1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet (Gläser-bodied)
- Engine
- 1.5L air-cooled flat-four, lightly modified (replacement unit)
- Colour
- Strawberry Red
Chassis 12375 is a 1953 Porsche 356 Cabriolet bodied by Karosserie Gläser under post-war director Erich Heuer — the 66th of 73 such bodies produced on the Model 52 bent-windshield platform before the Dresden coachbuilder closed. Completed in February 1953 and delivered new in Los Angeles in Strawberry Red, it spent 64 years with its first owner before undergoing a comprehensive bare-metal restoration by 356 specialist Jim Liberty. Fewer than 30 Heuer-Gläser Cabriolets are believed to survive.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$246,400
- 1953 → 2018Factory deliveryFrank Atkinsonpartial documentation
Original purchaser in Los Angeles; actively raced the car through the Pasadena Sports Car Club in the 1950s, replacing the engine twice before fitting a 1.5-liter unit in 1954. Kept the car for approximately 64 years.
- 2018 →Private saleSecond owner (identity unstated)partial documentation
Commissioned a comprehensive bare-metal restoration by 356 specialist Jim Liberty of Costa Mesa, including bodywork, fresh Strawberry Red paint, and a new tan leather interior.
Competition
- —Pasadena Sports Car ClubSouthern California club racing (multiple events)Driver: Frank Atkinson
Atkinson participated in club racing during the 1950s; the activity was hard on the car, leading to the failure of two engines in succession.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1953ServiceTollinger
Routine service carried out by Tollinger, as noted in the factory Kardex.
- 1954Engine rebuild
Original 1.3-litre engine had already been replaced once during club racing; a 1.5-litre factory replacement unit (case number KD 033831) was installed and lightly modified.
Two engines were destroyed in competition before this third, larger unit was fitted.
- —RestorationLiberty Motorsports
Comprehensive two-year bare-metal, nut-and-bolt restoration carried out by Jim Liberty. The nose was reshaped in-house; the damaged rear body was replaced with a new clip sourced from Hammerworks. Fresh Strawberry Red paint was applied, and a new tan leather interior was fabricated by Universal Upholstery.
Rear body section replaced by Trevor Marshall's Hammerworks due to prior accident damage; carpeting, folding top, dashboard instrumentation, and Becker Mexico radio also addressed during the restoration.
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