1953 | Porsche 356 1500 Super

The  Porsche 356 1500 Super Pre A Cabriolet

The first sports car to be developed and produced by Porsche and marketed under the Porsche name was already a sensation back in those days. The car could be purchased as a coupé or convertible from day one of the production. The first Porsche 356 can be recognized by the split windshield made of Sekurit glass with a divide down the middle. A one-piece windscreen was introduced in the model year 1952, but with a bend in the middle. In the standard version, the car was equipped with a continuous bench seat for driver and passenger, single seats were available on request. The Porsche 356 was built from 1948 to 1955 as a Coupé and Cabriolet with four engine types. The first series-produced car left the factory in Stuttgart on Maundy Thursday, April 6, 1950. Conspicuous features included, for example, the split windscreen and the permanent glazed rear windows. These could be opened during later years of construction. The radio antenna had a red tip, called "red tipper". There was no Porsche coat of arms on the 356s - at least not during the early construction years, since it wasn’t designed until 1952/53. The name Porsche was therefore written on the front and rear of the car. The first vehicles had a white three-spoke bakelite steering wheel from Petri with a horn ring, which was replaced in the 356 A by a version with two spokes. The ignition was to the left of the steering wheel, at that time it still had a start button. There was no fuel gauge, so the fuel level could only be checked with a notched wooden stick, which had to be held vertically in the fuel tank. Nitro lacquer was used to paint the vehicles. The Porsche 356 1500 Super was the most powerful 356 of the "pre-A" series. Higher compression and other carburettors increase the output to 70 hp. Good aerodynamics also mean the 1500 Super can reach speeds in excess of 175 km/h. The 356 models of model year 1953 are equipped with larger brake drums and a synchronised gearbox, the patented Porsche synchronisation. A two-stage windscreen wiper system is available as an option. The Porsche emblem is now embedded on the horn of the two-spoke steering wheel. The price for the Coupé is DM 13,800 and for the Cabriolet DM 15,800. Only 1,593 convertibles of the 1500 Super version were built.

The vehicle on offer here was delivered to the United States of America in 1953. The Porsche certificate at hand states that the original colour combination of the vehicle was azure blue with grey leather upholstery. The vehicle's owner history no longer exists until the early 1990s. Contemporary photographs show, however, that the car was still in its original condition at the beginning of the 90s, even though the ravages of time left their mark on this vehicle. At that time Mr. Paul Wesselink, who had his own paint shop, decided to take on and restore the Porsche. But while the restoration was still in full swing, he sold the car to Mr. Todd Michael Madeiros, who lived in Los Gatos, California, who completed the restoration work that had been begun. In 2004 Mr. Madeiros sold his Porsche 356 to a gentleman in Melbourne, Australia. The new owner, Mr. Trevor Keeley, decided to further revise the car optically and technically. Even today, we have all the invoices and written procedures relating to this. The 356 did not change hands for the next 11 years. Mr. Keeley had the engine overhauled in 2015, shortly before selling the 356 to Dutton Garage in Melbourne. The original engine is still in the vehicle. In 2016, our collection administration became aware of the car and acquired it. The vehicle spent the next 3 years in our own collection, before the decision was made to release the vehicle for sale. This vehicle will be serviced and given its MOT before being handed over to its new owner. For detailed questions, please contact our sales staff at any time.