1952 Porsche 356 Coupe

This Reutter-bodied 356 Pre-A was completed on August 30th of 1952. The car was sold through Auguste Veuillet's Sonauto, the first official Porsche dealer in Paris. On September 20th of 1958, the engine was replaced at the Fleischhauer dealership with a factory-issued KD-coded motor, although the Porsche's current 1500 KD motor was likely installed at some later point. Along with the more powerful 149898cc engine, this 356 was originally fitted with a number of components new to the 1952 model year, such as the synchromesh gearbox and a bent, one-piece windscreen that replaced the prior split-pane design. It left the factory finish in Fashion Grey paint.

The car was one of the very few early Porsches imported to Mexico. It was discovered in a garage in Mexico City in 2005. It was purchased by a Volkswagen dealer who began a six-year process of research and restoration. The exterior was refinished in Aurantium Green, a factory original special color, and the Veigel gauges were reconditioned, and a correct Telefunken radio and Hirschmann antenna were sourced and installed. The interior was given a leather upholstery and square-weave carpets. The electrical system was upgraded to 12-volt current.

The car has its original stamped Reutter body panels and factory components, such as the Petri steering wheel, Securit-watermarked glass, Hella taillights, and Bosch headlamps.

The 1488cc Type 546 flat-four cylinder engine has dual Solex 32 PBI carburetors and offers 55 horsepower. There is a four-speed synchromesh manual gearbox and 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014