1951 Porsche 356 'Model 51'
- Engine
- 1.5L flat-four, Type 506-series
- Colour
- Pascha Red
Chassis 10971 is an early Porsche 356 'Model 51' delivered from the factory in October 1951 to a Karlsruhe dealership, originally finished in Adria Blue. It is believed to have been raced in Greece before export to the United States, where it was campaigned until 1973. Acquired in 2017 by a French owner, it was returned toward original specification with a correct Pascha Red repaint, split windscreen, repaired dashboard, refinished interior, and a period-correct type '506' 1500cc engine.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €450,000 – €550,000
- 1951-10-25 →Factory deliveryGramling dealership, Karlsruhefull documentation
Car delivered from factory to this Karlsruhe-based dealer; Kardex records confirm original specification including Adria Blue paintwork and accessories.
- → 1973Acquisition unknownAmerican owner or ownersnone documentation
Following export to the United States, the car was used in competition before being withdrawn from use in 1973.
- 2010 →Acquisition unknownNevada-registered ownerpartial documentation
Car was re-registered in Nevada and appeared at a 2011 event in dark red livery with a modified interior and single-piece windscreen.
- 2017 →Private saleDrôme-based consignorpartial documentation
Current owner undertook sympathetic recommissioning work, returning the car closer to period specification including correct split windscreen, repainted in an appropriate period colour, and fitting a correct engine type.
- Date unknownGreek owner or operatornone documentation
Car reportedly raced in Greece and reputedly sustained water damage around 1952; ownership details are unconfirmed.
Competition
- 1952Racing in Greece
Car reportedly participated in motorsport events in Greece and allegedly suffered water damage during this period; details are unverified.
- 20112011 Porsche Race Car Classic at Quail Lodge
Car was displayed at this event while finished in dark red with a modified dashboard and non-original windscreen.
- —US competition appearances
Car was campaigned in the United States at some point prior to being taken off the road in 1973; no specific events or results are documented.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2017Restoration
The car was brought closer to factory specification: repainted in period-correct Pascha Red, the single-piece windscreen was replaced with a correct split-screen item, the dashboard was repaired, the interior was refinished, and a later Super 90 engine was replaced with a correct type '506'-series unit built to 1500cc.
Work commissioned by the Drôme-based consigning owner; the 356 B crash gearbox from the earlier restoration was kept.
- —Modification
The car was repainted dark red, fitted with a single-piece windscreen, and had its dashboard modified at some point before 2010.
These changes represent a departure from original specification and predate the 2017 acquisition.
- —Modification
A 356 B 'crash' gearbox was fitted during a previous restoration phase, replacing the original unit.
This gearbox was retained by the 2017 owner as part of the subsequent refurbishment.
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