1955 356 Pre-A Continental Sunroof Coupe

The 356 Continental was a short-lived but memorable chapter in Porsche’s early U.S. marketing story. Conceived by legendary importer Max Hoffman, it was essentially a pre-A 356 fitted with the top-spec 1500cc engine and various extras, rebranded with “Continental” badging to appeal to American buyers as a sophisticated European sports car. All were coupes or cabriolets and bore distinctive script emblems on the front fenders. But the name drew legal pushback from Ford, who already had rights to the Continental name via its Lincoln division. As a result, Porsche was forced to drop the moniker after just one year, making the 356 Continental both rare and historically significant. For 1956, it was quietly renamed the 356 “European.”

This 1955 356 Pre-A Continental Coupe was refinished in Silver over Red and is a rare sunroof-equipped example. It underwent a no-expense-spared rotisserie restoration, retaining its original body panels along with its matching-numbers engine and gearbox. More recently, the brakes were overhauled and new tires fitted. Accompanying the car is a very cool custom book documenting the restoration process.

Over the past twelve months, just two other Continental Coupes have crossed the block, an older restoration in Red over Tan that brought $159,999 in November and a long-term family-owned survivor that sold for $156,800 last March. Our Spotlight Car was one of two examples offered at Mecum’s Glendale sale, and neither found a buyer, with this one stalling at a high bid of $200,000.

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