My 57 356A T1

[Mark Erbesfield]

Are these the correct wipers?

No, this is what your car would have had, the HTF "pickle fork" wipers.

Also, if I were a betting man, I'd say that the cutouts for your tail lights look like they were modified to accept the beehives, not an uncommon upgrade back then.

Great looking project, by the way

So how hard is it to find these wiper blades? What years are the ones I have for? They have been with the car for 30+ years.

[Sebastian Gaeta]

So how hard is it to find these wiper blades?...

Mark,

They can be difficult to find. Please note that it is not just the blades that are different, but the arms too.

Edwin Schweitzer wrote a nice Resto-Strip a few issue back about restoring them, so if you find some that are restorable, you have a good guide to use to get them in good, working condition.

Regards,

[Sebastian Gaeta]

What years are the ones I have for? They have been with the car for 30+ years.

Mark, see chart below from Stoddard website. The ones you have are for '59 thru T-5 shown in the bottom of the picture. Your car came with the ones in the top of the picture, although either will fit.

[Max Cooper]

The bee hives were changed to teardrops in 1957, yours may be factory. Not sure of the cut off date or VIN #.

Regards

How would I find out? The reason I thought they were not original was the PO said something about it and the opening in the body looks like it has been altered. There are some holes that were bondo'ed over and the little slots for the tear drops do not look like others I have seen. I keep forgetting to get a closeup picture of that area. This is the best I have right now.

A. I was under the impression that 5 digit cars came with beehives, and 6 digit cars came with teardrops...at least for the 1957 coupes. Is this true?

B. The amber lenses shown in your image, housed by the horn grills, may have been clear originally. But I am not 100% about this claim!

Mark Erbesfield- I would say the T-1 coupes look better with beehives. Much better! You have a good looking car! I love the acceleration of the 912 engine in my "light" T-1. Do you have any interior images? I'd like to see those seats and the headliner.

[Justin Rio]

Looks to be a very nice dry car mark. You are way ahead of the game in that respect. Congratulations on a really rare find! Your car is only about 300 cars later then mine so it was most certainly a Beehive tail lighted car. My coupe had the same thing done to it in the 60's and its now back to beehives. Anyway looks like a real nice shell best of luck with it!! Justin

[Mark Erbesfield]

Yes my car should have the Bee Hives based on the numbers, plus you can see the poor job someone did on the sheet metal. I too was wondering about the clear vs amber front turn signals. All the books I have seen show clear, but these lense have obviously been with this car a long time. I guess I will add that to the list. I am sure they are available as repops. Whether the quality is good or not is another question. I would like to go back to the BH tail lights someday.

Yes, Justin, I got very lucky with this tub, it is extremely solid. I have picked it over and most of the repairs are quite simple. We will see if my luck continues as I proceed.

Still looking for right side door top chrome molding if anyone can help.

[Sebastian Gaeta]

Still looking for right side door top chrome molding if anyone can help.

I believe that Justin has one listed on eBay right now. Search under:

PORSCHE 356 Pre-A &A door top chrome trim strip outer ALL 1953-59

Good luck,

[Mark Erbesfield]

Still looking for right side door top chrome molding if anyone can help.

I believe that Justin has one listed on eBay right now. Search under:

PORSCHE 356 Pre-A &A door top chrome trim strip outer ALL 1953-59

Good luck,

Thanks Sebastian

[Mark Erbesfield]

Max, as requested. Here are the seats and head liner. I cannot believe the headliner does not have on hole.

[Mark Erbesfield]

A little update. Baby got a bath yesterday, under side only. I wanted to wash off 30 year old GA red clay before starting any work. I also wanted to use the pressure washer to blast off the loose undercoating. Whatever did not come off easily will have to be ground off. So much fun, I can't wait. After washing, still not surprises. This tub is really solid. A few small penetrations to deal with and a major surface cleaning. I will most likely paint it and the drive it saving the application of Schutz for later. Most of the Schutz on the pan is rock solid and did not budge. May leave it alone. We will see. So the next order of business is to drop the motor and work on the brakes. I will also get the hood to fit eventually.

Nothing but solid metal here!

[Max Cooper]

Mark Erbesfield-
Thanks for the images! Good looking car. That headliner is great. Glad to hear all the metal is mostly solid. I have to laugh at that shift knob, sorry. I had one many years ago on my 1966 912. The "mushroom" T-1 is much nicer, in my opinion. I'm a little jealous you have the nicer, nickel plated brass, "coat-hooks". Way to go...nice car.

[Max Cooper]

It looks like the seats may be re-covered ones to me. Are the seats are re-covered? Just wondering how well the originals may have been preserved underneath the covers. Looking good!

[Mark Erbesfield]

It looks like the seats may be re-covered ones to me. Are the seats are re-covered? Just wondering how well the originals may have been preserved underneath the covers. Looking good!

Yes the seats have been recovered. Not sure if the originals are under there or not. I will look at some point, but I sort of like the 80's vibe they have. I definitely need the Mushroom knob if you see one for sale let me know. Where do you live in the big A? I have a shop over in Doraville and try to work there every Tuesday night. Stop by some time and say hi.

[Mark Erbesfield]

I got the brakes torn apart and ready for rebuilding. No real drama or surprises. Mostly just learning how to tear everything apart having never done one of these before. Questions:

How do I know if the drums are usable and who can turn them? I have read that I only want them turned minimally and somewhere I read to not turn them at all?

How smooth do the wheel cylinder pistons need to be? Can they have tiny pits? It looks like they do not do the sealing like a disc brake caliper does. Looks like the cups do the sealing and they push the pistons out? Just wondering if I should buy the Stainless Steel versions sold?

Does anyone have the part no. for the United Brake cups sold by NAPA that are shorter than the German versions? My wheel cylinders are almost perfect. Amazing for being so old and off the road for so long. Yea.

Found these hand made washers of some sort? Lovely work. Why would someone do this?

Date stamped Sept 15, 1980

Bearing grease collector? I need one of these if anyone has an extra.

Rear grease collector? What is it and does anyone have one? One of my rears is missing.

Detail shot of drum thickness. Is this good or bad?

Rear drum closeup.

Thanks for the help

[George Walling]

Mark Just something to think about, The tear drop tail lights are available in LED where so far the bee hives are not as far as I'm aware of. I like the LED lights as they are lot brighter. I added a third brake light to my 55 Speedster as my bee hives were hard to see in the bright sun light and foggy weather. Just my thoughts, what a very nice car to get back on the road good luck with it. George