Completed on 10 March 1953, this rare and highly desirable Pre-A coupe is one of just 1,546 coupes produced for the year. Delivered through Max Hoffman’s dealership, this example was originally finished in Azure Blue and fitted with a Type 528 1500 Super engine, Porsche’s most powerful engine option at the time. Until 1959 Max Hoffman was the sole importer of Porsche cars into America, distributing them across the United States. While the Kardex does not list any options – or interior color or transmission number for that matter – it was typical of this time for these details to be omitted from the warranty card. Typically, those 356 arriving through Hoffman Motor Company were the best and most luxuriously equipped of all Porsche automobiles leaving Stuttgart and with this example, constructed as a ‘Super’, it would be reasonable to assume it was optioned accordingly.
Offering one of the most pure and elegant driving experiences extant, this Pre-A is powered by an upgraded 1600cc air-cooled engine. Weighing in at just under 1,700 pounds (770 kg), this tasteful improvement provides a welcomed increase in power without sacrificing factory driving characteristics. Offering a charming interior, – still an influence on Porsche interiors to this day – this Porsche is complete with a body-colored dashboard equipped with a Telefunken radio and optional green-letter Veigel gauges. Many interior updates introduced the previous year like a passenger sun visor and conventional indicator stalk along with the fully reclining seats continued to refine the passengers experience.
Finished in a stunning, period-correct specification of Medium Ivory over Red leather, this US specification ‘Pre-A’ was originally delivered to California cherished over 50 years of single ownership. Completed in 2017, this Pre-A received a multi-year, nut-and-bolt comprehensive restoration done by marque experts. As per consignor, this comprehensive restoration retained all original body panels and was executed with a tremendous level of attention to detail.
A documented example with a digital copy of its factory Kardex warranty card and Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, this is a seldom-found opportunity to acquire a Pre-A 356 coupe with incredible provenance. With a recently completed, show-quality restoration in period correct colors, this highly collectable vehicle offers enthusiasts one of the earliest and most coveted Porsche driving experiences.