The Official 356Talk Forum

The rear closing panels, which make up the back of the longitudinal members, are visible by looking forward into the rear wheel arch. On later cars they have a round stamped impression like the illustration on the left, while earlier cars don't have them.

I've recently had correspondence from a (very) credible source who informs me that early T 5 cars don't have them -- so -- if you have an early T 5 car (any model) that is unrestored in this area, could you take a minute to check and let me know?

Would like to make contact with owners of any unrestored/unmolested cars 1960 - 1965.

If you prefer to contact me directly, I'm still at: 356drb@indy.net

Nothchback 200408 has the depressions, original floors and closing panels. No Floor drains either for the primer. Longitudinal drain holes no plugs and drain holes for quarter windows but none on the front and rear window openings.

Do you know the build date?

Brett Johnson wrote:
Would like to make contact with owners of any unrestored/unmolested cars 1960 - 1965.

Brett, I have an original paint/interior 1960 S90 coupe shoot me an e-mail

I do not know the build date nor do I own the car. I worked on it and have lots of pictures of the sympathetic restoration I performed.

There are some states where molesting a 356 is a crime...

Yes, well, Dick, we know where you mind is -- please concentrate on the questions...

Just to clarify, here's a picture from an early T 6 Reutter coupe with round impression and a somewhat mangled original 90 degree weld jack receiver.

Brett Johnson wrote:The rear closing panels, which make up the back of the longitudinal members, are visible by looking forward into the rear wheel arch. On later cars they have a round stamped impression like the illustration on the left, while earlier cars don't have them.

Hi Brett. I don't know if the angle / quality of this photo helps you. It is from an unrestored T5 with May 1960 build date. I do not see the round stamped impression. I would take a better photo for you, but I am thousands of miles away from the car right now. I just happened to have this shot in my project file.

rear closing panels on pre A cars are also different

Unmolested November 1959 build T-5 coupe 109750 has the flat closing panel.

Brett Johnson wrote:Do you know the build date?

200408 would be about June 1961

Hey Brett......
108970, build date Sept 29, 1959, is a 'virgin coupe' and has the FLAT closing panel.

108970, build date Sept 29, 1959, is a 'virgin coupe' and has the FLAT closing panel.
109750, build November 1959 T-5 coupe has the flat closing panel.
109830, built date Dec 4, 1959 T-5 Coupe has also the flat closing panel as well.

Looks like a ladies night here above ... all "Dame"?