1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1300 Cabriolet

1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1300 Cabriolet
Coachwork by Reutter
Chassis no. 10118
Engine no. 20486

COACHWORK BY REUTTER
CHASSIS NO. 10118
ENGINE NO. 20486

1,286cc OHV Flat 4-Cylinder Engine
Dual Carburetors
44bhp at 4,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Stunning and extraordinarily rare very early Porsche
*One of only 156 Reutter cabriolets built in 1951
*Desirable 'bent windshield' Pre-A specification
*Copy of factory Kardex included
*Delivered new to Buenos Aires

THE PORSCHE 356

Despite having established himself as one of the world's greatest engineering minds decades earlier, via brilliant and varied designs such as the Mercedes-Benz SSK, V16 Auto Union racers, aircraft engines, tanks, and even early electromechanical hybrid drive systems, Dr. Ing. h.c. Porsche's family name would not appear on a car until the auspicious debut of the 356 in 1948.

Only 52 356's were laboriously built by hand at the firm's Gmünd, Austria workshops before production switched to Zuffenhausen. A further 1,300 or so split windshield examples would be made at the now-familiar German facilities, launching perhaps the most consistent and successful sports car legacy of all-time, and in the process making early 356's among the most desirable and collectible Porsches ever manufactured.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

One of only 156 Reutter bodied cabriolets made in 1951 for the same model year, and 997 356's produced in total during that period, this Pre-A 356 cabriolet is an extraordinarily significant machine, even by the vaulted standards of early Porsche.

Manufactured on September 8th, 1951 and first delivered to glamorous Buenos Aires, Argentina, chassis 10118 would remain in South America until purchased by a German individual in the 1980s.

The car has since been restored twice, each time to a high standard, first in 1990, and again much more recently. Under current ownership, the car has benefited from extensive sorting, and is now reported to be equally well prepared for driving or the concours circuit.

Porsche production shifted from Gmünd, Austria to Germany in 1950, and 1951 cars like the lovely auction example retain many of the same fascinating, charming quirks of their Austrian sisters–take for example the split windshield, with its prominent central crease, as well as distinctly uncluttered, pure design language that would set the mold for all future Porsche products to this day.

Coachwork was built by Karosserie Reutter, a local coachbuilder that would come under the wing of Porsche in the 1970's, right around the time they became known as Recaro and switched gears to the building of outstanding car seats. Pascha Red is the car's correct factory color, faithfully duplicated here as part of the above-noted restoration.

Beneath the correct and tightly fitted convertible top, the car's cabin presents similarly well with elegant mechanical Veigel gauges, a wonderful Blaupunkt radio, bakelite switchgear, and elaborate, tactile spring spoke steering wheel. Further evidence of the recent restoration's quality is evident in details such as accurate colors, square weave carpets, and wood door trim. Note also the unusual split bench seat.