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This incredibly rare one-off
aluminum body prototype Porsche custom Sports Cabriolet is finished
in Metallic Green with a Tan Interior. It was built in 1948 by the
renowned Swiss Coachbuilder and one of the principal creators of
the early 356 cars - Hans Waibel - using the materials available
at the time including a VW chassis. Waibel had close ties to Dr.
Porsche before and after WWII including building two prototypes
and a commission to produce two show cars in 1948. The car is truly
a forefather to the later factory 356 cars with such details as
a curved windshield. It carries a unique provenance with ownership
history including some of the major players in early Porsche history
including M. Debrunner, president of VW AG Switzerland, and Ruprecht
von Senger. Von Senger financed and established the early Porsche
dealership network in Europe much like Max Hoffman would do later
in the U.S. in 1953. The car was last registered in Switzerland
in 1959. It was put into storage for some 20 years and eventually
sold to Michael Rizzuto, a restoration specialist in the United
States . Mr. Rizzuto sold the car in unrestored condition to film
producer Monty Montgomery in 1988. Mr. Montgomery commissioned a
full restoration with Hill and Vaughn and upon completion in 1992
it was exhibited at Pebble Beach. The car remains in beautiful condition
to this day. This is truly an influental and historic automobile
and it is an authentic predecessor to the factory Porsche 356 Cabriolets
that were to be built in later years as well as other cars built
by the Porsche SE group. In fact, renowned automobile designer Freeman
Thomas, who designed the New Beetle and Audi TT, attributes this
car as the direct inspiration for the Audi TT.
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