But don’t worry, because this is a very valuable pile of rust – even in a non-restored state.
As a matter of fact, nowadays, a barn find in its original condition may be more cherished by car collectors, mainly due to their panache and patina gathered over the years. Nothing beats a car waiting to be restored, but there’s a limit even to that.
The 356 A Speedster is one of the most valuable classic Porsches ever built. Due to its rarity and beauty, a well preserved example fetches north of $250,000, although some examples can be found in the low $200,000.
This particular car is apparently a 1955 T1 model, the #212 produced out of about 1,850 units (although the sellers says 1,700), and looks fantastically rusted. Even so, that didn’t stop someone to pay $152,700 for it, as the owner specifically stated that all the new (or refurbished) body panels needed for it can be found under $20,000 dollars.
Add a few more bucks for missing parts ($30,000 or so) and on a period-correct engine – the car was sold with a 1960 S-90 powerplant that was “supposedly overhauled, but never installed” – and you’ve got yourself an expensive project on your hands.
It remains to be seen whether or not the investment was worth it, since the car – even after the overhaul – will be missing some of its original components.
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