TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anybody got a nice Pre-A? Post them here.

Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:26 pm

53 0val wrote: The second one.............. and notice the correct placement of the trim rings.

Correct me if I'm wrong... I was under the impression these are both the same car. It was 1st restored black then re-restored the next year in the original color.

I guess I was wrong...

1) 1953 Heuer-bodied roadster - Gary Kempton
2) 1953 Steel Roadster - Gary Kempton

No, maybe I was right:

This 1953 356 Porsche "America" Sport Roadster has vehicle number 12371. It was first ordered by Hubert Brundage, the founder of the legendary Brumos Porsche organization. Brundage raced this car extensively in the Southeast during the 1953-1954 season. It raced at Rallaye at Clewiston, Florida, September 1953; at Airport Races, Albany, GA (As #20) in October 1953; McDill Air Force Base (as #34) in January 1954; and the 12 Hours of Sebring (as #50) in March 1954 where it finished 7th in class and 15th overall.

The 12371 was built by Glasser Coachworks and was the prototype for a series of 200 cars. Unfortunately, Glasser went bankrupt sot his was the only Type K9 Sport Roadster ever produced.

or this car:

Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:37 pm

another GMund. I believe it was originally from Sweden and participated in the Midnight to Sun Rally...

Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:47 pm

mpribanic wrote: 53 0val wrote: The second one.............. and notice the correct placement of the trim rings.

Correct me if I'm wrong... I was under the impression these are both the same car. It was 1st restored black then re-restored the next year in the original color.

I guess I was wrong...

1) 1953 Heuer-bodied roadster - Gary Kempton
2) 1953 Steel Roadster - Gary Kempton

You are probably correct.............. :wink: You got me. Coad and I saw the "second" one a couple years ago at a shop in Huntington Beach, Calif. and it was then a "fresh" restoration. I completely forgot about that............Age is a bitch. :oops: I was probably fooled by the color on my computer because I thought the color was more a silver/green......I'll check some "old" pictures and get back with you.

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:10 pm

They are the same car, you can tell by the window which had to be a one-off as most were................but why Kempton said "steel" roadster is now the question. I thought they were all Aluminum..............In fact, they were known as Aluminum Sport Roadsters..............

Back to the books.

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:15 pm

53 0val wrote: They are the same car, you can tell by the window which had to be a one off as most were................but why Kempton said "steel" roadster is now the question. I thought they were all Aluminum..............In fact, they were known as Aluminum Sport Roadsters..............

Back to the books.

There is a story of Hubert Brundage and his son Jan picking the car up at Hoffman motors in NYC. It was supposed to be an aluminium roadster. After they left Hoffman, Hubert thought something didn't feel right. Pulled over to a five & dime store, bought a magnet and it stuck to the doors. The door and hood were supposed to be aluminum. That's the story I heard about this car. It was for sale a couple of years ago for $1M plus.

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:42 pm

Here is how the story as quoted from "Speedster type 540, Quintessential Sports Car"

"In a last-gasp effort to gain additional Porsche business, Heuer built a steel-bodied car. I has often been incorrectly referred to as the 'third series"or "17th" roadster. With an integral windshield frame, this was the final car built by Heuer after it was acknowledged (again) that aluminum bodies could not be commercially viable. Although in many ways it looked similar to the roadster, it was a different car. It was never considered a part of the aluminum roadster project by Porsche or by Heuer. The official Heuer designation was "K9" (ninth Karosserie design), and it was recorded as K9/1 for internal references. All 16 aluminum bodies were built at a financial loss, at a time when every Pfennig (penny) was counted.

However, K9/1 is indeed very significant, because Heuer was instructed by Porsche to use as many standard steel cabriolet production parts as possible, to lower costs. This car was "the bridge to the Speedster concept."

Pg. 34

I now want it even more.... :D

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:50 pm

53 0val wrote: Here is how the story as quoted from "Speedster type 540, Quintessential Sports Car"

"In a last-gasp effort to gain additional Porsche business, Heuer built a steel-bodied car. I has often been incorrectly referred to as the 'third series"or "17th" roadster. With an integral windshield frame, this was the final car built by Heuer after it was acknowledged (again) that aluminum bodies could not be commercially viable. Although in many ways it looked similar to the roadster, it was a different car. It was never considered a part of the aluminum roadster project by Porsche or by Heuer. The official Heuer designation was "K9" (ninth Karosserie design), and it was recorded as K9/1 for internal references. All 16 aluminum bodies were built at a financial loss, at a time when every Pfennig (penny) was counted.

However, K9/1 is indeed very significant, because Heuer was instructed by Porsche to use as many standard steel cabriolet production parts as possible, to lower costs. This car was "the bridge to the Speedster concept."

Pg. 34

I now want it even more.... :D

I need to get that book...
Here's the response from one of the books authors a few minutes ago:

"Mark,

Correct.

Originally green. Changed to Black. Now back to Green as it should be. Sold. Serious money. As it should have been. This is the unique steel bodied Sport Roadster. (As in America Roadster---a term never used by Porsche or, better, Aluminum Sport Roadster, except this one---the last.)

Steve Heinrichs"

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:53 pm

One last bit of information about that car:

Chassis Number: 12371
Engine Number: 40511
Color Exterior/interior: Rosede green/not known
Production Date: July 13, 1953
Heuer Number: K9/1

Now another question:
Why does the owner list this as "Gmund" when it was made by "Heuer" :?:

I'm still missing something here. :?

Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:57 pm

Forget that question.
My mistake..................I need a nap. :oops:

Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:59 pm

Rollo Tomasi wrote: Thanks Mpribanic I still dont know how to drag pictures.
I am begining to hate the "beauty" wheel rings on my car, I think the 16" wheel looks better without it, What do you Guys think?

Yeah I'd agree with that...

Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:05 am

WHAT A great post ( thanks 356 reg talk list )

Hi Everready!!

I have a web site for my Pre-A

and it's www.classic356.co.uk

and here is my car..
Below is as it is now stripped..

Radium Green 1300Super

Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:40 am

356uk wrote: WHAT A great post ( thanks 356 reg talk list )

Hi Everready!!

I have a web site for my Pre-A

and it's www.classic356.co.uk

and here is my car..
Below is as it is now stripped..

Radium Green 1300Super

What does you license plate frame say?
Is it from a dealer or does it say PORSCHE?

Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:38 pm

2006 ECH - Mystic, Conn.

Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:58 pm

mpribanic wrote: 2006 ECH - Mystic, Conn.

I love the Marchals........ :wink:

Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:02 pm

Pic courtesy of the splitwindowregistry.org gallery

Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:10 pm

Palm Green #526 Coupe.

Pic from splitwindow.org

Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:06 pm

mpribanic wrote:

another GMund. I believe it was originally from Sweden and participated in the Midnight to Sun Rally...

Here's an actual pic of it participating in the rally circa 1950

Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:19 pm

These 2 still around?

Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:35 am

Hi there is just says Porsche?

what's the deal with these? It looks great on my wall but I seam to think people like to get hold of these?

Anyway seeing these cars has got me fired up again on the car so i am going to get out in the workshop on Sunday.. 8)

Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:28 pm

Rennsport Reunion II - Daytona Beach 2004

1949 Seinfeld GMund