Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

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Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
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Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#1 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Starting paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car was originally a Custom RAL code 5007 Brilliant Blue with red interior which it still retains. This fully matching very special example is believed to be the first Porsche built with Disc breaks and spent the first 14 months as Porsche's Press vehicle and was shown throughout Europe. Our goal is to paint it back to its original color, enjoy it while we wait in line for a full restoration. Will be posting updates and asking questions using this forum.

Vehicle Description
VIN: 158304
Model Type: 1963 356B T6 Reutter Cabriolet Super90
Invoice Date: 1963 04 17
Sale Date: 1963 04 16 to Factory Presse department
Sale Date: 1964 06 15 to Emil Wagner KG, Heilbronn
Engine Number: 807203
Engine Type: 616/16 1600SC 95 HP(SAE)
Gearbox Number: 63851
Gearbox Type: 741/0A 4 speed
Door lock key number: K306
Ignition switch key number: FE643
Glovebox key number: HK26017
Front trunk key number: SG009
Customer service book number: 20462
Color: Custom RAL code 5007 Brilliant Blue
Interior Trim: taken over from old car
Country Equipment: Equipment for Germany
Distributor: Porsche Factory sale
Tires: Dunlop 165-R15 on 5½ x 15" steel wheels with plain hubcaps
Options:
none recorded
Warranty notes:
All service recorded done by factory service department
Tellerradschrauben ausgewechselt = Transmission ring gear bolts replaced
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Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
356 Fan
Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:02 pm
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Instagram: @the.car.museum

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#2 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Tomorrow we start taping the car to strip the silver paint.
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Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
356 Fan
Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:02 pm
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Instagram: @the.car.museum

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#3 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm trying to buy the closes to original leather interior for my 63 Cab. I noticed companies like GAHH, Sierra Madre and Pelican parts sell interior kits. Anyone has any experience with these kits or can suggest a better route?

Sean O'Donnell
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#4 Post by Sean O'Donnell »

I would try Autos International, Autobahn Interiors, or K&H. My car has a kit from Autos International. Some companies resell Autos International's, Autobahn, etc. kits. It would be better to go straight to one of these sources IMO.
Last edited by Sean O'Donnell on Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1959 356A Super Sunroof

Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#5 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Sean, is the quality good? How does it compare to the original seats and door panels?

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Martin Benade
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#6 Post by Martin Benade »

Autos International makes very nice quality upholstery and carpet kits. The leather is a typical modern finish, for ultimate originality I think there may be other options that have a different look. I’m quite happy with my AI interior.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna

Sean O'Donnell
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Location: Westchester NY

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#7 Post by Sean O'Donnell »

It is good quality. I believe there are some slight deviations from factory, but I've never heard someone be unhappy with their AI interior.
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1959 356A Super Sunroof

Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
356 Fan
Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:02 pm
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Instagram: @the.car.museum

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#8 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Looks great!

Sean O'Donnell
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#9 Post by Sean O'Donnell »

Thanks! Rudy, just a heads up (you may already know this), I noticed on your car that the windshield inner frame/surround is the body color from the previous repaint. On cabriolets it is supposed to match the dashboard padded top (at least for soft tops). It is a commonly missed detail. I'm not sure if a hardtop changes the way the windshield surround is painted. It is just something to keep in mind and something you might want to look into as you progress on your car if you were previously unaware.
Last edited by Sean O'Donnell on Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
1959 356A Super Sunroof

Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
356 Fan
Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:02 pm
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Instagram: @the.car.museum

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#10 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Sean, on another thread I had asked that same question, my car was born Rul 5007 Brilliant blue and in early 1970's was repainted to silver. When repainted most of the original blue was stripped with the exception of under the vin tag, small round area in the door jam and this frame area. I couldn't figure out why this was left blue if the car was stripped when repainted silver. So in your opinion it should stay blue when I return it to it's factory color? The dash was blue with red leather from factory.
Last edited by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret on Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Martin Benade
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#11 Post by Martin Benade »

The windshield surround area generally matches the padded dash top , which in most cases is also the seat and door panel color.

The face if the dash gets the exterior body color.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna

Sean O'Donnell
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Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:21 pm
Location: Westchester NY

Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#12 Post by Sean O'Donnell »

Rudy, by dashboard I meant the top upholstered portion (as Martin said, the padded dash top, which is usually the same color as the interior color). I should have been more specific (I edited my previous post so there would be no confusion). There are some good examples on this thread: viewtopic.php?t=38243
1959 356A Super Sunroof

Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
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Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:02 pm
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#13 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Martin & Sean, is this diagram the correct application?
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Rudy Rodriguez-Duret
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#14 Post by Rudy Rodriguez-Duret »

Here is the interior how I understand it. Based on the older post.
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Martin Benade
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Re: Paint project on vin 158304 1963 Porsche Cabriolet press car

#15 Post by Martin Benade »

Yes that looks about right. It’s possible that the tiny space in front of the pad gets black, or I may be imagining that. Someone here will know.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna

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