Restoration of 1958 RHD 356A

porscheman · Post by **porscheman** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:18 pm

Hello fellow DDKers. I've been lurking on the forum for some time and thought it was time to show my hand (or rather my car).

After years of looking for a suitable restoration project I finally took the plunge and bought the car (or rather bits) from PRS in late 2009. Why this car? Well, it is an AFN supplied car with the first owner being Betty Haig, and so I thought it well worth saving despite its dire condition...... The car also retains its original UK registration number "27 SMD".

I have no practical restoration experience at all and so the guys at Sportwagen have been working their magic over the past 8 or 9 months. The shell is now in the queue for paint, which will be Aquamarine Blue (5707) as per original.

The car will be reassembled by PRS using the original (albeit tweaked) engine, with completion hopefully by the middle of next year.

Hope the very small selection of photos that follow are of interest (I have literally hundreds if anyone wants to see specific areas of metalwork - Sportwagen do like to ensure their clients are kept up to speed on progress).

If anyone knows the car any history on it, especially early history, would be most appreciated.

964RS · Post by **964RS** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:25 pm

looks like a great starting point....please keep posting pics and updates

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:54 pm

that metal work looks fantastic

They do know how to fettle

visualfx · Post by **visualfx** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:10 pm

Liking that bodywork

Keep the pictures coming, I'm a sucker for an "A"

porscheman · Post by **porscheman** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:31 pm

Thanks guys for all of the positive comments. I will certainly keep the photos coming.

I'm hoping Roy will pick up on the thread and recognise the car from early pcgb get togethers ????

decapman · Post by **decapman** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:13 pm

Truly stunning and beautiful
Really look forward to watching this unfold

dcraigmyle · Post by **dcraigmyle** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:27 pm

It looks excelent for RHD car.
Did it need alot of metal repairs?
Love to see restro photos, why not post on photobucket?
David

porscheman · Post by **porscheman** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:53 pm

Hi David, it needed plenty of metalwork; someone working on it full time for close to nine months. The first photo above shows what at first glance looks like a reasonable shell before blasting, but it turned out to be riddled with rot, particularly underneath. The car had been left sitting disassembled at what was Hatfield OPC for some time (could have been years) before PRS got hold of it. A shell standing in water isn't going to last long!

Now that I have managed the basics of posting photos I will certainly put some more on photobucket over the coming days and put the link on here. I must have close to 600 photos showing the extensive metalwork carried out and so will have to be selective to avoid bring photobucket down!

dcraigmyle · Post by **dcraigmyle** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:31 pm

Certainly i know that feeling. Take a look at my rhd shell on photobuket!!
David

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:50 am

Wow, great work. You are a brave guy but it will look fabulous in the end.
More photos please!

porscheman · Post by **porscheman** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:23 am

David, I've just had a look through your photo bucket pics of the RHD shell!!!!! I'm no expert, but mine was in a similar state underneath, but with a significantly better outer skin! I can now see why you opted for a replacement shell (or rather replacement car?).

Hendrik, positive words from such a knowledgeable fellow Yorkshireman are much appreciated.

What a friendly bunch you DDKers are....

porscheman · Post by **porscheman** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:29 pm

For you metalwork voyeurs out there I have downloaded (and will continue to download) lots more photos on Photobucket. Make sure you click on the "All Albums" tab to get the full experience.

http://s1125.photobucket.com/albums/l59 ... ableoldgit

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:20 pm

Good to see another RHD A in Yorks Keith, having being in a similar position not too long ago you can really see the quality of the work gone in so far, look forward to seeing it finished on a Northern meet in the future - in the meantime keep us updated with lots of pics

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:17 pm

Cool car

Post by **Bootsy** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:39 pm

porscheman wrote:
What a friendly bunch you DDKers are....

Why thanks, looking forward to watching your car progress. Looking superb so far