Porsche 356

This Porsche 356 1500 Series Pre-A was delivered new to philanthropist and businessman Mr André Challe in Costa Rica via Fa. Caribbean, Hamburg. A man of obvious taste, he specified his 356 in Turkish Red, beautifully paired with a beige leatherette interior.

The car was subsequently exported to California, where it resided until circa 2003. The current owner, an avid enthusiast and collector of early Porsches, purchased the car from a friend in California and imported it to its home country, where it has remained since, in the excellent company of a 356 Carrera GT, Sweden’s last Porsche 911 police car, and around 20 more early Porsches.

When he purchased the car, upgraded with modern parts. He therefore began a restoration to return it as close to original specification as possible. The bodywork was thoroughly addressed, sills and battery tray replaced, along with minor repairs and straightening, before the car was repainted in the correct Turkish Red exterior colour.

Mechanically, the car retains the correct 1500-model engine (a few hundred numbers away from matching), rebuilt with new pistons and cylinders, refurbished cylinder heads, and a fully rebuilt fuel system including the pump, lines and sender. The car also runs Porsche’s stronger 1956/57 gearbox—an upgrade carried out in the 1950s—which has since been inspected and resealed, along with a new clutch and release bearing. Braking was comprehensively renewed with rebuilt drums and shoes, new original-spec ATE hydraulics, lines and handbrake cables.

Inside, trim and headliner were retrimmed by Autos International in California, complemented by new carpets, a new SIEGLA OEM windscreen, and detail items such as pedal boards and rubbers. To finish it properly, the electrical system was rewired with a complete new loom, and key components such as lights and the starter motor were replaced, along with fresh exterior seals, trims and badges.

This particular car was ordered from the factory with the unusual suitcase designed to fit precisely in the space in front of the fuel tank. It must be positioned exactly correctly so it does not touch the bonnet when closed. Most of these suitcases were damaged or destroyed in the 1950s and 1960s—often due to careless closing of the bonnet—or deteriorated over time as the leather dried out and cracked if not properly treated. As a result, very few originals remain. After considerable searching, the owner managed to obtain a newly made, exact copy in high quality.

To conclude, we present a superb example of Porsche’s beloved Pre-A 356, benefiting from a serious restoration. Included in the sale are a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, bespoke leather bag as per the COA