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This gorgeous strawberry red 1952 Porsche 356 Cabriolet is the earliest known Porsche imported to the United States.
So says Porsche, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary and set out to find the oldest Porsche sold in America. The search turned up an amazing array of vintage iron, including an impeccably restored 1950 356 Cabriolet (shown below) owned by Richard Brumme of Annapolis, Maryland. The blue drop-top is among the first series production 356s built in Stuttgart.
But it was sold in Germany, not America, so it didn't take the prize. The honor went to Dr. Robert Wilson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who found his Porsche 356 Cabriolet in a junkyard and brought it back to life. The 1.5-liter engine produces a whopping 60 horsepower, and we'll bet the car is an absolute joy to drive.
Argue with Porsche if you wish, but after an extensive search Porsche says Dr. Wilson's 356 is the first, and they are willing to back it up with huge money.
There was no extensive search. There was only a voluntary online "report your early car" and the strawberry Cab was chosen. Lots of earlier cars whose owners decided not to report their car. But if you really want to believe the Marketing people fine by me.
The online search was only the start which culminated in this car (and others) being examined in person by a Porsche representative who declared this one first sold. Multiple six figure offers did not buy the car. If someone owns a "lots of earlier cars" they should contact Porsche and consider claiming their bounty. I wouldn't mind owning a GT2RS plus cash to cover taxes …
Take your argument to Porsche. Am just here showing off the best pics you have ever seen of what Porsche has confirmed to be the earliest known Porsche sold in the USA. If you have better pics and documentation of an earlier Porsche sold in the USA, bring it. Calling you out. Prove Porsche wrong... LOL
My point is that Porsche set up an internet site that owners could submit there cars to. The car you refer to is indeed the oldest sold in America car submitted. That does not make it the oldest sold in America as the articles say-just the oldest submitted. I asked James Davies about that as it is reported multiple places that Max Hoffman who had exclusive distribution rights in America started importing them in 1950. Here in quotes was Mr Davies reply: " Max brought over a blue coupe and red cabriolet in 1950 and had them at Watkins Glen at the end of the year. He imported ~27% of Porsche's production in 1952. So yeah, that may be the oldest Porsche exported to the USA that Porsche found at the time, but it is certainly not the oldest. I know of 100s older.
Interestingly there was an article decades ago in Motor Cities Group newsletter about that car being bought for $10 at a local auction, sold eventually to Oklahoma. I have about a dozen pictures of the car from then available to me if owner would like a copy of the article and pictures if he doesn't have them.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AN ICON RETURNS TO THE ROAD
This is a car in the barn story; part ugly duckling and part cinderella.
Shirley and I joined PCA and 356 Registry in the spring of 1978. We busied ourselves collecting worthy cars needing restoration. We purchased a 1960 Roadster for $350.00 and a 1959 Convertible D for $1600.00. Yes prices have changed a lot in 33 years. Shortly thereafter an auction ad in the local paper listed a 1953 Porch to be put up for high bid. This sounded like something we really needed, so we went to check it out. When the day of the auction arrived we registered and anxiously waited for the bidding to start on the cabriolet. It was in a partially burned pole barn. The tops [ there were 2 ] were burned off , [ the top bows were ok ] ,the paint was burned off the body [ashes everywhere ] , and the tires were flat. The engine was missing, transaxle was in place , both bumpers were there, and a current title. It looked pretty sad, but a lot of people were looking it over. I had to leave the auction before the car came up for bid, but Shirley was staying to bid on it and we decided not to go over $200.00. When Shirley arrived home later with a big grin on her face, I knew it was the news I had hoped for. She had the winning bid; in fact the only bid. She had purchased the 53 Porch for $ 10.00 .
We went back the next day to pick up the car. I thought the owner would be upset that it sold so cheap, but he didn't mind at all. He had bought it for $ 20.00 and sold the engine for more than that before it burned. We pumped up the tires and towed it home.
Our three jewels sat for three years until a 1957 Speedster came into the picture. With the Speedster needing total restoration, we decided to sell our budding collection.
In 1982 we put the 53 Porch for sale in Panorama. The first person to call was from Tulsa, Ok. and bought it sight unseen. We sent him pictures and he sent us a check . Everybody was happy, but the car sat in our barn for almost three years with not a word from the new owner. I finally called to see if he was going to pick it up, and he said he had traded the car on a real estate deal to a man in Oklahoma City. I then called the new owner. He wanted the 53 and would pay to have it delivered. Two of our friends took it to Oklahoma City. He took one look at the car and sold it to a local restaurant to be used as a salad bar. The restaurant owner sold the 53 to a salvage yard and bought a XKE JAG to hold his salad greens.
About 1987 Robert Wilson was looking for Mercedes parts at the same salvage yard and spotted the 53. He made the owner an offer and took delivery.
In 2001 Bob started searching the world for correct parts and with professional help from Curtis Wheatley , the cab. was returned to it's original new condition in 2003.
End of story ? Not quite. The little $ 10.00 Porch had another trick up it's tailpipe. You see the 53 Porch was really a 1952 Cabriolet titled as a 1953. Bob's son talked him into sending the number's on the car to PCNA; in reference to it's 60th. Anniversary. It turns out to be the earliest surviving Porsche sold in the United States. It has been on the factory web site and will be at several Porsche shows. Bob has the honor of being asked to show the Cab. at Pebble Beach this year.
Not bad for a $10.00 purchase. You've come a long way "baby".
We did a little photo shoot yesterday of the Dean Jeffries Carrera - these are just some quick snapshots. I recently received a FIVA certificate on the car through the Historical Vehicle association.
Many thanks to Jonathan Stein for helping that happen.
05-23-2018, 10:38 PM
