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1959 Porsche 356 356A Convertible D

Current Project
Completed Project

Highlights

  • Year: 1959
  • Make: Porsche
  • Model: 356A Convertible D
  • Type: Open Sports Car
  • Exterior Color: Ivory
  • Interior Color: Red
  • Complete Restoration

Description

RESTORED photos are first. Keep clicking to see the whole restoration. When working with classic and iconic vehicles, we find ourselves doing work that not many around the country or even the world can do. That's why we're here, to help with the odd jobs and getting everything Concours perfect. When the 1959 Porsche 356 Convertible D first came to us the car was in a running and driving condition, but showed some signs of age and wear.

The red paint had worn, the engine was tired and the interior had seen better days. The owner of this vehicle knew of its rarity and highly sought after nameplate. They felt the only way to do such an icon justice was to have the car completely restored, and we couldn't help but agree. During the teardown process we found that both the front and rear of the vehicle had been previously "repaired" by another shop in the past. This previous repair was done largely with a slide hammer. This helped the previous work to be done quickly, but not necessarily “correctly over time the pinholes from the slide hammer allowed for rust to begin building up in the front and rear end of the vehicle. These shortsighted repairs were not uncommon for Porsche 356 repaired during the 80's and 90's when their values were not what they are today. Aside from the repairs to the front and rear of the car, we felt that the car also needed some more detailed repairs. This is where we got into the leading process. Leading is a type of welding where technicians literally weld lead into the body of a car in order to close panel gaps and ensure fitment of doors, hood, trunk and trim is just right.
We ended up doing some minor leading in the front and rear of the vehicle, and dug in a bit deeper on the rocker panels down both sides of the vehicle.

The went through through primer and paint to original ivory. Then it was time for the meticulous final assembly. This includes interior, convertible top, very fussy (and rare) windscreen, chrome parts and a whole lot more. Now we are in shakedown and final 5%. Stay tuned as this classic Porsche gets closer to going home.


Specs

Year
1959
Make
Porsche
Model
356
Sub Model
356A Convertible D
Engine Size
1.6 Liter
Transmission Type
4 Speed Manual
Body Color
Ivory
Body Style
Coupe
Doors
2
Interior Color
Red
Seating Type
Bucket
Seat Material
Leather