For Sale at Auction: 1951 Porsche 356 in Carmel, California

Chassis No. 10359
Engine No. 30244 (See Text)
Transmission No. AH2278245

Since its earliest years, Porsche has taken great care to document and celebrate its own evolution. Whether through its numerous "Der Stammbaum" posters, dealer guides tracing Porsche's developments, or Jeff Zwart's memorable 2009 Family Tree television advertisement, the marque has long viewed its history as a continuous lineage. So important are these hardscrabble origins to the company that, after selling the first Porsche (356-001) to fund further road car production, it later reacquired the Roadster in 1958, placing it in the factory's nascent museum collection.

That early period also coincided with a phase of unexpectedly rapid growth, as the factory began to recognize the historical significance of its earliest cars. While Porsche awaited a permanent return to its Stuttgart premises, proceeds from 356-001 helped fund the first Austrian-built aluminum Gm�nd Coupes and, subsequently, the early steel-bodied cars assembled in Reutter's Zuffenhausen facilities.

Initially projecting modest demand, Porsche anticipated building no more than 500 Type 356 examples in total, with Richard von Frankenberg famously remarking, "...certainly not more than 500 cars in the first two years." In fact, production would surpass 1,000 units by the end of 1951 alone, as the Porsche 356 became an important contributor to West Germany's postwar economic recovery.

The 356 Sportwagen Roadster

Among these exceptionally early cars is chassis number 10359, initially designated as an open-topped 356 Cabriolet to be sent to Heuer Karosseriebau. Interestingly, it is noted in Porsche Speedster Typ 540 that the "Heuer body-book entry is blank for this chassis number." Clearly, someone had a hand in the direction of the car, and that someone was Heinrich Sauter, a racer and scion of the Stuttgart-based Hahn & Kolb machine tool company, whose intention was to build a faster Porsche for competition use.

The former Luftwaffe pilot remained drawn to high-performance machinery after the war, racing a Veritas and 356 Coupe, and his proximity to Stuttgart made it likely that he would return to Porsche for faster machinery. The 356 was taken to Hans Klenk's Karosserie in B�blingen after March 1951 to be fitted with its lightweight, aerodynamic bodywork. Porsche's factory magazine Christophorus noted that the "shape of the nose was exactly the Porsche shape of the 356" and estimated its weight at "a little under 1,320 pounds." Klenk was a racer himself, and is best known for winning the 1952 Carrera Panamericana in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe with Karl Kling.

Porsche Speedster Typ 540 notes that Klenk "created many unusual parts for the car, which made its design unique... factory mechanics then assembled the car." In fact, the book further notes that Porsche's own Wagenpapiern factory production book records chassis number 10359 as "Sauter Special-Sportw." Klenk's body integrated hand-crafted rear-hinged "suicide" doors at Sauter's request to assist with a quick exit by a co-driver at rally checkpoints. Additional modifications included a bolt-in aerodynamic rear deck covering the two rear seats, leather front hood straps, and, according to Christophorus, special "spring wheels which at the time were constructed by Engineer Manziel."

Finished in Germany's national racing color of white and adorned with W 21-3388 number plates, the low-slung Zuffenhausen-completed Roadster was first tested at the N�rburgring. Klenk's resulting design may have been influenced by Erwin Komenda's earliest Aluminum Sport Roadster (America Roadster) concept of October 1950, or it may reflect Klenk's own bodywork expertise that would later echo in the lightweight production cars finalized in 1951; regardless of chronology, the resemblance is striking.

Under the rear engine lid lay an enlarged displacement 1,500-cc flat-four, the first such large displacement engine ever fitted to a 356 and the largest engine fitted to a 356 until the 1,600-cc Type 616/1 debuted in 1956. Porsche's factory magazine notes in 1960 that "at the time the 1500 Porsche didn't exist at all, officially." In attendance for the maiden shakedown at the N�rburgring was racer, founder of Christophorus, and a member of Porsche royalty, Richard von Frankenberg. It was clear that the factory had great interest in the success of Sauter's 356 Sportwagen.

The Porsche 356 Sportwagen's first competitive outing came on 3 June 1951 during the second round of the German Sports Championship at the N�rburgring. Entered as start number 34 among a field of Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchettas, BMWs, Veritas, and Porsches, Christophorus records that Sauter "made the 2nd best time in training, got away to a very good start in the actual race and appeared leading the field at the end of the first lap..." The Roadster's auspicious start would unfortunately end on the second lap with engine trouble. Sauter also entered Hillclimb Freiburg-Schauinsland (start number 38 and now AW 21-0733), the third round of the championship, finishing 9th in the 1.5-liter class. Full of competitive spirit, Sauter and his co-driver Alfred Rath then entered the Porsche as number 19 in Liege-Rome-Liege, a 3,000-mile rally ten days later, with period reports simply stating that "the car did not arrive at the finish." Sauter later recalled that a blown tire and the car's ambitious suspension system prematurely ended their race.

After this rally, Sauter parted ways with his namesake Roadster with Christophorus noting he "sold it to French sports driver Fran�ois Picard." Yet interestingly, the 356's Kardex warranty card identifies Picard as the first owner, indicating that Porsche reacquired the car directly from Heinrich Sauter. In a 1986 interview with Sauter about the Roadster, he recounted "No, I think Picard bought it from Porsche, Porsche wanted the car, so I gave it to them." Furthermore, Karl Ludvigsen notes in Excellence was Expected, "Nevertheless the factory took an interest in this one-off Porsche which was further modified with front-brake cooling scoops under its head-lights and fitted with an authentic works 1.5-liter Type 528 engine." Randy Leffingwell recounts in Porsche Legends that "the car was bought by the Porsche factory and was used as a kind of development mule for a short time." Images of the car corroborate the modifications completed between Sauter's ownership and the end of Picard's ownership that would prove quite fruitful on circuit for the Frenchman.

"Le petit tank"

While no warranty date is listed on the Kardex, Picard, who was based in Nice, is said to have acquired the Roadster, now fitted with a Type 527 1,500-cc engine (serial number 30244) in time to contest a number of important races on the 1952 French racing calendar. To make the car his own, Christophorus notes that "Picard had it painted blue-in the French national racing colors-and named it 'le petit tank'..." Numerous images in the history file from Picard's season with the car show it now registered on W 23-3237 number plates, believed by Sauter to be Porsche factory supplied. Picard's time with the Sauter Sportwagen was prolific and successful.

After starting the season in his trusty 356 Coupe, it is likely that Picard entered and won his class with his new Roadster at the Val de Cuech hillclimb in April. His "le petit tank" now fitted with a larger windshield and typical Porsche wheels, was first photographed at the Rallye Maroc (Marrakech) with start number 60 where he finished second overall. After a non-appearance at the C...for more information please contact the seller.