Provenance — what the documents say
The factory Kardex records engine number 84 578 — matching the P84578 stamped on the case — with transmission 29 345, Fjord Green (fjordgrün) paint, and beige leatherette (Kunstleder) interior. The car was delivered on 4 August 1959 through Hoffman in New York, on Phönix tires with US bumpers. The Reutter body plate carries 108689 and the paint tag reads Farbton R 705. A Texas title issued in Houston in January 1974 brackets the start of its long storage.
Philosophy — preservation + repair + restrained modernization
The unusual value of this car is not simply that it is an early Porsche — it is the degree to which the original object survived. Original engine, original transmission, stamped factory panels, evidence of the original Fjord Green under black spray paint, the original seats. The project is an exercise in preserving continuity, not creating a visually perfect approximation of a 1959 Porsche.
- Retain factory metal wherever structurally sound; replace only what genuinely requires it
- No acid dipping, no whole-body media blasting — hand and machine sanding, targeted blasting only where access demands it
- Modern corrosion protection where it won't visibly alter the car: epoxy primer, seam sealer, cavity wax
- No moisture-trapping tar-paper floor treatment — modern inspectable insulation under period-correct carpet
- Built to be driven, not too precious to enjoy
Progress — where the build stands
1–2 · Discovery & planning
Matching drivetrain confirmed, Fjord Green documented under the black paint, restoration shop selected, phased plan set.
3 · Structural metal
Floor pans and battery box replaced with Sierra Madre panels, tar boards out (minimal hidden rust found), new metal prepped for protection.
4 · Body preparation
Black paint removal, door seam and wax preparation, panel fit, paint booth prep sessions done. Original-paint-vs-repaint decision lands here.
5 · Paint — Fjord Green
Period-correct finish; cavities and hidden seams protected.
6–7 · Electrical & mechanical
Harness decision, 6V system restoration, full brake rebuild, suspension bushings, engine assessment. The engine already runs; carburetors are rebuilt.
8–9 · Reassembly & road return
Glass, seals, interior, wheels — then testing, alignment, break-in, and regular use.
Open decisions — with the reasoning
Every significant decision gets documented with its trade-offs, whichever way it goes. These are the live ones:
Production steel wheels vs. custom aluminum
The question is whether reduced unsprung mass — better suspension response, marginally sharper steering — justifies moving away from period-correct steel wheels.
Interior: factory beige leatherette, or a darker interpretation
The Kardex says Kunstleder beige — leatherette, not leather. Strict factory correctness is the most historically faithful direction; darker leather and Speedster-seat variants remain explorations.
Original harness vs. new 6-volt harness
Headlight wiring cut and brittle, insulation aged throughout. If the harness comes out during bare-shell work, reinstalling 70-year-old wiring is hard to justify. Leaning: quality replacement harness, improved grounding, hidden relays, original-style installation.
Surviving original Fjord Green vs. complete repaint
The preservation path — expose the original paint and accept patina — was seriously explored. As metalwork expanded, a full period-correct repaint became the likely direction. What was found under the black paint will be documented either way.
What the site will document as work proceeds
Engine and transmission numbers with photographs of stampings, compression or leak-down results, the full brake system rebuild, glass and seal selection, the final paint system and Fjord Green formula, and a build ledger of costs, suppliers, and dates.