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54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:12 am
by Martin Bruechle
Met a guy that has a 54 Continental Coupe with a A style hood handle.
We were discussing if it should have the short Pre A handle or did the
Continental model come with the long A style handle ?
Any of you 356 guys know which handle it came with ?
Thanks for your input...

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:37 am
by Frank Hood
Martin

I believe all Continentals are 55s. This was the first year using the longer hood handle which is also found on A cars.

Frank

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:59 am
by Phil Planck
53248, a 55 non Continental, had the blunt nose handle similar to 56 pointed nose handle.

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:47 pm
by Mike Smith
Cannot see the Continental Badges but this is probably shot in Europe and 54/55 cars were not badged as Continental`s

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:03 pm
by James Davies
Martin, what's the chassis number of his car? Generally, the Continentals had the A-style hood handle, as it was introduced in ~Dec 1954. Of course the early one was blunt and didn't have a rib down it. Neither did the pointed one which was introduced mid-1955. So they are subtly different from the '56 hood handle. The badge is different as well. So it is pretty easy to figure out if the handle is original to the car. Got a photo?

Also is the hood original to the car? Does it have its original hood handle holes? Again, if it does, then easy to tell.

The long, Porsche crest hood handle was introduced sometime between chassis 52836 and 52848.

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:11 am
by Martin Bruechle
I have no answers to your questions James. I just saw the car and spoke to the owner briefly.

Re: 54 Continental Hood Handle Question

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:03 pm
by Jim Wayman
Did any 1955 model year cars have the short aluminum handle with the hole in it for your fingers? My understanding is that they started the model year out with the blunt A type handle and changed to the pointed A type handle in mid year (December?). My car is a December production with the blunt handle.