1957 Porsche 356

Manual

150002

Up for sale is m y 1957 Porsche 356 T2 Cabriolet, vin 150002, with the hardtop. This is the second T2 made in this year. Consult the Porsche "Specs" booklet. Consulting the Porsche356registry, they offer the following: "The Cabriolet name was used by numerous automobile manufacturers in the mid-20th century to denote a high-end open automobile with a plush, weathertight, padded folding top, and the 356 Cabriolet model fit that description. It was the most expensive standard 356 model (other than rarities like the Carrera). For those who liked the Cabriolet body style, but wanted an even more secure top while retaining the ability to "go topless" in the summer, Porsche offered another option: the "Hardtop" model. This was a Cabriolet without the soft top, but with a steel hardtop only. It could be kept on the car and only removed during the warmest months of the year. The Hardtop was first available for the 1958 model year (meaning beginning September, 1957). It appears to have been more commonly ordered in Europe than in America. It came with larger rear interior panels than the Cabriolet, which needed shorter panels that did not interfere with the soft top when it was folded in the "down" position. The Hardtop model may also have lacked the Tenax fasteners on the rear cowl, though probably they could be ordered if desired (to be used with a tonneau). Of course any Cabriolet with the soft top could also be ordered with the Hardtop as well, resulting in an open car with two tops: soft and hard. The Hardtop was always available as an option. Buyers may have been attracted to the Hardtop model for several reasons, including: price point (it was slightly cheaper), visibility, roofline silhouette, weather protection or simply no interest in open air driving. The roofline silhouette was continued into the B series cars as the Karmann Hardtop, but with the steel top as an integral part of the roof / body structure (not detachable)." The Porsche 356 German price list (dated, 1.Aug.1958) lists the Hardtop as a separate model: Hardtop Hardtop 1600cc DM13.600.- Hardtop 1600cc Super DM14.700.- Hardtop 1600cc Carrera GS DM19.400.- Cabriolet-Verdeck (f r alle 3 Typen) DM 890.- Cabriolet Cabriolet 1600cc DM13.900.- Cabriolet 1600cc Super DM15.000.- Cabriolet 1600cc Carrera GS DM19.700.- Hardtop-Aufsatz (f r alle 3 Typen) DM 790.- Coupe Coup 1600cc DM12.700.- Coup 1600cc Super DM13.800.- Coup 1600cc Carrera GS DM18.500.- Convertible Convertible 1600cc DM12.650.- Convertible 1600cc Super DM13.750.- As you can note, the cabriolet was available with or without the convertible top; this cabriolet came without the convertible top bows. We have the hardtop and I will post a picture of the car with the hardtop. Describing the vehicle, it appears that restoration was started on the vehicle at some point in the past but was never finished and that it just sat. I have taken pictures of the floors and the pans and the interior of the car as well as under the front bonnet. The floors are solid and look to have been repaired with replacement pans; the longitudinals look to be replaced as well; doors are very solid and the door bottoms look very good; all gaps appear to fit well and doors close well as does the front bonnet and engine lid. There is some bubbling around the front headlight buckets and on the front "nose". True Mileage is unknown. (TMU) Engine number is 67718. We laid out all the parts on our trailer and you can see all that comes with the car; most guages are present (missing tachometer), and most of the other dash stuff is there like the throttle cable and other knobs; both seats are present; door panels are present; rear seat bottom and seat back is present; steering wheel and column are present; I have found that most of the parts that the car needs are available online or on Ebay. What I do note as missing is the following: rear bumper; door glass; door regulators; quarter windows for the doors; miscellaneous seat parts; engine tin; engine heads; engine rocker arms; carburetors; there is one aircleaner; also missing the wiring; door handles, window handles, hood emblem; this is what comes to mind; much of this is available from Stoddards or on Ebay; you will have to hunt it down; it is around, you just have to know where to look! If you have any questions on the car, please call Tom Nelson @ 919-522-4412; our dealership is T.J. Auto, Inc., 1312 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27603. We are a licensed and bonded and insured Auto dealer in North Carolina; We have an "A" rating with the Better Business Bureau; everything is straight on our end; we have clear title in hand for the vehicle. We expect a $1000 deposit in 24 hours via Paypal and the difference in 48 hours wired to our account. We can assist in shipping and have everything sealed up for the shipping. These cars are getting incredibly hard to find in this condition. The 356a cars are just so distinctive in their styling! This car is a great candidate for restoration. It is in a condition in which you can bring it back and that you are starting with a very solid car. We see nicely restored examples selling in the $100k to $150k. Of course, you are more than welcome to come and see and inspect the vehicle for yourself; we are open M-F 10-7 and Sat. 10-5. We are also available by appointment; If you would like to make an offer on the car, then do so. The one that is closest to the asking price, will win the car. Thanks for looking.