RUBY-RED 1956 PORSCHE 356A ON BRING A TRAILER IS A JEWEL
- The Porsche 356 established the brand's reputation around the world.
- This example looks factory fresh but has significant performance upgrades.
- The discrete hot-rodding should make it much more enjoyable to drive in modern conditions.
Long before the 911 emerged, early Porsches made a name for the brand by doing more with less. When the 356 won its class at Le Mans in 1951, the world sat up and took notice, and it wasn't long before importer Max Hoffman had established the pride of Stuttgart as an institution on this side of the Atlantic. Thing is, a 1950s Porsche 356 is still very much a car of its time, with performance that might not match modern traffic. Not so with this 1956 356A for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). It's been restored and discreetly updated with tasteful improvements to make the driving experience match the looks.
So-called "outlaw" 356s are an established trend by now, the form kicked off by customizer Rod Emory in his California-based shop. But while many of Emory's 356s defy the rules to build full-on Porsche hot-rods, this car is all about the hidden details. It's even finished in the original factory paint color, a rich Polyantha Red.
From the outside, only 15-inch Boyd Coddington wheels and a custom dual exhaust hint that there's anything non-stock going on here. Those wheels hide disc brakes at all four corners—early 356 drum brakes can be a bit alarming when you suddenly spot a deer crossing the road—and the braking system is further upgraded with some 911 parts.
On the inside, GT-style bucket seats and a Nardi steering wheel are the highlights of a complete reworking, including new carpeting and refreshing the dashboard. The instrumentation is rebuilt, the chrome redone, and the tachometer converted to electric operation.
The 356A marked the first time the twin-cam Carrera engine was available in a road car, but the largest displacement available at the time was 1.6 liters. This car gets a built up 2.2-liter flat-four for far more torque, especially lower in the rev range, and peak power of 160 horsepower at 6000 rpm. Built by FAT Performance, also based in California, this engine is a howler, and should provide considerable shove in a car that weighs around 2000 pounds.
The four-speed manual transmission is also reworked, with short gearing except for fourth, which is a longer "freeway flyer" gear for cruising. This is a fantastic-looking little car in a great color combination, but the real appeal here is the driving experience, supported by performance parts from the best suppliers out there.
While it's perhaps overshadowed by the 911 as the most recognizable Porsche, the 356 is a very special car to drive, impressive even after nearly 75 years. This one takes that performance and remasters it for 2025, while keeping the 1950s-era charm. Besides, everyone's doing 911 restomods these days. Why not grab a Porsche from the time when it was first putting the world on notice?
The auction ends on April 2.
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