The Porsche company as we know it, which has had an incalculable influence on the automotive world, both with passenger cars and in competition, displayed its innovation and design genius from the earliest of days. Porsche developed and constructed its first model, the 356/2, in Gmünd, Austria, and began to deliver the hand-built cars to customers in early 1949. Soon, the company was able to relocate to its factory in Stuttgart where the first full-scale production took place in 1950. The first cars off the production line bear some of the same DNA and design principles of the Porsches of today, more than seven decades later.

The spectacular Porsche 356 Coupe offered here, no. 5511, is one of the first 500 cars built at the Stuttgart factory, and was finished on March 14, 1951. Notably, that month marked a new production record for the works, with 88 cars completed. Its split-windshield body was specified in Fisch Silbergrau (Fish Silver) Metallic, complemented by a blue interior of vinyl and fabric. Chassis 5511 was soon delivered to its first owner, Hans Müller-Kray of Stuttgart, who was the conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. Many of these first cars were sold locally as the company continued to develop its dealer network further afield.

According to the consignor’s research, which is compiled in a report that is included in the file, by the mid-1950s, 5511 was purchased by an American serviceman stationed in Europe, and it returned with him to his native Oklahoma.

Soon thereafter, the 356 was involved in an accident and sat idle for the next year, before it was purchased by the county sheriff who had responded to the scene of the accident, and later stored it outdoors on his ranch.

In 1992, the Porsche was discovered on a ranch in Hastings, Oklahoma, by noted split-windshield Porsche authority Thomas Birch of California. Mr. Birch was delighted when he observed that the car was remarkably intact, retaining traces of its original paint and, very significantly, was still fitted with its original engine. Mr. Birch restored 5511 and sold it to Tetsuya Shimada, a Japan-based collector. The car returned to the US in 2001, when it was acquired by Neil Huffman of Kentucky, before finally settling with Road Scholars in Durham, North Carolina, in 2009.

Once in the capable hands of the historians and mechanical specialists at Road Scholars, 5511 was thoroughly inspected and a restoration of the very highest order commenced. In light of its extreme rarity, its status as one of the few surviving four-digit chassis number Porsches, and its original components, the restoration team set out to return the 356 to its original condition, researching each minute detail. For the comprehensive restoration, documented by photographs and notes on file, extremely rare and elusive parts – many of which were new old stock – were sourced from around the globe in support of the effort. In all, more than 5,000 man-hours were devoted to the restoration. Metal fabrication was completed to original specifications using accurately constructed body bucks and pressing patterns, even extending to the floor pans and substructure, as well as the embossed mounts for the front and rear marker lights in the coachwork.

The interior was researched for the proper patterns of the cord cloth and texture of the vinyl, and the wooden door caps were made in accordance with the factory methods and design. The substructure of the upholstery was hand-stitched using coconut-fiber stuffing, as was done by the factory. Likewise, the paint was painstakingly formulated using pulverized fish scales in the correct proportion to accurately reproduce Porsche’s two-year-only color of Fish Silver Metallic. These, and countless other details and parts were thoroughly researched, sourced, and installed using factory practices until the car was complete. It has been recognized as one of the most accurately restored early Porsches to be found anywhere in the world.

Chassis 5511 was exhibited at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in March 2021, and the entire Road Scholars team, as well as its then-owner, Ed Anderson, were presented with the award for best restored sports car, underscoring the 356 Coupe’s significance.

The Porsche marque has never enjoyed such popularity and collectibility as it does at the present time. Yet many significant collections lack an early car representing the origin of the species, primarily due to their low production numbers and extreme rarity. Here is one such example not merely restored but renewed with unwavering commitment to accuracy and detail, and it is very likely without equal. Gooding & Company is proud to present this superb Porsche and we invite your close inspection.