Description
This 1958 Porsche 356 Convertible D is one of approximately 1, 331 examples manufactured during a single year of production and was completed on September 3, 1958, with North American-market equipment and a 1600 Super engine. It is said to have spent much of its life in California, where it was passed from a father to his son and then to its third owner, from whom the selling dealer acquired it in 2021. Finished in light ivory over tan leatherette, the car is powered by a numbers-matching 1. 6L Super flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle. Features include reclining seats, chrome bumper overriders, 15” chromed wheels, an alloy rear luggage rack, a cigar lighter, a Blaupunkt radio, a beige convertible top, and a tan vinyl tonneau cover. This Convertible D is now offered with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, an owner’s manual, and a clean California title.
Designed as a more-refined replacement for the Speedster, the Convertible D was produced between August 1958 and September 1959 with bodywork by Karosseriewerke Drauz of Heilbronn, Germany. Styling was distinguished from the Speedster by roll-up windows, a higher windshield with a more-robust frame, a revised rear cowl, and a redesigned soft top with rain gutters and a larger rear window. This example received a repaint several years ago in a paler shade than its original ivory, and various imperfections can be seen among closeups of the finish, trim, and lenses provided in the photo gallery below.
Chromed steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps with Porsche crests and are mounted with Kuhmo Power Star 758 tires measuring 165/ 80R15. Additional exterior features include a single Ponto Stabil side mirror, an alloy rear luggage rack, body-color bumpers with overriders, gold rear badges, a fender-mounted antenna, and a Karosseriewerke Drauz badge riveted to the left-front fender. The beige convertible top exhibits areas of wear and discoloration and can be stowed beneath a tan vinyl tonneau cover.
The cabin houses reclining bucket seats trimmed in tan leatherette, as indicated on the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. Matching upholstery covers the door panels, upper dashboard, and rear side panels, while oatmeal square-weave carpeting lines the floors. A Blaupunkt push-button radio is situated in the dash, as is a cigar lighter.
The two-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of an ivory-color painted dash housing VDO instrumentation including a 6k-rpm tachometer, a 120-mph speedometer, and a combination gauge monitoring oil temperature and fuel level. VDO gauges monitoring oil pressure and voltage have been added beneath the factory instruments. The five-digit odometer shows 23k miles, a few of which have been added by the selling dealer. Total mileage is unknown.
The 1. 6-liter Type 616/ 2 flat-four is equipped with twin Zenith carburetors and was factory rated at 75 horsepower. A new battery is said to have been installed in January 2022, while service under previous ownership within the last 3k miles included replacement of the starter, distributor cap and rotor, ignition points, and spark plugs. Compression and leakdown tests were performed in February 2022 showing results as follows for each cylinder:
1 – 145 psi; 8%
2 – 145; 6%
3 – 150; 6%
4 – 150; 6%
Number 82389 is shown stamped on the engine case, matching the number listed on the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity
Power is sent to the rear wheels by a four-speed manual transaxle that was rebuilt in 2005 with new bearings and gaskets. The axle boots were reportedly replaced in January 2022. Stopping is handled by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes that were freshened approximately 2, 500 miles ago in 2011 with the replacement of the rear wheel cylinders and right-front wheel cylinder. Areas where corrosion has perforated the underside of the battery box are shown in the gallery below.
$199, 500
