover, which Ken Tucker had added to improve cooling in hot Australian racing conditions. Wherever possible, original Porsche parts were used. The horn button which originally flashed the headlights now operates the horn and the horn ring has not been refitted but is restored and comes with the car. The seats were re-upholstered in the correct colored beige leather and the floor covered with new grey ‘square weave’ carpet. The engine was rebuilt in Melbourne by celebrated 356 specialist Rob Foers of 356 Werks as an exceptionally strong 1716cc unit with forged pistons and a new Elgin 66509 ‘stump puller’ camshaft. To extend longevity, a modern full-flow oil filtering system was fitted. (The owner says that the car will now accelerate easily in top gear up a local hill, which he had hoped it could tackle at steady revs in third. Wouldn’t Ken Tucker have loved to try Inverell again with this level of performance?) The 356A was repainted in original Polyantha Rot and the underside was coated with Wurth sealer. This car exudes history and may be the most significant surviving Australian-delivered 356.
This vehicle is currently registered on full Queensland registration but will be sold unregistered.
Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.
