Lucky enough to save this 356A today

karguy12

I have been leaving notes on this car for over five years. I finally got the call today while cruising around in my VW Thing when I happened to be only six blocks from his house when he called! He was kind of freaked out when I pulled up two minutes after getting his call out of the blue. It's a rough 356A coupe titled as a 1959, but VIN says its a 1958. Engine is a VW unit from 1968. At least it is finally inside and out of the weather.

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jjjjack · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:15 am Post subject:

Persistence pays off. Looks like a fun project. Congrats!
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Jack Stenner
1959 Mango Westfalia SO-23
1953 Porsche 356 Coupe
IG:j.stenner

VWCOOL · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:40 am Post subject:

Good save! It deserves to be pretty again Smile

longlive356 · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 12:15 pm Post subject:

box of parts too...Jackpot!
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'59 356 conv't D
'80 Jeep CJ5

OLD VW NUT · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 2:35 pm Post subject:

Too bad you didn't get the car 5 years ago when you first saw it. Persistence pays off - some times.

Years ago I lived down the street from a guy who had parked a yellow 356 Cabriolet in his side yard and put a tarp over it. I think it was a 61 but can't recall for sure. I asked him numerous times if he were interested in selling it. The answer was always "No - I'm going to pull it into the garage one of these days and work on it" - Fast forward about 10 years later - I had moved into the suburbs by then and was driving through town on errands and decided to drive by my old home - I had forgotten about the 356 but there it was sitting under a tarp slowly rusting away. I didn't bother to stop by and ask that guy again about the car - he was stubborn and didn't seem to care that something that cannot be replaced or recreated was slowly dissolving in his yard. To him it was only one old car.

While I can't say for a fact that I would have restored that car if I had gotten it someone would have - I'd have done my best to ensure that much.

How long does it take to rust out a car in Western Washington? Home of rain and humidity. Probably not long. Some people piss me off!
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71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore

Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI

roy mawbey · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:55 am Post subject:

Well done for saving it. What's the underneath like?

Roy
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Roy
RHD356A super75 106954

karguy12 · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:17 pm Post subject:

Well it has all of its original VIN stamped sheetmetal, but the usual rust in the floorboards and lower battery box left lower door and left rocker. Door sills, inner Aprons, drip rails, Right door, right rocker, window openings, headlight buckets and many other areas are pretty solid. The maroon paint half sanded off with the surface rust on the parts that were striped make it look worse than it really is.

mark tucker · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:19 pm Post subject:

AWESOME!!!

356uk · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2004 Posts: 102

Well done.. Smile

big project

one question... how do you get the rusty metal to good metal with out grinding it back and thinning the metal? and so it doesn't rust again?
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WANTED:-

My missing Classic Porsche MOJO.......

If I sound not interested it's cos I lost interest years ago.. no one gets out alive in this life anyway.
356 & 912's owner

karguy12 · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:13 am Post subject:

This car is probably going to run around looking just like this for a while because you just don't see these unrestored driving in this condition anymore. But when it is time for a full resto, it is a good candidate for dipping.

MMW · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:19 am Post subject:

I don't know a lot about dipping but have always heard that 356s are not good candidates for it because of all the layered panels & closed cavities. The acid gets trapped in the layers & it is hard to be sure the neutralizer gets in everywhere because you can't physically see inside of it.

Car is cool & can't wait to see progress pics.
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Mic
1959 356 coupe
Missing the original engine 72488
Update - third pc. found!
Now just need the case halves.
1965 fenderless beetle

Riff Raff · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:43 am Post subject:

That car is tits!
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The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin

Rich's 50 · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:45 am Post subject:

Nice

mpribanic · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:59 am Post subject:

Cool! I also have a '58 but in Neptune Beach, Florida. About 3-4 hours from you. Whats the VIN? mines 102797. Mine was originally a ruby red coupe(maroon)
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