We have a special fondness for so-called barn-finds here on eBay stories. We know our colleagues over at the eBay Motors Blog would prefer to focus on new cars, cool racing events, and collector cars, but we like to find unusual cars (some in good shape, others in terrible shape) and talk about them here. In fact, one of our favorite stories from last year was about this Mercedes 190D found in a barn, where we even speculated as to how these barn-finds are discovered.
Today’s remarkable listing qualifies as a barn-find, but only just. Take a look at this 1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet with no reserve:
The listing explains the what you’ll receive:
This is an original 1958 356A Cabriolet. Body #150872. As ordered from the factory, it came with only a steel hardtop (no folding cabriolet top.) The original color was silver metallic.
It was purchased in 1971 from the original owner by a Porsche aficionado in Washington state. He and his wife used the car sparingly over the next 42 years, mostly for Porsche club events and pleasure trips. On one excursion the engine threw a fan belt and overheated. The original engine was removed and replaced with one from a 1972 Cabriolet. The original 1958 engine block and heads were kept with hopes of one day rebuilding the original engine and returning it to the car. The car was fitted with a 12 volt battery for easier starting and brighter headlights, along with a step-down voltage reducer that allowed the original 6 volt gauges to be retained.
The car was sent to a body shop that removed the entire worn original floor pan. It was replaced with a correct pan for this model. The car was then painted in light blue color and returned to the owner. He drove it over the next 30 years. It was always parked in his dry barn when not in use. The car was last driven in the summer of 2012. After 42 years of enjoyment, the owner decided, because of his advancing age, that the car be made available to a new owner who will appreciate the significance of this 356A Cabriolet and preserve it for the next generation.
One of the nice things about this auction is that it has no reserve. For such a rare and well-preserved car, it’s great that the seller is letting the market decide the final price. The seller is even including the original engine with the car, in case the buyer wants to put the time and effort into a full restoration. And it may be worth it to do so, as the car is rust-free and appears in great shape. As the seller notes, “it is a perfect candidate for a high point, concours quality restoration.”
This video sums up the story of the car, and how it wound up in the barn:
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More Porsches on eBay stories:
Porsche Rennsport Edition racecar
A converted ’62 Porsche coupe BBQ
Wayne?
: )