1950 to 1955 Pre A Porsche mystery car.. what year is it

[Vic Skirmants]

"mounted to the steering column"
Photos??

[James Davies]

Hi Vic, this Feb 1954 Super coupe used to belong to Garry Kempton. It was originally delivered to Sonauto, but had fog lights and a Beck fuel gauge from the factory according to the Kardex. Wish I had better photos of it, but you can see it is the push-button type with the little finger pump mounted on the dash.

The fuel gauge was an option in '53 and early '54 before it became standard on the 4-gauge dash in mid-'54, but it seems to have been pretty rare based on the limited information available.

[Vic Skirmants]

Yep; first time I've ever seen one there. Thanks.

[Ned Gorski]

That's odd.... what good is the fuel finger pump if there is no gauge to see how much fuel there is....or is that the gauge under the steering column ????

[James Davies]

Ned, that's the gauge on the steering column. No space for it on the dash given the '53 knob/gauge layout.

There was also a fuel gauge that was optional on split-window Porsches made by VDO I believe. Basically the same as the period VW item, but with a face that matched the early black and white split-window Porsche Veigel gauge faces. Again, not very common.

[florian beck]

Florian
Does the rear clip look to be original?? that may help to narrow it down .. the picture looks to not have the rear raised panel cut out for the exhaust ..

according to an old thread
coupe 50960 had no cut out, then around 51820 the cut out appeared and by Steve coupe 53739 it was gone again .. does any one have more exact vin # with or with out the cut out
does any one know if coupe 52057 has a cut out??? James can probably shed some more info on this ..

Regards Ned
55 Cab

Hi the back end look 100% original have attached better photo lights where upgrade

[florian beck]

This style of front bracket still looks like a mistery to me. Bothe sides are the same. looks to be as old as the car.. But I have not seen them on a 356 be for. There is no brack from the headlight tube to the fender...

[James Davies]

Florian, I wouldn't put any importance on the front fender brackets. The nose has obviously been replaced or changed - that's the only way that a 356A chassis number ended up on a '54/55 pre-A.

Could you show us a photo of the rear but from a lower angle? Hard to see from the angle of the photo above.

From that photo one can see it has the regulator on the engine firewall, so that's definitely a '54 or '55, as we already determined. >52029

[florian beck]

Florian, I wouldn't put any importance on the front fender brackets. The nose has obviously been replaced or changed - that's the only way that a 356A chassis number ended up on a '54/55 pre-A.

Could you show us a photo of the rear but from a lower angle? Hard to see from the angle of the photo above.

From that photo one can see it has the regulator on the engine firewall, so that's definitely a '54 or '55, as we already determined. >52029

Hi James

ok yes I will be out on the farm with the cars on Sunday will take more photos.. of the back any other bits you would like to see?

[florian beck]

Ok some more photos of the back

[florian beck]

will be out again this weekend if anyone would like to see a photo of any part just ask..

[florian beck]

the PreA dash is coming together nicely. Parts from all over the world thank you everyone. still missing a Pre A Ashtray one in photo is for a 57

[Ned Gorski]

Florian
the early 356A ash tray should fit a 54 55 dash, there are slight differences but it should work The only real difference between the early and the late ash trays is the spacing of the two knob holes.. those waterfall knobs are not correct for your car .. So im guessing those knobs don't fit the ash tray????. if so that good because those are not the knobs you need .. the oval button knob is correct for 54 and 55 and should fit if that is early 356A ash tray. just chrome the face plate

Regards Ned

[James Davies]

Florian, that's a 1954 model year dash. The difference between this dash and a '55 dash is the 2 hole vs 1 hole below the ashtray. The '55 dash has one hole, as the heater control is done from near the gearshift, not the dash as on '54 and earlier cars.

[florian beck]

The ashtray in the photo is for a 57 so looks the same bit about 20% smaller.