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1955 Porsche 356 Coupe

  • Chassis Number: 54089
Neil Emory owned Valley Custom Shop and for years, his son Gary ran the parts department of a major dealership. He enjoyed adding small custom touches and personalization to his own cars, as well as customers', and he even created a small badge with a Maltese cross to replace the Porsche 356's stock rear torsion bar. His cars were called 'Outlaws.'

Gary's son Rob, also inherited an enthusiasm for the Porsche marque. Together, they began creating a pair of highly modified 356s. Their first creation was a cabriolet built for Rob's use and the other was a 1955 coupe that was intended to be Gary's personal vehicle. In 1998, the cabriolet was completed in time for Monterey's tribute to Porsche. After seeing the cabriolet featured in Excellence magazine, Florida airline pilot Jeff Hathorn called and requested a car just like it. He purchased the Emorys' coupe and financed its completion. The car was given a roll cage and sub-frame, and the body was cleaned to minimize drag, with included adding a removable roof panel. The suspension was lowered to help enhance the handling and performance. At all four corners, disc brakes with Brembo calipers from an early Boxster were installed, along with 16x7 'Special' Wheels.

This 1955 Porsche 356 Special Coupe was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell between $100,000 - $150,000. The car is powered by a 1507cc four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine capable of producing 137 horsepower. The engine is one of Dean Polopolous engineered four-cylinder SOHC 'Polo' engines that was based on a sectioned 901/911 five-main-bearing six-cylinder that had the central pair of cylinders removed. It is fitted with a Velasco billet steel crankshaft, J&E pistons in Mahle cylinders, Elgin camshafts, and twin plug heads. There is a pair of Weber 48 IDA downdraft carburetors and a custom Bursch exhaust. There is a 901 four-speed gearbox with custom gear ratios, 904 mainshaft, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes with Brembo calipers.

The car has been treated to a restoration, modifications, and updates since new. The body has been modified to reduce aerodynamic drag. The interior has been strengthened with a 1.75-inch tubing roll cage. To reduce frontal area and improve the handling and performance, the suspension had been modified and lowered. Non-essential items have been removed from the interior, reducing the vehicles overall weight.

This car, the 'Emory Special', set a new unofficial one-way E/GT class speed record of 151.52 mph. Afterwards, the engine was completely rebuilt, the body was stripped and repainted, and the chassis was set-up by Heritage Motorcar Restorations in St. Petersburg, Florida.


At the 2004 Brumos Porsche Octoberfest Concours, the car won first place. It has also participated in the Daytona Rennsport Reunion in 2004.

At auction, the car was sold, selling for $159,500 and surpassing the vehicles estimated value.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2015

2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $200,000-USD $250,000 
Sale Price :
USD $258,500

2007 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $100,000-USD $150,000 
Sale Price :
USD $159,500

1955 Porsche 356 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Porsche 356

(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
1955 PORSCHE 356 1500 CONTINENTAL COUPE
Chassis#: 54035
Sold for USD$218,400
  2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours
 
1955 PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 80289
Sold for USD$264,000
  2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ
 
1955 Porsche 356 'Pre-A' Continental Coupe by Reutter
Chassis#: 54174
Sold for USD$243,600
  2023 RM Sothebys : The White Collection
 
1955 PORSCHE 356 1500 SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 80881
Sold for USD$489,000
  2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Coupe
Chassis#: 53460
Sold for USD$240,800
  2023 Bonhams : Quail
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe
Chassis#: 54126
Sold for USD$198,000
  2023 Mecum : Monterey
1955 Porsche 356 image  1955 Porsche 356 image  
1955 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 80288
Sold for USD$410,606
  2023 RM Sothebys : The Carrera Collection
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Coupe
Chassis#: 54035
Sold for USD$221,200
  2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster By Reutter
Chassis#: 81192
Sold for USD$450,263
  2022 RM Sothebys : Munich
 
1955 Porsche 356 1500 Continental Cabriolet by Reutter
Chassis#: 60719
Sold for USD$368,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1955 Porsche 356 image  1955 Porsche 356 image  
1955 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 81062
Sold for USD$1,230,312
  2020 RM Sothebys : London Online
 
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster
Chassis#: 80753
Sold for USD$258,500
  2020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online
 
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 80524
Sold for USD$406,686
  2020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection
 
1955 Porsche 356A Speedster
Chassis#: 80549
Sold for USD$315,665
  2019 Bonhams : Goodwood Members Meeting
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster 1600
Chassis#: 80990
Sold for USD$394,507
  2018 Bonhams : Zoute Sale
 
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster
Chassis#: 80639
Sold for USD$209,000
  2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1955 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 80671
Sold for USD$351,500
  2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Coachwork by Reutter
Chassis#: 54215
Sold for USD$288,200
  2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
 
1955 Porsche 356 'Pre-A' Speedster with Hardtop Coachwork by Reutter
Chassis#: 80773
Sold for USD$395,535
  2017 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed
 
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster
Sold for USD$255,750
  2017 Auctions America : Fort Lauderdale
 

Porsche 356s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1955 Porsche 356's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster805922023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island $320,000$360,000
1955 Porsche 356 1600 Speedster by Reutter809332021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads March $275,000$325,000
1955 Porsche 356 A Carrera GS Sunroof Coupé by Reutter553802020 RM Sothebys : London Online $390,000$475,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster 2020 Mecum : Glendale$150,000  
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster (RHD) 2020 Shannons Sydney Summer Classic   
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee$300,000$400,000$500,000
1955 PORSCHE 356 PRE-A 1500 CONTINENTAL CABRIOLET607542019 Coys Schloss Dyck   
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster 2019 Mecum : Harrisburg$370,000  
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster by Reutter809202019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island $225,000$275,000
1955 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster by Reutter806692019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island $300,000$350,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Continental Cabriolet Coachwork by Reutter607712018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge $300,000$375,000
1955 Porsche 356 A Carrera GS Sunroof Coupé by Reutter553802018 RM Sothebys : Monaco $550,000$600,000
1955 Porsche 356 1500 Coupé by Reutter537852018 RM Sothebys : Monaco $225,000$275,000
1955 Porsche Replica 356 Wide Body Convertible 2017 Collector Car Toronto Spring Classic$17,500  
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster 2017 Amelia Island Select : Hollywood Wheels Auction $400,000$450,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre – A Cabriolet608982016 Coys : Mondial De L'Automobile Paris $240,000$270,000
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster806122016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $350,000$425,000
1955 Porsche 356A/1600 Speedster810662016 Worldwide Auctions The Houston Classic $375,000$450,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre A Speedster805972016 Russo & Steele : Arizona   
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster806712015 Mecum : Monterey$375,000$375,000$425,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Speedster by Reutter 2015 Auctions America California$270,000  
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster811142015 Motostalgia Auction Indianapolis Brickyard $27,000$29,000
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Speedster by Reutter804262013 RM Auctions Monterey$235,000  
1955 Porsche 356 Pre- A Speedster802262013 Coys Techno Classica $170,000 
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster807452012 Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale $170,000$190,000
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster805642012 Coys Techno Classica, Essen Germany $140,000$180,000
1955 Porsche Speedster Convertible 2011 Mecum Auctions Monterey, CA The Daytime Auction$140,000  
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster810092011 RM Auctions Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns$147,500$160,000$210,000
1955 Porsche 365 Pre-A GS Carrera Speedster810792009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company $350,000$450,000
1955 Porsche Speedster Convertible 2009 Mecum Monterey Auction   

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

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1995 Ferrari F355 Spider
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1994 Porsche 911 Speedster
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1955 Porsche 356

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