As the 356th design study by Dr. Porsche, the 356 reigns as one of the longest running body styles. Out of the ashes of WWII and on the 'heels' of his successful Volkswagen design, Dr. Porsche invented an icon. The 356 went through iterations A, B, and C before ultimately being replaced by the 911 model. The shape of the 356 led to its nickname, the 'bathtub' Porsche.
In 1955, Max Hoffman was the sold US importer of Porsche products. He convinced Porsche that Americans did not buy cars with numbers for names. Hoffman created the name 'Speedster' for the stripped-down 356 and 'Continental' for the coupe and cabrio. The 'Continental' name was short-lived, as Ford Motor Company insisted that Porsche drop it, as it conflicted with the name of Ford's newest division. The Continentals were recalled and badged as 'Europeans.'
The car shown was severely damaged during the summer of 2006 when its trailer crashed into a guardrail, flattening the passenger side and folding the suspension under the car. Fortunately, the Detroit area is home to a very active Porsche community and the best body shops. The car was taken down to bare metal and hammered back to perfection.
'Racy Elegance, Styled by a Delicate Hand' -- in 1955 the sole importer of Porsche products, Max Hoffman, convinced Porsche that Americans only bought cars with identifying names. Hoffman convinced Porsche to badge the cars 'Continental' or 'Speedster'. Ford Motor Company objected to the name 'Continental' so it became the 356 'A' for 1956. The Continental was the luxury version of the 356. Coachwork for the 1955 Porsche was made exclusively by Reutter of Stuttgart, Germany.
You can see here we are doing a steering wheel reconditioning.
source: http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1428/Porsche-356.aspx
http://www.cooksupholstery.com
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