This Porsche restoration project in the workshop is from a local guy that has owned this 1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A for the last 50 years! The car is complete, as it came from the factory, even with the original floor mats as shown in the photos below. Astonishingly, the car was last registered on the road 1963, the tag is displayed on the lower left hand side of the windshield.
This is part one of a series of posts covering the Porsche restoration of this 1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet, taking us through the final paint and mechanical assembly of the body. The introduction post on this Porsche restoration 356 Pre-A shows pictures of how the Porsche came to us, then after dismantle was complete, and then after the body was media blasted. Post two of Porsche Restoration covered the beginning of the nose rebuild, leaving the new section TIG welded into position. Part three of Porsche Restoration looked at how the rest of the front end of the Porsche was repaired. Part four of Porsche Restoration described how the restoration of the floors and inside cab was accomplished. Part five of Porsche Restoration showed the results of metal finishing all over, where the 356 Pre-A was ready for paint. Part six of Porsche Restoration shows the (almost) final results, with the Pre-A mechanical assembly complete and in paint!
The owner dismantled a portion of the car, leaving us to complete the remainder of the dismantle, mainly the undercarriage. Our first stage objective is to media blast, restore the sheet metal to factory, then we will tackle body and paint all to concourse condition.
Check out the pictures below of how the Porsche came to us, then after dismantle was complete, and then after the body was media blasted.
Porsche Restoration – 356 Pre-A at delivery to The Metal Surgeon
The Porsche 356 Pre-A sits as it was delivered. The customer dismantled part of the car and planned for us to take care of the rest.
Rear view as delivered.
Side view as delivered.
Tag in the window shows the car was last registered on the road in 1963!
Original Porsche floor mats from 1953 in awesome shape.
Gearbox removed.
Porsche Restoration – 356 Pre-A after media blasting – ready for restoration to begin!
Back from media blasting and here are the fenders and the picture tells it all. Minimal metal work required for this to be the highest quality restoration.
Real clean and original sheet metal.
Probably the worst area of decay on this early Porsche 356.
‘B’ post decay was originally covered in fiberglass when the car was delivered. After media blasting there was little material left.
Very clean and solid rear back panels.
Engine bay, again original metal in great unmolested shape.
Inner ‘A’ post structure as clean as it gets.
Nice examples!
The front end had taken a knock in the past, most of the damage is around the drip rail.
Closer inspection of the front end damage. This will be the area we attack first.
Top view of front end damage.
A little crumple evidence in the inner wheel well.
Check the links below more posts on this very cool 1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A restoration or join the mailing list (upper right-hand corner of any page) for monthly updates.
This is part one of a series of posts covering the restoration of this 1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet, taking us through the final paint and mechanical assembly of the body. The introduction post on this Porsche 356 Pre-A restoration shows pictures of how the Porsche came to us, then after dismantle was complete, and then after the body was media blasted. Post two covered the beginning of the nose rebuild, leaving the new section TIG welded into position. Part three looked at how the rest of the front end of the Porsche was repaired. Part four described how the restoration of the floors and inside cab was accomplished. Part five showed the results of metal finishing all over, where the 356 Pre-A was ready for paint. Part six shows the (almost) final results, with the Pre-A mechanical assembly complete and in paint!