Daily Slideshow: This Rusty 1957 Porsche 356 Sold for over $500,000!
This crusty Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Coupe might need a ton of work, but its rarity ensured one heck of a selling price!
Rare, Rusty, and Pricey!
While collectors once paid big money for nothing less than perfectly restored gems, these days, it's all about originality. And for good reason. As the saying goes, cars are only original once. And those market conditions have led to some pretty hefty prices on some pretty crusty cars of late, including this incredible 1957 Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Coupe that recently fetched $506,000 in a Gooding & Company auction!
>>Join the conversation about this rare 356A at auction right here in the RennList Forum!
Proud Pedigree
Despite its rather modest appearance, this vintage Porsche is one of the more exciting discoveries in recent years. The 356A 1500 GS Carrera Coupe helped bridge the gap between road car and race car for Porsche, packing a four-cam engine straight from the factory. But this once proud 356 has sat in storage for 45 years after failing a brake inspection in the early '70s.
>>Join the conversation about this rare 356A at auction right here in the RennList Forum!
Somewhat Rough, but Plenty of Potential
Since then, this once-proud Porsche has had its original engine removed and taken apart and rust has reared its ugly head pretty much everywhere. The original engine was included with the sale, but it needs a total rebuild. But this was, at one time, quite the attractive car, sporting a timeless silver over black color combination.
>>Join the conversation about this rare 356A at auction right here in the RennList Forum!
Checkered Past
Remarkably, the black leatherette interior is still in pretty solid shape despite sitting under a car port for decades. Prior to being stored, the 356 had numerous owners, including factory-trained mechanic and race car driver Manfred Loewen. It still shows only 53,000 miles on the odometer, which isn't bad after nearly 20 years on the road.
>>Join the conversation about this rare 356A at auction right here in the RennList Forum!
Making a Case for Original
Regardless of condition, the Porsche 356A 1500 Carrera Coupe was one of the most exotic sports cars of the '50s. Throw in the fact that most have been restored, and that makes this very much original example very, very special. And in the minds of at least one buyer, that makes it worth every penny of a half-million dollars!
>>Join the conversation about this rare 356A at auction right here in the RennList Forum!
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