It is one of the latter that we have right now at Beverly Hills Car Club, a splendid extremely original 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Bent Window Cabriolet featured with matching numbers (digital Kardex report is included).

Buyer or Seller Questions? Let’s Talk! 310-975-0272

This beautiful car is finished in its factory color scheme of Turkish Red exterior, complemented with a Beige interior. It is important to note that this 356 comes with two engines: the original matching numbers engine is included on the side. To further enhance the exterior is a convertible soft-top that offers an open-air experience.

This California car is equipped with an early 912 Flat-four engine, paired with the original 4-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes dual Weber carburetors, four-wheel disc brakes, Cibie headlights, beehive tail lights, matching numbers single-grille engine decklid, VDO instrumentation, and 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps.

The convenience manual-crank windows, and driver-side rearview mirrors ensure optimal visibility, and the color-match dash adds a touch of practicality to the interior. Additional amenities include the fender-mounted antenna, Telefunken stereo, and a glove compartment.

This particular Porsche comes with a unique charm and character that sets it apart from the rest. While it may require some cosmetic work to bring it to its former glory, this classic car can still be enjoyed in its current condition, allowing you to appreciate its original beauty and authenticity.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, this extremely coveted 356 Pre-A Bent Window Cabriolet is a great find that deserves a place in your collection.

Contact us today to learn more about this offering and start your experience towards owning a piece of motoring history that is mechanically sound.

As you may note, this is a California car, one of the pre-eminent markets for Porsches. Southern California’s dry weather is especially suited to longevity in antique cars and the condition of this Porsche 356 is no exception.

The first ever production Porsche model, the Porsche 356 is a lightweight and nimble-handling, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door sports car available in both hardtop coupé and open configurations. Engineering innovations continued during the years of manufacture, contributing to its motorsports success and popularity.

Production commenced in 1948 at Gmünd, Austria, where Porsche built approximately 50 cars. The 356 was created by Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, who founded the Austrian company with his sister, Louise. (“Ferry” Porsche was the son of Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the original German Porsche company, who died in early 1951, and had once been chauffeur to the then assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand – a death that led to the outbreak of World War I.)

Like its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche Sr. had designed), the 356 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car with unitized pan and body construction. The chassis was a completely new design, as was the 356’s body, designed by Austrian-born Porsche employee Erwin Komenda.

In November 1931 Komenda joined the engineering office newly founded by Ferdinand Porsche as head of the bodywork design department.

Among other projects, Komenda developed the body of the VW Beetle. With more than 21.5 million units produced, the VW Beetle became the best-selling automobile of the 20th century.

As early as November 1946 Komenda began work on the body of the first Porsche sports car, developing the 356, various following types and the Porsche 550 Spyder. As a responsible Porsche engineer, he led the Stuttgart-based company into the next generation, accompanying and supervising the bodywork production of the Porsche 901, which was further developed into the 911.

In 1950 the Porsche factory relocated to Zuffenhausen, Germany, and general production of the 356 continued until April 1965, well after the replacement model 911 made its September 1964 debut. Of the 76,000 356s originally produced, approximately half survive. The 356 was first produced by Austrian company Porsche Konstruktionen GesmbH (1948–1949), and then by German company Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH (1950–1965). The game-changing 356 was Porsche’s first production automobile.

Famous singers who became Porsche 356 owners included Janis Joplin and John Denver.

As well as the unfortunate James Dean, a host of other thespians were drawn to the gorgeous looks and ruggedly powerful performance of the Porsche 356. These included Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Elke Summer, and Jacqueline Bisset.

When Jose Ferrer was contacted to play in David Lean’s cinematic masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia, he was dissatisfied with the small size of his role, demanding $25,000 – which was more than the combined fee of lead players Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif – plus a brand-new Porsche 356.

This no doubt made a significant shift from Lawrence of Arabia’s ubiquitous camels.

-Alex Manos, Owner