Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster 1600

This is one of the last Pre-A Speedsters. Chassis 81216 was built in late December 1955 and despatched in January 1956, and the final Pre-A car carries number 81234. It keeps the earlier dash, curved rocker panels and 'beehive' tail lights, but has the 1600 engine introduced with the T1 'A' cars.

The history is well documented from 1978. William Benz, an active Porsche Club of America member in California, bought the car that year and restored it. It was registered for road use until 1999, then stored until 2015. The original engine failed at some point and was replaced by a correct type 1600 unit. After Benz's death it passed through Paul Russell & Company and then to the current UK owner.

In the UK it was fully serviced, with new brake cylinders and shoes, new shock absorbers and a reinstated heater. It had a bare-metal repaint in its original red, and the body was found to be rust-free. Bonnet, doors and boot lid carry the correct body number stamps. A recent check-over by the Essex specialist PR Services covered the fuel system, a carburettor rebuild, the gear linkage and a new clutch cable. The car can be viewed in central London.