T1 Coupes with non-V-shape sunroofs????

[wolfgang geisler]

I am just checking which sunroof type was used on my 1956 T1 Coupe (the sunroof was closed during it´s restoration in the 90s). According to Frank Jung´s "356 Reutter"-book the first approx. 130 T1 Coupes were equipped with the V-shape sunroof; the later cars have the rectangular sunroof used in the T2´s and the T5´s. I am trying to figure out at which VIN the roof type was switched to the later style. Any ideas? Any owners with T1 sunroof coupe´s with V-shape or rectangular roofs here in the forum who could let me know their VIN´s?
Thks a lot in advance.
Wolfgang

[Bob Watts]

Good question, Wolfgang.
Here is VIN from my '56 V-sunroof.

[wolfgang geisler]

Bob,
mine is 56937.
According to the Johnson book there last VIN with V-shape roof is 58355. As the 56 VIN´s go from 55391 to 58311 this would mean that all 1956´s cars have the V-shape roof.
According to Frank Jung´s (great grandson of the founder of Reutter coachbuiling) book "Porsche 356 made by Reutter" only the first 123 examples of T1 sunroof coupes were equipped with the V-shape sunroof. As about 15% of the coupes were ordered with sunroofs according to Frank Jung´s book there seems to be a contradiction, or am I wrong? Maybe they mixed the sunroof versions?
BTW: According to the Reutter archives 25 T1 coupes were ordered in December 1955; starting from January 1956 Reutter calculated with 30 sunroof coupes per month.
Very interesting.....
P.S. Just to inform: I have placed a WTB ad in the classifieds as I am looking for a V-shape clip for my car.

[Bob Watts]

Maybe I’ll add about 56 misc. V-Sunroof thoughts:

“After the extensive T 1 program of the previous year, Porsche allowed itself to catch its breath. The 10,000th Porsche was built on March 16 of this year; at the same time, Porsche celebrated the company’s 25th anniversary.”

“Stuttgart Production Figures – 1956
4201 (2921 coupes, 430 cabriolets and 850 Speedsters)”

Both quotes from p. 256-257 Porsche 356, Dirk-Michel Conradt, Beeman Jorgensen, Indianapolis 1993

If you have not done a computer search type in porsche 356 sunroof. Sample info:
Need Help With "V" Sunroof ..., , 15 posts, Feb 7, 2013
sunroof coupe production numbers , 15 posts, Dec 15, 2008

An interesting 2009 comment by Tom Tate about a car for sale at that time: “You may want to point out that this is one of the 84 cars (T1) that was delivered with the larger V sunroof as found in the Pre A cars. The panel itself is 17” deep vs 13” for the later straight versions. Somewhat unusual.” I don’t know where he got this information.

and maybe for more info. check out TheSamba.com

You mention finding a clip. If/when found these resources, in misc. order, may be of interest to you:

(description) Top Coupe (with Sunroof), p. 29…, The 356 Porsche, A Restorers’ Guide to Authenticity, Dr. B. Johnson, 1987.
Installing Sunroofs, p. 87…, in Restored By Hand, Ron Roland, 2010.
356 Technical and Restoration Guide, p. 17…, 356 Registry, 1994.
Sunroof Installation, pp. 88, 140, Porsche 356 Guide to Do-it-Yourself Restoration, Jim Kellogg, 2009.

Elsewhere, Jim states: “One way to check if a 356 had a sunroof clip installed is to pinch the A pillar where the drain tube goes. Original sunroofs had a metal channel for the drain tube. Sunroof clips except for a complete roof clip would probably not have this channel.”

[wolfgang geisler]

Bob,
thks a lot! You did a lot of research! I´ll check out the spots!
Hope that there will be more VIN´s from other T1 sunroof owners. Would be great to learn whether Reutter has mixed the sunroof types or just switched from the V-shape type to the later style at a certain VIN!
Wolfgang

[Jim Hohensee]

My 1956 v- sunroof is #57276 built 9/06/1956 as per COA and number stamped into car and id plates.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Jim

[Jack Walter]

My V-sunroof 56 coupe was #56724- originally Aquamarine Blue metallic with a grey interior.
Unfortunately I had to sell it to finance the restoration of #56083.

[wolfgang geisler]

Very interesting!
Jack, your car has been built around 200 cars earlier than mine and Jim´s car has been built 200 cars later.
Any T1 owners with the later sunroof type here?
Thks for your contributions!
Wolfgang

[David Fox]

My '57 T1A sunroof coupe, #101304, has a rectangular roof. Build date is 07/29/1957

[wolfgang geisler]

Thks a lot, David!
Wolfgang

[wolfgang geisler]

Got the information that 57139 has a V-shape sunroof. Just fyi
Wolfgang

[wolfgang geisler]

Any other VIN´s?
Thks, Wolfgang

[James Roten]

My the COA on my 1600S sunroof coupe S/N 100464 shows a build date of May 16, 1957. Other than teardrops, a shine-up license light and wedge front signal bases, it is basically a T-1. The sunroof is rectangular. It appears in Volume 36, Number 6 of the Porsche 356 Registry (pp.46-48).

Jim Roten

[Bob Watts]

Wolfgang,
I would like to send you a list for your review. If you are interested please
find my email address in the member section and send me an email so
I can get your email address. Thanks,
Bob

[wolfgang geisler]

Hello Bob,
I have sent you a mail.
Thks a lot
Wolfgang