Again the concourse itch was there. I saw this car for the first time after it stood under a tree for close to twenty years. I wanted to buy this car but the current owner said no he is going to restore it.
Looking at the lines and everything it was a perfect car to make into the best 356A in South Africa. Next I heard it was sold!!!!!!
I found out that the new owners in nobody else but the person that restored the ivory 356A more than twenty years ago. He bought it as a project car and soon found that restoring 356A's is very costly. A year later I bought the car for an arm and a leg.
It still needed a lot of work to get it to be the best.
This car was never meant to be mine. After spending a lot of time and money the bad restoration flaws kept on breaking my spirit.
The car was not restored it was covered up in paint and made to look good.
To many shortcuts and wrong parts made me decide, a complete strip-down and a proper restoration or sell the car. I do not need to say selling the car was at that time the only option as I would have over capitalized so much that I would never have enjoyed the car.
I was sorry to see the car go as I had big dreams for this car.
Driving impressions of the 356A Super
Here are some of my impressions with regards to driveability You must keep in mind that the older cars should not be compared to the technology available today .
Performance :
This ‘59 Super was a fast car. The acceleration was smooth and the revs shot up to 6000 very easy. This car was far more responsive and felt the torqiest of them all This car made a lot of heads turn with the speed and performance on the high ways.
Handling :
The 356 was good in this category. This car had a set of Koni shock absorbers and that made the handling just that cut above the rest. This car was enjoyable at all levels. This car could handle and the reason was the wider wheels.
Braking ability :
The braking ability of this car was good and it could handle any high way traffic with no problem.
Overall:
A very nice car although we never annoyed long trips with it , only when we fetched it from Queenstown a trip of about 800 miles.
The Concourse History :
This car won the 2004 Porsche Club of South Africa Concourse De Eta for 356's
356A
this is the best Porsche ever!!!
The Technical specification of the 356A 1600 Super 90
Colour : Red
Engine
Engine Design: 4 cylinder horizontally opposed
Engine Installation: Rear engined
Engine Cooling system: Air cooled
Engine Type: 616/1
Engine Displacement (cc): 1582
Engine Bore and stroke (mm): 82.5 x 74
Engine Output DIN (kW/Hp): 55/75 at 5000 RPM
Engine Maximum Torque (Nm/lb ft): 117/86 at 3700 RPM
Engine Output per litre (kW/l/hp/l): 34.8/47.4
Engine Compression ratio: 8.5:1
Valve operation and camshaft drive: Ohv, cams driven by gears, 2 valves per cylinder
Carburation: two twin choke Zenith 32 NDIX carburettors
Ignition system: Battery coil ignition
Firing order: 1-4-3-2
Engine lubrication: Full pressure oil lubrication
Engine Oil Total (l): 5.0
Transmission
Drive configuration: Rear axle drive
Manual gearbox: 4 speed
Transmission type: 644
Transmission Ratios
1st Gear: 3.182
2st Gear: 1.765
3st Gear: 1.130
4st Gear: 0.815
Reverse Gear: 3.56
Final drive ratio: 4.428
Body
Body design: Steel body, 2 doors, 2+2 seats, pressed and welded steel sheet sections, mono body shell , curved single piece windshield, single grill in engine lid, bumpers project away from the body.
Suspension
Suspension, front: 2 longitudinal swing arms(suspension arms). 2 transverse, square torsion bars of laminated construction, adjustable, anti roll bar, hydraulic telescopic double action shock absorbers.
Suspension, rear: Oscilating half axles and radius arms, (longitudinal swing arms), one round torsion bar on each side, hydraulic telescopic double action shockabsorbers , anti roll bar
Brakes
Brakes, front (Size (mm): Duplex Brake drums (280x40)
Brakes, rear (Size (mm): Simplex Brake drums (280x40)
Wheels front : 4.5j x 15
Wheels rear : 4.5j x 15
Tyres front : 165 SR-15 Sport
Tyres rear : 165 SR-15 Sport
Electrical System
Genernator (W) : 160
Battery (V/Ah) : 6/84
Dimensions and weight
Track, front (mm) : 1306
Track, rear (mm) : 1272
Wheelbase (mm) : 2100
Length (mm) : 3950
Width (mm) : 1670
Height (mm) : 1310
Kerb weight (kg) : 850
Permissible gross weight (kg) : 1200
Fuel tank capacity (l): 52 including a 5.0l reserve
Power to weight ratio (kg/kW/kg/hp): 15.45/11.33
Fuel consumption :
Fuel type : 86 RON leaded
Performance :
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) : 14.5
Acceleration 0-161 km/h (s) : +60.0
Maximum speed (mph/kph) : 108.5/175
Production totals : 13016