Value Pre A Coupe Project Car

[Ben Müller]

Hello from Aschaffenburg Germany,

My name is Ben 39 years old and i´m looking for a Pre A Coupe project Car, since i will never be able to buy a driving car, as prices rised that high.

I wonder, how is the price range of an 53 to 55 Coupe project Car?

My dream would be a 51 with split screen, but these are so more expensive, that i´m happy just to own one, don´t care if its a 53,54 or 55.

I bought "the 356 resrores´s guide to authentigity iv" to get my selfe into the details and changes of these cars. A very good book.

But back to topic, what are you guys think what is an realistc value to a Pre A coupe project car? (Not totaly rotten)

I like this for example:


Best Regards,

Ben

[Greg Bryan]

Hi, Ben - welcome to the Registry.
It's really hard to put a valuation on an unseen car, but all Pre As are going for a premium these days regardless of condition.
Maybe some of our Pre A guys can say what they paid for their projects and the general condition.

Added by edit - my wife was walking by and saw this picture on my computer and said, Don't you dare buy that car!.

[Ben Müller]

Hahaa... its always the same!

It would be helpfull to get examples, just not buying "overpriced", because of missing parts or something like that.

I know what you are talking about, its hard to find one anyway and it seams ten years ago finding a decend Pre A for 30K are long gone!

[Schaefer Ralf]

Hello Ben
In 2018 i bought a car identical to the car on your photo.It was almost rustfree and came with matching numbers engine and gearbox.80000 $ was an appropiate price.
Within the last 3 years PreA cars have become more expensive.Here some bringatrailer results.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1955- ... upe-pre-a/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1952-porsche-356-2/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1954-porsche-356-3/
Be aware that mssing parts will be very expensive and extremly hard to find.

[James Davies]

Buy the most complete car you can find. Parts are very scarce.

[Joris Koning]

James is right. With the Pre-A's its all about completeness body condition is less important. For younger cars B/C get the most solid car you can.

[Ben Müller]

Ok, thank you very much.

[tom coughlin]

Ben: How skilled are you welding and all the other skills needed for this task? Do you stick to projects and enjoy that kind of work?

Take a look at this project viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31912&sid=5319d24b6 ... cf88558c43. It looked like a driver when bought, but after paint stripping major rust problems turned it into a stalled project.

Unless you are skilled and enjoy this work, my advice is that you should buy a 356 driver that you can afford. Then improve it and enjoy it. With that knowledge, you should know what you can tackle and your future steps will be clearer. Good luck.

[James Davies]

Added by edit - my wife was walking by and saw this picture on my computer and said, Don't you dare buy that car!.

Greg, that car is for sale, but it's been restored beautifully. See below

And to put some real numbers out there, I've seen complete basket case coupes that are not complete sell for $85k and basket case coupes that have all their original components, including interior and paint, for $100k. You will easily spend $15k on parts even for a largely complete car. And you will pull your hair out trying to find parts, or even to figure out which parts you're missing. So buy a car this is complete or as close as possible. And expect to spend at least double that restoring it.

[Ben Müller]

I´m not afraid of welding.

My dream would be a 52 like this


but this is in a price range I never could reach. so I would be more than happy just to own a Pre A. I don't want to have a perfect Pre A, just one to enjoy.