BACKGROUND TO 82584
Chassis 82584 was sold via Hoffman Motors, NY in 1956 and was retained by the first owner until the late 60’s. The second owner kept the Speedster in his private collection for over 50 years ago, whereupon he agreed to let the car go to our good friend and 356 Restorer, Vince Bobba who had been chasing the car for several years.
The car had very limited use from new and at its core was a fully panel matching, engine and transaxle matching car. The car still retained all its matching numbers engine, transmission, doors, engine lid body panels and wheels.
RESTORATION
The car has completely disassembled to the bare chassis, doors, bumpers, front bumper and rear deck lid, completely media blasted. Every part of the bare body was addressed and brought back to original prior to body and metal work.
After paint the new wiring harness was installed with the car along with all the bushings and bearings in the front torsion tubes with all associated hardware, re-plated. The front torsion arms were straightness checked on Porsche Factory gauges. The front spindles were replaced with B spindle cores. These were pressed apart, washed, blasted, magna fluxed and straightness checked for run out on a lathe. After straightness was verified the spindles and C links were rebuilt, remachined and properly installed on the car.
The brake system has new wheel cylinders, the drums were turned and the newly relined shoes were arced, individually to fit each drum. New hard and soft lines were fabricated or sourced and installed throughout the car along with an NOS ATE master cylinder, with the appropriate aluminium reservoir.
The steering system used the newly professionally rebuilt ZF steering box, installed along with new tie rod ends. The ZF box makes all the difference in the world versus the original VW derived steering box used through July of 57. All new Koni classic shocks and a steering dampener were installed on the car.
The original transaxle was rebuilt by Vic Skirmants and was rebuilt with all new bearings and synchros, after tumbling the case, giving it the proper oiled looking surface. A new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing were installed.
The fuel tank is new, with a rebuilt sending unit, a new front to back hard line and all associated cloth covered fuel lines. Tucked under the passenger side floor boards is an inline electric off-on fuel pump, to be used prior to cold starting. Preloading the fuel system after sitting, coupled with an ignition switch relay hidden under the dash allows the car to immediately start up. The hard to find in good working order T1 ignition switch works perfectly with this relay!
The 5 wheels are original to the car, are dated 2/56 and are fitted with Pirelli CN36 tires. It has the thicker Willhoit Restoration sway bar.
The original engine was completely rebuilt.
The bare case was washed, then vapour blasted. After blasting each oil galley was cleaned by hand. The clean case measured out at standard, then had recently re-plated original hardware installed. The crankshaft was turned, straightness check and balanced. The rods were completely remachined/rebushed and balanced to 1/2 a gram, end to end machined and are actually better than new. New pistons and cylinders were sourced and rehoned to better fit. The compression ratio is higher at 9.2:1.
The heads have new guides and all new valves, they were cced and checked on a flow bench. A reigned of the camshaft to the early Super profile was used and all lifters/tappets were remachined. The correct distributor was rebuilt as was the mechanical fuel pump.
The original 32mm Solex carbs were sent out for complete rebuild with new bushings fitted to the throttle shafts. The car starts immediately and on the engine builders dyne puts out 80hp, not the 60 as original. The exterior of the engine looks as it should and would have in 1956.
All the gauges were rebuilt by experts at Palo Alto Speedometer and function as they are supposed to. The chrome, brightwork and plating was done and or managed by Victor Miles. The wiper motor was rebuilt and the system was restored to original. The correct wipers are installed on the car. Other subsystems were individually restored as well, like the horn set, the generator, starter, lights, rear glass reflectors, turn signals and the shine down light(Miles), etc.
Everything on the car has been restored or brought back to original. It starts right up and drives as it’s supposed to.
This car with better, remachined spindles, better tires, a better sway bar and a completely redone suspension, coupled with the ZF box and new tie rods, allow the car to perform and drive better than original, while keeping it’s original appearance.
This car represents a very rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully prepared, fully matching numbers Porsche 356 T1A Speedsters which has just undergone an 8 years concours restoration.
We are able to assist with international shipping, transport and storage.
For more information about this Porsche 356A Speedster for sale please contact our sales team on 01908 921256 or 07956 349877.
1955 
