1953 Porsche Pre-A 356 Alu-Cabrio. Aluminum. ONE.
Bodywork company Reutter produced ONE 1953 Porsche Cabrio with an aluminum body. The resto finally completed in cooperation with Porsche!
Download the PDF below to read all the details.
The restoration of Konrad Fauser’s 1953 Aluminum Porsche 356 cabriolet chassis number 60 199 has been over six years in the making.
I first saw the restored tub (only a stripped body with no suspension or engine) in April of 2017 during my first visit with Konrad. I was provided with updates of the progress. Konrad invited me to the official unveiling, ALU-Fest as he called it.
PDF translated into English HERE
Take a look at the Interior Restoration which in cooperation with Porsche.
A team of craftsmen / specialists had to be assembled (with knowledge into the 1953 build) to restore this unique Porsche to better than the original condition
In the early 1950s Porsche commissioned a limited production of 16 cars
called the American Roadster fabricated by Gläser -Heuer.
Of these, 15 were fabricated in aluminum and one in steel.
Following this production run Gläser –Heuer declared bankruptcy and closed the business.
Ferry Porsche then placed an order to Reutter to build the aluminum chassis 356 cabriolet as a replacement.
After building one cabriolet example in Aluminum, Reutter replied if they have to build the car in aluminum they too would go bankrupt !
So the remaining Porsche 356s were all constructed in steel ….
Following this production Porsche developed the idea of the 356 Speedster as a lighter weight sport focused model. Porsche has an excellent 365 history — including early Le Mans — here https://www.pca.org/news/2017-06-27/model-guide-356-simple-porsche
Technical Data 1953 ALU Porsche 356
1953 Porsche Pre-A 356 Aluminum Cabriolet
Chassis Number: 60 199
License Plate Number: KN KF 356
Number produced: 1
Motor: 4 cylinder boxer motor
Displacement: 1,488 cc
Carburetion: Solex 32 PBJ Fallstrom
Spark: Bosch distributor VE 4 BRS 383
Maximum power: 55 HP at 4,400 RPM
Wheelbase: 82.8 in. / 2,100 mm
Top speed: 100 mph / 160 kph