Authentic Restoration Parts For Your Porsche ... Since 1957
Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois has wrapped up the restoration of this 1955 Pre-A Speedster, which was used as a race car in the Midwest with the SCCA, mostly competing at Road America in Wisconsin. It had been wrecked numerous times and rolled at one point. The work included removing pounds of body filler that had been used to "fix" prior damage.
The customer chose to keep the upgraded disc brake and they present a neat look with narrow 356C wheels painted body color.
The three-year project at Automotive Reisen in now just a couple of weeks from completion. All of the lights, instruments and horns work perfectly. The final objective was to make every area of the 356 totally operational and attractive as the beautiful exterior look of the body.
Although it took months to get the engine done, it took lots of help to source all of the under-engine parts, cables, hoses, mufflers. Pat writes, "Thanks to Maurice at Stoddard we were able to get most parts necessary. Pre-A heater/muffler cans were impossible to get so we took those used on a A car and modified them so them looked exactly like the Pre-A. We also paid attention to making it cosmetically as neat as the topside."
Because of the international pandemic, the carpet set took a long time to be delivered. This was sourced through Stoddard using the same weave pattern and color as original. "The installation partner commented on the high quality of the material and the pre-cutting was dead on."
The seat rails and wooden frame for a Speedster were exact as to dimensions and hole fit. It was more economical to buy new rather than replate. "Everyone is having long delays with chrome suppliers in the USA"
It's almost done! Just a few more details to finish up.
Here are some updates from Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois They've rebuilt the entire inner structure and the results are spectacular.
We have made major progress on the ’55 Speedster with the interior metal completed. This was part of the rear that had been crushed in one of its’ many track experiences
The bottom pan was replaced but we noted exactly where the factory had placed the seams and spot welds. The old pan was unsavable not due to rust but rather the aggressive track use of this Speedster.
Primer and five coats of Glasurit paint with hand sanding between each coat. The white formula is exact to the original single-stage paint.
The entire exterior painted surface was covered with foam sheet to protect the surface during reassembly.
We are now installing all of the control cables in the tunnel and then the engine goes in. We expect to be completed in mid-May.
A racetrack wreck to a show piece
Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois is tackling quite the project! This 1955 Pre-A Speedster was used as a race car in the Midwest with the SCCA, mostly competing at Road America in Wisconsin. The new owner wanted to restore it back to "As New" condition and shop's Pat Yanahan was up to the task. "After we sanded off over two 5-gallon pails of body filler our forensic examination show that the right front had been crushed and the rear had shown signs of a total rollover."
Automotive Reisen assembled a crew of 356 body experts along with fabricators who were up to the challenge for a project that was to last three years. Here's the first few pictures of the restoration—more to follow!
After the filler was ground off the outer bodywork, the rear tail skin was removed, revealing quite a mess.
This is what the rear inner structure looks like after years of racing and sometimes rolling.
New sheetmetal, sourced from Stoddard, is ready to help put this Speedster back to original.
Here's a shot of the inner structure coming back together. Panels are clamped on for fitting before the welding begins.
From the front, you can see the Speedster shape coming back together.
Stay tuned for more in a couple of weeks!
7754 S County Line Rd.
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
(630) 395-7000
https://www.facebook.com/Automotive-Reisen-125296761509/
We got a chance to shoot Jerry Paytos' 1956 356A Coupe. It's a real beauty that's been treated to a very nice restoration here in Ohio.
Last year, we posted some pictures that George Malos of Davis, Illinois working on the restoration of his five-speed 1966 912. Now that project is just about done.
A friend of Stoddards, Dan Mainzer is working on a Concours-level early 914-6. We stopped by and took some pictures of the assembly project.
We recently got a very nice note from a customer of ours, Dave DiMaria of Vintage Car Works. A 1966 911 that they just restored has been doing well in concours events in Southern California. The pictures look stunning!
We love customer emails like this one from Dave DiMaria at Vintage Car Works, "I just got back from Amelia. We had a great event and won the Amelia Award for our class—finishing second in sports cars from 1955 to 1959. I am pretty sure that we were the only Porsche in our class, which included Maseratis, Lancias and one-off coachbuilt Fiats, etc."
