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Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please
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Forane
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 2:09 pm    Post subject: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Hey guys,
I am new to the forum. I have been looking for a few years for a project 356A and have finally stumbled onto one I am going to look at tomorrow here in Central Florida.
Its a 1958 Super 1600 coupe with a factory Golde sunroof. He has the COA and says it is a numbers matching car ( I guess we will see tomorrow). I have restored other cars in the past ( just finished a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger) but need some guidance on what to look for with this Porsche. Its not been a driver for years, has not run in years but is stored indoors. According to the owner it will need floors, longitudinals, battery box, door bottoms replaced or repaired. The headliner is trashed, the dash is nice, and rest of interior is very worn.
Anything that would be a deal breaker for you guys? Are there certain hard to/impossible to find parts that I need to make sure are with the car?
What are complete numbers matching project 356A supers with factory sunroofs even selling for these days. I am having trouble finding a reference to base the price on. It is not being advertised and he is asking $35k. I realize this is hard to do without a picture ( I will try to post one once I get them).
Thank you all in advance for any advice or suggestions.
Rich
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Danwvw
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 2:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

It's hard to say what you have without seeing it. But I would think, The matching numbers game is a big deal for the re-sale value of an A! The thing is though, you can find the matching cases pretty easy I would think. Quite a few engine's around. That year, I am not sure if it had the Zenith 32 dual carbs or the Solex 40's they went to about then. I would prefer the Zenith. But better would be Weber IDA's. Is the car complete? With engine tin complete? Trans a Porsche Trans? I have seen a couple with the VW Beetle transaxles in them. Actually more fun to drive with the bug low gear ratios. The bumpers and original steering wheels the seats would probably be really hard to find. Has the front hood been creased?
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Forane
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 4:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Thank you Danwvw,
I will make sure to looker closely at the carbs. I asked and the car is complete. The tranny is original and it appeared the first time I saw it that all was there including steering wheel, bumpers, engine tin, correct wheels etc. I wish I had taken some pics. To excited I guess. The front hood down near the nose has a pretty good bit of rust, the doors will need reskinned for sure. Would this car with a factory sunroof be a rare find now a days?
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dsrtfox
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 4:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

The sunroof is very desirable. If it's as rusty as you describe, there is a lot more rust that you haven't seen yet but it's there believe me. Are you looking for a driver or something you can show?
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Forane
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 6:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Thanks dsrtfox,
Probably more of a driver and local car show. I am not looking for a concourse restoration. But before I start throwing good money after bad........
I wanted to learn a little more about what to look for before I dive in head first Very Happy
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dsrtfox
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PostPosted: Sun May 21, 2017 7:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Sent you a PM...
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Starbucket
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PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2017 12:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

They call 356 body parts, all body parts, Porsche Gold, it's that hard to find and worth even more. I would RUN from that car unless you have real deep pockets and years to complete. Look for a runner as a numbers matching car will be a trailer queen as you will be terrified to drive it on the street for fear of someone smashing into you.
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badsix
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PostPosted: Tue May 23, 2017 7:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

poke around the rear torsion bar area were its attached to the body. also the rear of the front wheel openings. as said above bumpers steering wheel and seats are expensive items to pick up. if all the parts are there and the rust isn't horribly bad and you are able to do the rust repair and body work yourself that's a plus. you should try and find out what's wrong with the engine. are you comfortable doing the engine work. 35k isn't to bad if you can do all the work yourself. PICTURES would be nice
Jay D.
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roy mawbey
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PostPosted: Wed May 24, 2017 10:45 am    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Rich,

Some good points above. This car seems like it will need a considerable amount of work. How true, if longitudinals and battery box have gone then the torsion bar area's must have too. Also when you go to find decent metal to weld to, the rust damage will be much higher up than you can see.

These cars are expensive to restore and I guess you have already seen the prices achieved for good 356A cars.

If you do have really ggod skills are these able to take on body and engine, gearbox, transmission and brakes as well as the interior and paint.

Look on www.abcgt.com and look at the restoration pages for 356. Spend a day or so looking at hundreds of photos of the stages to restore. All this work as said above can take years to finish. The car has to really good to make good money as a return for the effort. So a car not correctly finished will stand out immediately to someone who knows 356.

A decent original running 356 A with sunroof and full matching numbers will command a high price and many people will be interested. Those that are prepared to spend good money will often get a Porsche guy to inspect just to give his impression. That would be well worth while on this non-runner and save you much heartache.

Mind you a good 356A coupe is a lot of fun to drive. Been driving mine now for 48 years. Just take care Rick $35K is not peanuts be sure, before you part with that.

Roy
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Forane
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PostPosted: Wed May 24, 2017 2:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

Thanks guys for the advice. Also especially for the link to www.abcgt.com
That is an awesome site as well.
R
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pbenn
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 6:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Calling all 356 experts......Newbie needs help please Reply with quote

I'm late to the party, but I'll try.

From the sounds of the underbody rust repair, you might save time by buying the rotisserie first. They're about a grand, maybe less. But you'll need to be working with car upside down or sideways.

You can pay the pro shop costs or, maybe, do it yourself. There's lots of reference material out there now.

But a rough idea of what you'd need beyond most garage tools and the rotisserie might be:

You'll need a 6mm metric spot weld cutter. The usual American sizes are too big if you want to preserve the right look. And get a box of 50 tips right away, rather than buying them every few weeks for a year. Maybe Wurth.

Good panels are being made these days. In Canada we have Restoration Design in Guelph, don't know about your area.

Real estate is going to be critical. You don't want to move the project or have it trapped in a shop bankruptcy. Ideal would be 1200 to 1500 sq. feet that you controlled long-term. Specialist contractors could come to you as needed.

For an eyebrow-raising look at what a pro restoration costs, check J. Wilhoit's Restoration Calculator.

If the car was hit at all, pull it back out to spec before you start the restoration.
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