Vehicle Description
CPR is delighted to offer this 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster finished
in Black over a complete red leather interior. This example went
through a ground-up restoration here at CPR and was completed to
the highest standards. The car remains numbers matching to include
its engine, gearbox, and body panels.
CPR first purchased this Speedster from Reid Vann Motors in 2014 as
a complete and very straight example that was running and driving
but was in need of restoration. The car was stored for a brief
period before entering the restoration shop to receive the lovely
ground-up restoration that it now wears.
First, the car was completely disassembled and stripped to bare
metal by hand. We do not media blast or acid dip our vehicles as it
can compromise the integrity of the existing metal. The tub then
entered our metal shop, where it was fully metal worked and brought
back to factory specifications in all areas. Lead was added where
needed, and all panel gaps were set to factory standards.
The car then went down to our paint preparation shop, where it
spent several hundred hours being sealed, primed, and extensively
blocked. The undercarriage was undercoated to factory standards and
finished in the correct shade of black. A final layer of primer was
added, and then final blocking was performed before the Black
Glasurit paint was applied. Following paint application, the tub
was baked in our Binks down-draft paint booth to ensure a strong
chip-resistant finish. A full color sand and buff was performed to
finish the process.
Following paint, the car was partially assembled before being sent
to AutoBahn Interiors in Sorrento Valley to install the full red
leather. Correct square weave carpet was installed throughout, and
a black top with a matching tonneau cover was made for the car. The
car then returned to CPR, and the final assembly was completed.
The drivetrain was completely overhauled during the restoration.
The gearbox was rebuilt in-house, where a complete overhaul was
performed, including a new gearset, synchros, bearings, main shaft,
and a detailed blasting and refinish to the case. The engine was
also rebuilt in-house at CPR and upgraded with a 1720cc big bore
kit. The engine now produces near 100hp and allows the car to drive
comfortably at highway speeds.
Following the final assembly, the car was sorted and driven 150
miles for break-in. The car was completed in July of 2017 and was
shown at a local San Diego classic car show before being shipped
home to the client who commissioned the restoration in Connecticut.
The owner stored the car with the rest of his collection in a
climate-controlled facility. Over three years of ownership, the
owner only drove the car 91 miles. It now shows just 241 miles
since its restoration.
This Speedster is the definition of a properly sorted 356. The fit
and finish of every surface, gap, and fixture are second to none.
The car is a breath of fresh air from the minute you sit in the
driver's bucket seat to the moment you pull her into the garage
after a lively canyon drive.
The 356 Speedster is a Porsche Icon. The 1958 T2 Speedsters, in our
opinion, are the most collectible given they were the last year,
the most developed, and the most excellent variant of the Speedster
to drive by a considerable margin. If you are in the market for a
Speedster that is ready for anything from the beautiful car shows
to a vintage rally, this is a must-consider example.
