Vehicle Description
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
• VIN 150259 completed on December 1957
• Matching Numbers
• Two (2) Tops
• California car
• Same owner for the past 42 years
Stored in California for the past 38 years, California Black
Plates, very original straight body with very good gaps and panel
fit. Original floor pans and battery box with minimal rust. All
matching numbers including the front trunk, rear deck lid, and
doors. Matching 1600cc Normal engine and 644 manual 4-speed
transmission. Very complete with all glass, gauges, knobs, brakes,
bumpers, front seats, rear seats, steering wheel, hardtop with
fixed rear quarter windows with complete trim (rare to find with
all the trim), convertible soft top and both rear cover panels for
the hardtop & soft top. The engine does turn over but is not in
running and driving condition.
Per the factory Kardex this 356A Cabriolet was delivered by Otto
Gl�ckler in Frankfurt, Germany. Delivered on December 23rd, 1957 to
the first owner, Lieutenant Scott G. Budge, stationed in Hanau,
Germany located approximately 25km from Frankfurt. Originally
finished in Light Ivory (color code 5704) with Red leatherette
interior. Factory options include Becker Europa radio (currently
has an AM SAPPHIRE radio), antenna, and chrome wheels. Other
options include side body molding and deluxe horn ring. Rare
opportunity to acquire a matching number 356A T2 Cabriolet
restoration project.
History 356A October 1955 - September 1959
A number of engines were added to the model line at the start of
356A production, including the venerable 100-hp 1500cc four-cam
Carrera motor. The largest pushrod four now available was 1600cc,
while the 1100cc engines were dropped. For 1956, the 1500cc line of
pushrod fours was also removed. Single-throat carburetors were
replaced by Zenith twin-throat carbs in 1957. And by 1958, all
pushrod motors were 1600cc. For 1959, all were 1600cc. The
suspension changes introduced on the 356A resulted in the most
significant improvement to the 356's handling during the entire 356
production run. In addition to the front anti-roll bar introduced
near the end of pre-A production, oversteer was further tamed by
adding softer front springs, stiffening the anti-roll bar, and
doubling the caster angle. Understeer was engineered into the
chassis with updates to the steering linkage and softer rear
suspension. Longer, more vertical rear shocks were also added. The
wheels were widened to 4.5 inches and the diameter decreased to 15
inches. The windshield was now curved instead of bent. The
dashboard was flat. Body styles included coupes and cabriolets and
two types of roadsters, the iconic Speedster and its successor in
1959, the one-year-only Convertible D.
