The Official 356Talk Forum

Duram Plummer wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2019 9:18 pm Hi Thomas,

That engine serial number looks familiar but I cannot be sure. I had a 54 cab in 1984-1992 I had two motors for it and one of them might have been this number. Mine was originally Turkish Red with tan interior but had been repainted several times one of the times was light blue by the time I got it was various shades of primer. The interior had been changed to black. I found it at a rental yard in Pomona CA the owner had dissembled the car completely and I picked it up in pieces. It had one engine case (2 piece type) no engine internals and 6 heads. I started looking for an engine I could use and a few weeks later I found another engine just 2 blocks away from where the car was that was complete and nice. It was something like 20 numbers off of the one that came with the car. I was always amazed of all the types of 356 motors I could have found I found the exact type that went to my car. I can't be sure but it might be the same car or it could have been your cars engine. I was a teenager while I had the car and could never restore the way I wanted to. I sold it to someone in Milan Italy around 1992. Do you know if yours was red originally. I do not remember the engine serial numbers but the car chassis number was 60659. You can find a contact in the db of the guy I sold it to but he sold it on about 1996 so I don't think he know where it is now.
Identifying marks, mine was definitely taken a hit to the front and rear by the time I got it. Nothing serious just typical bondo everywhere. It was pretty rust free with just a few spots under the battery and in the side panels by the convertible top.

The picture below is the car after the guy I sold it to did a full restoration on it.
60659.jpg

I suspect it is not the same car as there are no bumper guards. The engine you used would not be the same one I suspect was used as my VIN by California but I wrote to Italy restorer just in case. Thanks for the info! It would be interesting to find out where it ended up.
Tom Howe

My black '55 continental heading back from the paint shop.

Simply gorgeous, Christian!

Beautiful !! Tell us more about the car !!

Thanks Guys,

The car was purchased from Beverley Hills Car Club a few years ago and imported to Great Britain. It was sitting on a VW floor pan and had no engine or transmission.
The body shell is totally original, with the exception of the rear panel, which had been modified and full of bondo, floors, rockers and longitudinal's had to be replaced. But the bonnet, decklid and doors still carry the original numbers stamped on them.

Through tracing the history back, I discovered that Stephen Demonsthenes of Route 30 Classics (RIP Stephen) stripped the car out in 1991, having purchased the car from the widow of the first owner. Stephen kindly shared some photos of the car as he received it back in 1991 and a copy of his purchase invoice for $1500.

The original matching engine and transmission were sold in 1991. However, by a stroke of luck I discovered through the 356 Registry that the original engine was sitting in James Davies fathers garage on a shelf in Wisconson!!

James kindly agreed to have the engine block sold and shipped over to me and I have now rebuilt the original engine and it is sitting ready to be reinstalled.

Sadly, the original transmission has been lost to history and I have been unable to find it. Stephen D was unable to find out who the original transmission was sold to, but it's somewhere in the US.

The hardest part of the restoration todate was the rebuilding of the chassis. The car retained its original front beam, but the rear beam had been cut out and I had to source a '55 pre-A rear torsion housing which wasn't easy or cheap. I managed to get that from Ric at Rusty Tubs, using a frame machine I had the chassis aligned and now its as good as new.

I've now got a '55 519 transmission that is 60 numbers out from my original and is about to be installed. The wiring loom is in, front suspension has just been completed and I'm looking forward to the rear suspension being finished in the coming weeks, before the engine can be fitted. I sourced the 'Continental' script badges from Guido of Erlkonig Classics, Guido is a great guy and very knowledgeable.

I'm hoping to drive the car before Autumn is here. I'll send more photos in!

beautiful work Christian!

out for a short drive.

Jules Dielen wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:06 pm out for a short drive.

Is this ex. Gary Scuggs '52 car from AZ?

yes it is Joe. I am its current caretaker

Nice day for a drive !! Even went to Walmart where she garnered a lot of attention !!

thomas Howe wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 2:25 pm My folks in Southern California sold my light blue 54 preA 356 Cabriolet in 1969 while I was in Vietnam (for $150). I would love to know where it ended up. Let me know if you have history or info. Tom Howe tomehowe@aol.com

Scan_20190518.jpg

Tom

Didn’t find your car but the engine is in our VIN database, looks like it is in a 51 Coupe.

Frank

Here we are

That side profile shot of your 356 looks killer.

Simply stunning!

at the WCH near Flagstaff. Did not skip a beat and made it up to 9200ft elevation!