HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: 1956 Porsche 356A coupe similar to the one...

Pick of the Day: 1956 Porsche 356A coupe similar to the one my Dad drove

The gleaming black matching-number sports car is a desirable early model

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My dad always loved Porsche cars. When he was a pilot in the Air Force stationed in Germany, he bought a 1955 Porsche 356 Continental that he used as a daily driver.

He told me stories about how he and three other pilot friends somehow squeezed their way into the car to go watch the 1000KM race at the Nürburgring. This had to be a pretty rough trip as my dad was 6 feet tall and there is not a lot of rear-seat room in a 356.

Stories like this made me a Porsche fan from a very early age, and the first serious sports car I ever owned was a Porsche. Over the years, I have owned more than 30 different Porsche sports cars.

Sadly, my dad at 91 years old passed away last Monday about an hour after my mom’s funeral, which was kind of perfect for them.  In his honor, I am featuring as Pick of the Day a 1956 Porsche 356A coupe finished in Black with a red leatherette interior. This car is being advertised on ClassicCars.com by a Los Angeles dealer, and while not exactly the same car my dad had, it is quite close.

This 356A coupe is described be thew dealer as an excellent Porsche that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. It’s a matching-number example, as verified by its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, in the original color combination.  The car is also said to have more than $70,000 of service records which run from 2006 through 2016.

The extensive number of pictures in the ad for this Porsche show what looks to be a truly great 356A. The interior, paintwork, engine, front trunk and underside of the car all look to be in superb condition.

porsche

It looks as if the previous owner has installed a period-style modern radio in this Porsche, but the original radio is included with the sale.

Of all the 356s models out there, the early cars have been my favorites, and specifically the 356As with their improved power and suspension components as they retain the purity of design of the first series, known as Pre-A models, but drive better.

The Porsche 356 is always my answer to people who are looking for a car for vintage rallies that is fun to drive, well-built and reliable, and does not cost tons of money. If I were to go on any vintage rally, the 356 would be my personal choice 10 times out of 10. These cars are really that exceptional.

If you think I am biased, drop a note to fellow classicars.com editor Bob Golfen and ask him about his 356, but be ready to read a long email reply.

porsche

This Porsche is offered for a market correct price of $185,000, and I am sure if my dad were here, he would like it as much as he did his original.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day

Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.

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