Right Hand Drive 356

[Steve Heinrichs]

It has been several years since I went through Concours stress.

Still---the judges likely would deduct points for anything they perceived to be not original. So, problem.

It will get worse. With prices as they are, etc.----any deviation from orignal (including detailed color and, yes, carpet stuff) as more facts come out---will cause point reductions and results will continue to affect value.

Steve Heinrichs

[Murugesh Nidyananda]

Didn't buy the car for value(though I know it's only going up) but my dads fussy. He wants everything to be as good as original as how factory wanted it.

Thing is back home in Malaysia would be one of the best as is. But he's fussy like that and it kinda has grown onto me.

So though the car is great, my dad wants the carpets to be changed (cause it has oatmeal) and the leather which is perfect but in black, to be changed to blue. Will post more pics in lieu course.

[S.J.Szabo]

Mr.Doyle:

Yes, the early MY '57S were indeed mostly continuation '56s, so 5607 was still the metallic (the later non-metallic had a different number) and the seats have cord inserts. Is the overall combo pretty? I wouldn't actually know, as the only carpet left when it fell into my custody, was on the sills, rear seat back, and the shift mech. cover, all of which were badly sun-bleached and pretty much devoid of color. The only way I know for sure that it was blue was from worn remnants with bindings and unexposed edges.

However, as a sidebar on a happier note, all of the original vinyl remains in serviceable condition, tho the chairs are pretty rough; I keep them covered to preserve them in hopes of one day finding someone who can recover them using the original padding materials instead of the omnipresent foam that is now the norm. I hate foam.

I would like to note that the combination looked good on other coupes I've seen, but I have yet to find another so trimmed out.

When I was ready to put the coupe back on the road at the end of my Preservation effort, I couldn't find a source for the blue carpet, so I settled for an aftermarket set (with floor pieces, my personal preference anyway) in grey that it wears to this day. All I did was to cut thick underlayment for the floor pieces. This makes for a plush feel underfoot and contributes to a quieter ride. I hate those stick-on, alum.-backed panels.

Delivery intention:

Given the vagaries of the Kardex records (I got a Xerox of mine before they started the letter nonsense) and all, I realize I'm sticking my neck out with this conjecture, but what the hey.

While I know nothing of its ownership prior to 1978, I reckon that Hoffman drop-shipped that puppy to California right off the bat, as that is where I found it and it did have yellow-on-black plates (and was registered to the engine number as was the practice when the car was new). It also bore some scars (and engine parts, including a couple Lukes&Shoreman stamps... the fact that Rich Lukes could not remember it specifically by 1980 only reinforces, to me, the idea that it was massaged early in its life.) from casual club racing, an activity I associate with the Left Coast at that time.

Now, this is not a unique situation, and I have known of roughly contemporary examples so routed to the Coast by specific order, to have the identities of those first customers on their Kardexes. So, given the coupe's "first of the '57s" status, it seems a fair and logical probability that it was to be a "floor" model in the Frisco sales outlet (whose name now escapes me). After all, getting new examples to sell off the floor is a hallowed tradition for all dealerships; it helps move cars and provides instant cash in the event of transaction. And there is no doubt (in my mind) that a Normal coupe, painted and trimmed as mine was, was a very attractive and movable piece to have sitting around the showroom.

Yes, its a guess, but it works for me.

[Carrera GT]

The previous owner opted for no badges and a clean look.

During concours, what would a judge be looking out for?


I should change this topic to my RHD 356 ( asking all my questions here )

Your coupe came originally with gold plated badges. On the front nose was the "PORSCHE" script. On the rear below the deck lid, was also a "PORSCHE" script - as well as either a 1600 or 1600-super badge.

With great care, from the backside of the body panels, sometimes the holes can be located where the badge pins go through. And with special attention from the frontside, a very small drill bit can clear the holes.

Michael Doyle

[Carrera GT]

Delivery intention:

Given the vagaries of the Kardex records (I got a Xerox of mine before they started the letter nonsense) and all, I realize I'm sticking my neck out with this conjecture, but what the hey.

While I know nothing of its ownership prior to 1978, I reckon that Hoffman drop-shipped that puppy to California right off the bat, as that is where I found it and it did have yellow-on-black plates (and was registered to the engine number as was the practice when the car was new). It also bore some scars (and engine parts, including a couple Lukes&Shoreman stamps... the fact that Rich Lukes could not remember it specifically by 1980 only reinforces, to me, the idea that it was massaged early in its life.) from casual club racing, an activity I associate with the Left Coast at that time.

Now, this is not a unique situation, and I have known of roughly contemporary examples so routed to the Coast by specific order, to have the identities of those first customers on their Kardexes. So, given the coupe's "first of the '57s" status, it seems a fair and logical probability that it was to be a "floor" model in the Frisco sales outlet (whose name now escapes me). After all, getting new examples to sell off the floor is a hallowed tradition for all dealerships; it helps move cars and provides instant cash in the event of transaction. And there is no doubt (in my mind) that a Normal coupe, painted and trimmed as mine was, was a very attractive and movable piece to have sitting around the showroom.

Yes, its a guess, but it works for me.

SJ,

Certainly sounds plausible --- especially with the Yellow/Black CA plates still on it when you became the owner in 1978. You still have those plates..don't you? Any prior year registration stickers loaded up on the rear one?

"Michael" Doyle

[S.J.Szabo]

Mr.Doyle:

The Trusty Coupe did not come into my custody until 1980 (the year I joined the Registry), so my knowledge of ownership extended only to the party I bought it from, who acquired it in '78.

Unfortunately, between excitement, short-sightedness (CA had not yet instituted their vintage plate policy), and the fact that there was only one plate on the car when I got it, the DMV's insistence on its surrender means that the plate is lost to me. However, as I recall, at that time, CA had not instituted the yearly sticker policy either.

[Murugesh Nidyananda]

Guys got a picture of a kardex of my car. What does options say and what color interior was it? Not sure what k'leder bla.... means.

Sorry thats the best i could get from a picture in the file which came along with my car!

[Jack Staggs]

... but my dads fussy. He wants everything to be as good as original as how factory wanted it.

I get it, I guess, taking out a perfectly good interior but on the "Re: 356 T-1 Rebuild" thread you said "...reckon i'm going to follow suit and removed the bumper bars cause your car looks great without them!" Just seems a little contradictory to me.

[Murugesh Nidyananda]

Some cars didn't have the bumper bars,right?...So ill try to not disclose the fact that the car came with it. He's not very internet savvy

I just feel the car looks (lower?) without it or is it just an illusion. With the help of a friend just got the headrest rolls brackets, will have to reupholster and re-pad them.

On the cord lining for bags in the rear seat, where did they attach too. Cannot seem to find the place to attach them. As far as I know it was an option for my car.

[Carrera GT]

Guys got a picture of a kardex of my car. What does options say and what color interior was it? Not sure what k'leder bla.... means.

Sorry thats the best i could get from a picture in the file which came along with my car!

k'leder = Kunstleder - this is imitation leather. Also known as Leatherette or Vinyl.

bla = part of the word is cut off - the word is Blau - meaning Blue.

So... "Kunstleder Blau" means Blue Vinyl - this is what the Seats were done in as well as all other panels in the car.

Michael Doyle

[Steve Heinrichs]

Guys---

A small plug here: Michael knows more about colorsand color schemes than anyone including anyone posting on the R Forum.

Steve Heinrichs

[Murugesh Nidyananda]

Thank you Steve. Michael has been a great help to me.

Cars finally on the way to the port as I type. Thank you so much everyone for helping me with all my questions.

[Jack Staggs]

I think that all the 56 cars had bumper guards on the bumpers, except maybe Carreras. So if you want to delete them it's just a matter of welding the holes in the bumper, metal finishing, getting and fitting new proper deco strips and seals and repainting the bumpers to the exact color and finish. But it's only your Dad's money, right?

[Murugesh Nidyananda]

Nah it's a grad gift from him. So well all maintenance and what not to be done by me.

Ah then maybe not. Sounds like a waste go take something perfect and redo it,all the more when it came only on Carreras. Don't want to be seen as a wanna-be.

Thanks for the tips Jack.

[Jack Staggs]

Good perspective. I'm sure you will enjoy it in any fashion. BTW, does your country not allow RT hand conversions?