'55 "Continental" Cabrio

Barry Wolk · Post by **Barry Wolk** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:46 pm

I was surfing the words "Porsche Continental" and came across a picture of a 1955 Porsche Continental Coupe on this site. I was surprised to see this picture in this thread.

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... ontinental

I was surprised because the "Continental" was strictly a US export. I own a '55 Cabrio brought into the US by the sole importer, Max Hoffman. This car must have been repatriated.

Here's an article on the "Continental" in the current edition of Car Collector magazine written by Dennis Adler. Our car is featured. The article starts on page 12.

http://www.epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer ... d8be7a8f19

356boy · Post by **356boy** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:48 am

wow, thats a stunning car

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:04 am

Hi Barry,

Nice to see you on this forum. You have a really super 356 you should post some pictures of it.!!! It's true you seldom see a "Continental" script car over here. I know Denis Jenkinson had a 55 356 continental which he always called an "A"! I think he collected that car personally from the factory as it had at times both German and English registration plates.

It was also LHD so I suppose? they took it off the delivery range for the USA?

I bet someone will now say they have a UK delivered "Continental"!!

Roy

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:26 am

your too fickle, you don't think some one would try that one on would they..

Mind you with some adverts having the words writen by out of work estate agents.. Quote " Part of the LE MANS winning team " Yeah it drove to the event with the cars that where being raced and then sat in the car park and didn't go anywhere near the track

Great looking car Barry we have spoken over on the 356 reg.. and it's so nice to see more 356 owners coming on board with DDK it's reallygreat news and I hope some of the UK old school that might have been put off by certain people calling us a fad and internet nurds will see we are just the same as other 356 owners and want the best for the cars as to get them as orginal as possible

join in and post up pictures and any advice or work carried out it's great

Barry Wolk · Post by **Barry Wolk** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:34 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Those that know me from other sites know that I am not necessarily a Porsche collector, I'm a collector of all things that bear the "Continental" name.

While automobiles are part of my chemical make-up (being born and raised in Detroit) I grew up with art collectors as parents and have melded art and car collections as an adult hobby. To me, cars are simply rolling sculpture. Luckily, I married a woman that has 30 wt running through her veins.

We spend our summers traveling to Concours d'Elegance throughout the US collecting ribbons and trophies for our fireplace mantle. While most art collectors we've encountered seem to be quite snooty, the show car world is really quite down to earth. We do not show our cars in club events. I like to have people tell me what they like about our cars, not what's wrong with them.

If you have a great deal of time on your hands, please review my transport project I call the "Phoenix". You'll see why. http://cardomain.com/ride/340096/5

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:37 pm

Barry I knew you had some trouble with the trailer and the 356 but not to that extent.. boy you have been though the mill

Only a comment but wouldn't you be better with a lorry hitch for all that weight to couple up rather than a trailer hitch?

Take car with those exhaust tips on the 356 on the ground ask me how I know

Barry Wolk · Post by **Barry Wolk** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:52 pm

I know, mine are already ground flat on the bottom.

Considering that the trailer weighs 10,200# empty it pulls amazingly well with a half-ton pick-up.

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:47 pm

OK Roy - I will say it

I have a RHD - UK Delivered 55 Cab but, as it was UK delivered, it does not carry the Continental Badging, this was a US only thing

Barry Wolk · Post by **Barry Wolk** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:43 pm

If the figures of 70% of Porsche production in 1955 exported to the US then 30% of the cars are unbadged, making them the rarest of the '55s.

Congrats on owning a rare beast. Please post a picture.

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:23 pm

Mike,
Barry is correct the "unbadged" RHD 356's are now much rarer but that gold "continental" badge looks so nice doesn't it that I wonder how many of the owners of RHD UK 356 cars years ago, thought of buying one and drilling just a few holes...

I never had the script on the 52 coupe we had many years ago either.

I remember in 67 my brother who had bought a 51 split screen parking it outside my parents house and waiting for me to turn up to see my reaction. I duly parked behind him in my Ford Anglia and the first thing I noticed he had placed a 356A gold "Carrera" badge on the back grill. How that badge impressed me. ( I didn't know till some years later what Carrera actually meant till a guy told me it was "race" in Spanish)

Thinking about it, Porsche must have made that word "Carrera " one of the most valued terms for merchandise ever. From cars to ski goggles if it has that word then its got everything you think you want from the product!

Now Mike you not only have to post a few pics of your UUL 442 but also of your 356 cab!!

Roy

Mike Smith · Post by **Mike Smith** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:36 pm

The 55 is still ` Under Construction` following a Sportwagen complete re-build

However, most of the drama is over, I just need to find the time to carry out a Dry Fit and then it is final fixing of the rear clip.
Completion of the timber work around the cockpit area, for the folding top, has been holding up fixing of this item

Then it is painting, trimming and final assembly - not much to do really - all the mechanics have already been restored and just await bolting on

It is a great car with Original Motor, Gearbox and Registration

Roy perhaps you could handle posting of my photgraphs ?

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:24 pm

Mike,
I am so interested in your photos that of course I will have a go at doing that for you. The ddk forum as I found out!! is a little more complicated than the registry method but I need the practice and as I am a retired old bloke and its cold outside I have the time!

So if you can " zip" me first of all just four photo's then I will try do it for you if you wish on both forums?

Cheers

Roy

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:43 am

Mike, if Roy can't post the photos I will do it for you next weekend.
Barry, you have a great looking continental and that's a fantastic idea for a trailer for it.
The photo at the top was taken by me last year. It is my friend Henks car, imported from the US of course! It is a very original unmolested car.

Barry Wolk · Post by **Barry Wolk** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:17 pm

I thought it must have been repatriated. Nice color!

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

'55 "Continental" Cabrio

'55 "Continental" Cabrio

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