A RUSTY but rare Porsche found abandoned in a barn after 60 years has sold for over $500,000 at auction.
The dust-covered Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster was discovered in a barn in rural Ohio and is one of the most valuable finds in years.
While a little rusty around the edges, the 1955 Speedster was found immaculately preserved but for some ageing paintwork.
The rare motor was unearthed by Porsche specialists, European Collectibles, based in California.
It reportedly stayed with the same family for more than 70 years.
The motor was auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers on Saturday, August 23 and fetched more than a whopping $500,000.
Stunning condition
Snaps of the 1955 Porsche show body panels with their original stamp markings.
The hood frame retains its original factory paint and while the hood itself isn’t original, it’s still fitted with a blue, period-correct one.
Meanwhile, the interior remains in stunning condition.
Pictures show a cabin with original door cards, dashboard, gauges and steering wheel still intact.
The seats have been re-trimmed in aged red leather to match the motor’s original character while replacement carpets have also been installed as the originals were beyond preservation.
Ready for the roads
The car was recovered from the Ohio barn following a tip-off and was quickly moved to European Collectibles’ California headquarters.
There it was carefully recommissioned where a diligent process of documentation and disassembly was carried out.
This was in an effort to retain as much of its originality as possible and to make it safe for the roads again.
The engine was disassembled and, remarkably, it only needed new piston rings before reassembly.
Auxiliary components were restored and the engine tinware refinished while the gearbox was completely stripped and rebuilt.
The original fuel tank was also retained complete with its aged patina.
It is understood that the motor was used regularly until 1962 until it was stored with 60,000 miles on the clock.
The rare Speedster is now fully recommissioned and runs smooth on the tarmac – it displayed a strong performance on test runs too.
It’s ready for export or immediate use and is UK registered complete with a V5C.
Upon purchase, it will come with the factory Kadex, Porsche-issued dating and spec letter and a comprehensive image archive documenting the process.
Hidden gems
It’s not the only rare Porsche to be found in a barn in recent months either.
An incredibly rare 1972 Porsche was pulled out of an old barn in a horrendously poor state in June.
The iconic Porsche 911S Targa, painted in a gorgeously original Gemini blue and complete with a black interior, is highly sought after.
And back in May, an iconic 190s Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport coupé was found left untouched in a barn for 14 years.
Meanwhile, an exceptionally rare sports car was uncovered after being hidden away in a garage for over 40 years.
The Alfa Romeo 1900C Cabriolet, featuring coachwork by the renowned Italian design firm Pininfarina, is one of only 88 ever produced.
