Evaluation: One of 228 Cabriolets in one-year-only Continental trim for the US market. Represented as matching numbers. Very good paint, which was a special order color when this car was new. Clean restored engine bay. Clean, tight-fitting top. Clean wheels and tires. Lightly wrinkled seats, and some wear to the original steering wheel (which was also a special order feature) and radio. An honest older restoration of a rare 356 in rare colors.
Bottom Line: Like so many automotive ideas in the 1950s, the 356 “Continental” was the brainchild of importer Max Hoffman, who suggested that Porsche a more stylish name to its product than just “356.” But Ford quickly put the kibosh on that, meaning that 356 Continentals only appeared in 1955.
The package consisted of gold Continental badges and literally nothing else, but it’s an interesting distinction that collectors care about. This one’s special order features are yet more desirable distinctions that, along with the strong condition and matching numbers engine, justify this price, which is even more than the $330,000 the car brought here in 2014.
