This 1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A is a Reutter-built split-window coupe that was delivered new through Sonauto of Paris, France, and is said to have been purchased in the 1990s for the collection of Swedish financier Eric Douglas, who reportedly commissioned a refurbishment that was completed circa 2001. Work during the project is said to have included a repaint in metallic blue, a re-trim of the interior in gray leatherette and cloth, and the installation of a replacement 1.3-liter flat-four. Additional features include bumpers mounted flush to the body, a non-synchromesh four-speed manual transaxle, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, 16” body-color steel wheels, and a Siemens radio. This 356 split-window coupe was acquired by the current owner in 2023 and is now offered on their behalf by the seller with a copy of its Kardex, an owner’s manual, a tool kit, and a clean Oregon title in the name of the owner’s LLC.
The earliest examples of the Porsche 356 featured a peak at the leading edge of the roof aligning with the crest of a two-piece windshield that gave way to a single-piece bent windshield in early 1952. The early-production slim bumpers are mounted flush against the lower edges of the body and are accented by grooved aluminum trim strips.
This example was placed on a rotisserie for replacement of corroded areas of sheet metal before a repaint in its current shade of metallic blue during the refurbishment that was completed circa 2001. Features include VW-branded Bosch headlights, turn-signal lenses situated inboard of the headlights, rectangular taillights, and Reutter badging.
Body-color 16” steel wheels wear baby-moon hubcaps and are wrapped in 5.00-16 Heidenau tires that are said to have been mounted in September 2026. A scratch is noted on one of the hubcaps. Stopping is handled by hydraulic drum brakes at each corner, and Koni shocks are installed.
The cabin was re-trimmed during the refurbishment with gray leatherette over the seating and color-matched cloth upholstery on the seat inserts, door panels, and rear bulkhead. Additional features include blue square-weave carpeting, wood door caps, roll-up windows, door pockets, blue-tinted sun visors, and a Siemens radio.
The banjo-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a body-color dashboard housing Veigel instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and an oil temperature gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 4,700 kilometers (~2,900 miles), approximately 350 of which have been added under current ownership. The hand-operated throttle cable is missing.
The replacement 1.3-liter flat-four is stamped with number P-20571 is said to have been overhauled and installed during the refurbishment under previous ownership. An oil change was performed in preparation for the sale.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a non-synchromesh four-speed manual transaxle with straight-cut first and second gears and helically cut upper gears. A leak is noted from the gearbox.
Five-digit serial number 11065 is stamped in the front compartment above and can also be seen on the door-jamb tag in the photo gallery below.
The Kardex lists the original engine number as 20742, along with the original shade of Adriablau and delivery through Sonauto in Paris.
A collection of photographs from the refurbishment under previous ownership is included in the sale, and additional images can be viewed in the gallery.
