Porsche’s first production model, the 356, quickly established the company as a builder of serious sports cars. Produced from 1948 to 1963, the 356 progressed through four major model changes, several body revisions, and a considerable array of engines. The first major update, designated 356A, was introduced at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show. The engine was enlarged to 1,582 cubic centimeters, and higher compression resulted in additional horsepower. A new body in the 1958 model year was called, in factory parlance, Type 2, giving rise to the enthusiast shorthand “T2,” its predecessor being T1.

Although Porsche sourced bodies from a number of suppliers, by far the most came from Reutter. Karosseriefabrik Reutter & Co., of Stuttgart, had a long association with Porsche. Reutter had furnished prototypes to Ferdinand Porsche in 1932, during the early days of the Volkswagen project. From 1950, Reutter leased some plants to Porsche for car production and started producing bodies for a number of 356 models. This car is a very nice example of a T2A Cabriolet.

A well-presented, older restoration; it is black with a red leather interior and correct tan carpeting. A tan canvas top is fitted and augmented with a black boot. It is equipped with a Blaupunkt AM radio, and it comes with a correct factory tool kit, jack, owner’s manual, spare fuses, and keys. Clean throughout, it shows 221 miles, believed to be the distance traveled since restoration. Shown at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the prestigious event at Quail Lodge on the Monterey Peninsula, this car will be a fine entrée to the world of sports automobiles.