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Tue May 14, 2013 8:22 am

An introduction of sorts, having been involved in collecting and restoring 23 window buses for past 25 years, naturally one gravitates to all mechanical things German. Along the way, 18 years ago, I picked up this 1958 A convertible.
Life tends to take over in many areas, purchasing a home, getting married, having kids......somehow we have managed to hold on to this car. So over the years the parts have been for the most part sorted and efforts taken to rebuild the original transmission, engine, brakes, interior, etc.

Now we are concentrating on the details, an interesting car with quite the Kardex....

Radio
Antenna
2 Schlummerrollen
Sonnenblende mit make up spiegel
Holzlankrad
RadzentralverschluBrader
Sicherheitsgurte f. 2 Sitze
S. B. Lampen

Recently we have been getting more aggressive at getting the car back on the road. Thanks to Brian Lum for his expertise.

So a few questions encountered along the way.

What is the correct color for the back of chrome Kronprinz 4 1/2 X 15 rims dated 3 of 58? Should the back of the rim be left the natural plating, or a specific paint color?

We plan on running these on a daily basis rather than the rudge rims.

Which also leads to the next question, what is the correct color for the back of
the chrome Kronprinz rudge rims?
Also recommendations on who to restore the knockoff's? Just the knockoff the rims are fantastic.
Further.....advice on the best tires for the rudge rims??

As you can tell one of the rims has a different "color", we would like to know which is correct. Not trying for a 100% concours car. However, we would like to get the details as close as possible.

Tue May 14, 2013 8:53 am

Also looking for a picture of the correct head light glass for a August of 1958 car. Any help greatly appreciated.

Wed May 15, 2013 4:25 am

Douglas,
Attached two photos of my T2 1959 A Bosch headlamp glass.

My headlight glasses are probably original 1959 they are for certain 44 years old and I have no replacement invoices from the early 1960's.

The wheels were normally silver. I suppose the possibility existed for the factory to paint wheels to customers specification but when I laast removed my tyres from the knronprinz wheels for painting I tried to follow the wheel well original colour. I reckon someone painted the that wheel of course the cream colour?

There are a lot of different silver colours.

The headlamps are Bosch and my car was delivered into the UK. I know many USA cars had sealed beam you might need to check the Bosch UK and USA versions are the same? Mine are of course not sealed beam.

Like the look of your 356A cab it looks very nice indeed.

Cheers

Roy

Wed May 15, 2013 5:20 am

Tried to take some pics of mine last night but with the flash it didn't work to well. Then I realized that I have to different lens. Both Hella, both look the same except for the numbers. They look very different from Roy's. I'll try to get some pics in the daylight later. Of course I can't confirm that either one is original, production date Dec. 22 1958.

Yes you do have a nice looking car.

Wed May 15, 2013 9:23 am

Thanks Roy and Mic,

We've been very fortunate that the car was very accident and rust free when found.
So since Porsche is not my primary car that I work on I have questions about the correctness of parts. Also looking for a few parts that should be replaced during the reassembly....like OG tail light housings.....I want full reflectivity so no one rear ends the car. :cry:

It been a journey just collecting parts and learning about the car, I'm sure looking forward to driving it again. :D

Wed May 15, 2013 4:54 pm

I would keep the original taillight housings and get these.

http://www.culayer.com/products.htm

I drive my 356 ALOT and they are awesome. No need to change out the originals.

Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:58 pm

Finally on the road test rims.........18 years......... in the making.

Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:19 pm

Congratulations! :D :D :D

Fri Jun 14, 2013 5:13 am

Looks a great car. Well done!

Roy

Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:29 am

Alright......road testing underway, first public display Saturday at Deluxe Customs in Tempe, AZ.

So, I'm thinking forward, to when the rudge rims will be fitted, so any experience on the best tires to wrap around the rims?

Thanks.

Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:31 pm

If money is not an object, go with Vredesteins.

Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:26 pm

A few more original parts found their correct position on the car, tomorrow a few more, some touchups, polish, then a weekend filled with 356 action! :D

Thanks Jon, who distributes Vredesteins?

Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:11 pm

I'll be there Saturday with my 56 coupe. See you then...

Thu May 01, 2014 9:12 am

Hi Douglas,
You will find all kinds of retailers online. Vredesteins are great tires but unless you plan on driving a lot of miles or you are Lewis Hamilton in training you will be buying somewhat expensive tires that will "age" out before they wear out. I have found a more economical and still a good performance alternative in the 165 x 15 size in Nexen tires, available through Firestone dealers. Kumho apparently doesn't make that size any more so if anyone is still selling them you had better check the date code to see how old they are.
Good luck---
Jon

Fri May 02, 2014 3:06 am

I have to agree with Jon. I bought Firestone F580 tyres over here in the UK and they have performed really well on my 356. Sure, I don't drive the car that fast these days but they really suit the car looks wise.

With the annual milage I do, they could last in theory 30 years but of course as Jon says they then might go really hard and crack on the sidewalls who knows? They do spend a lot of time out of sunlight in the garage which must help but they are already about 5 years old.

My Michelin X tyres I ran for over 20 years!!! Didn't know anything then about tyre life.

The Firestone tyres were really well medium priced tyres for me. Of course if you are a racer then spend the money

Roy

Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:15 pm

I went with Dunlop Racing Tires for the rudge rims, I wanted something with the track look. For the regular steel rims Kumho.

Just about wrapped up with the car, however.....

I discovered that when installing the rudge rims that a "special" dust cover is required for the front hubs. Of importance to attach the speedometer cable.

So, does anyone have a spare? Or willing to loan one so I can reproduce one for the car? Even a picture with a few measurements?

Thanks

Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:16 am

Douglas,

International Mercantile sell all the rubber parts for 356. The 356A has a rubber dust cover for the front wheel bearings From my catalog the code is M116 in the grommets/plugs/boots/ buffers section.

Look on their site for tghe item. I guess it must be the same as the standard dust cover I have on mine? I presume the Rudge adaptor has a counterbore to accept? Your car looks great, really nice.

http://www.im356-911.com/

Roy