1959 Porsche 356 Convertible D Super

Among the most desirable of the seminal 356 series, the Convertible D is essentially a roll-up window Speedster. The Speedster was conceived by Max Hoffman, Porsche's American importer, as a car to sell for under $3000 in order to compete with the Alfa Romeo Giuliettas which were becoming popular in the States for their sparkling performance & European styling. The Porsche Cabriolets, with their 3 layer formal softtops & some level of luxury appointments, were selling for well over $4000 & simply couldn't match the price of the Alfas. Hoffman's idea was to delete all the equipment deemed "unnecessary" including wind up windows, radio, reclining seats, & the all-weather top - replaced by side curtains, non adjustable bucket seats, & a difficult to install but lightweight casual top. The result took the sports car world by storm & remains a classic car icon today.

However, by the 1959 model year, it became apparent that an increasingly sophisticated marketplace was demanding somewhat better creature comforts & weather protection than afforded by the Speedster, thus was born the Convertible D - for Drauz, the body builder for the 1331 cars in the series. It retains the bolt on windshield aspect of the Speedster while adopting a proper fold down top, roll up windows, & reclining, much more accommodating & comfortable seats. Even with the additional equipment, the "D" remained significantly lighter than the Cabriolet resulting in better performance, particularly in Super trim.

This example was beautifully & comprehensibly repainted in Ruby Red 25 years ago & has held up remarkably well, with great depth & shine to the finish & only a few small chips typical of a driven car. The shut lines are to factory specs, & there is no evidence of rust or corrosion. The entire interior, including rebuilt seat frames with proper German vinyl coverings, proper Haartz cloth convertible top with a freshly powder coated frame, German wool carpets, perfect steering wheel, & rubber floor mats are new, fresh, & beautifully fitted. The odometer shows 18,493 miles & is believed to reflect actual mileage of 118,493 total miles, as the car has only been used sparingly for the last 35 years. The carburetors & brake system have been recently rebuilt & are up to spec. It drives wonderfully, with good suspension action, strong synchros, good power & no smoke, & exhibits the wonderful driving dynamics that characterize 356's at the forefront of '50's sports car development.