1951 Porsche 356

1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A Split Window Cabriolet

One of only 156 Reutter-bodied Cabriolets made in 1951, this very early Pre-A 356 Cabriolet, features a split windscreen and body-to-bumper styling and is finished in the original color Pascha Red (523) with a Tan cloth top, boot cover, and Tan interior. Completed on September 8, 1951, and first delivered to Buenos Aires, Argentina, this Pre-A remained in South America until purchased by a German collector in the 1980s. The 356 has since been restored several times over the years, each time to a very high standard, first in 1990 and again recently. European Collectibles has recently rebuilt the top end of the engine, sorted out the shifter mechanism, and the braking system was also rebuilt. The 356 is well-prepared for top-down touring, rallies, or competition on the Concour events.

The body was built by Reutter, a coachbuilder that was purchased by Porsche in 1963. Pascha Red is the original factory color and was offered from 1951 to 1953. Its dark cherry red exterior is complemented by a split windshield, with its prominent central crease, distinctly uncluttered, pure design, Excelsior 5.0/5.25-16 tires, body color steel wheels with chrome hubcaps, and body-to-bumper.

The overall condition of the restoration is simply stunning finished ih the original color combination. The cabin is beautifully presented with the original Veigel instruments, a Blaupunkt radio reminiscent of the Art-Deco era, Bakelite switchgear, a Banjo-style steering wheel, a rare bench seat, German square weave carpets, and wooden door caps.

Introduced in 1951, the 1300cc flat-four air-cooled engine (Type 506), fitted with a revised Volkswagen crankcase, forged steel crankshaft, and light-alloy cylinder barrels produced 44 HP at 4,200 RPM. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox with four-wheel drum brakes.

1,286cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine

Dual carburetors

44bhp at 4,200rpm

Independent front suspension

Laminated torsion bars

Tubular shock absorbers

Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes

4-Speed manual transmission

Price:$375,000