1959 Porsche 356A RHD Coupe.

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:34 am

Presently for sale.

https://www.thornleykelham.com/restorat ... ad-image-0

Looking at the kardex in the collection of photos shows the car was first delivered to an F D Sykes of Milnsbridge which is near Huddesfield. A bit of Googling reveals he was probably Frank Sykes, the rugby union player, capped for England 4 times.

Delivered on the 10th December 1959 in metallic silver I can imagine it would have looked like a UFO driving around Huddersfield in the bleak midwinter.

My farther in law played for Wasps and would have been a contemporary of Frank Sykes, I wonder if they would have known each other, they would most certainly known of each other. Unfortunately I'll never know now.

The car has spent the last 30 years in the States and has recently been repatriated.

No affiliation by the way, just thought it looked interesting.

210bhp · Post by **210bhp** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:02 pm

Nice detective work. I wonder what all the private detectives do now the internet knows everything (a bit like the wife only more logically laid out for a man brain).

Looks like a very worthwhile project Mike. I’ll go halfers.

Regards
Mike

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:49 pm

It looks like a deep pocket project Mike and although I do have deep pockets, my arms are only short.

210bhp · Post by **210bhp** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:10 pm

Fair point. Looks like someone else has thought the same for 30 years. They must have had short arms too.

Regards
Mike

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:30 pm

Love that story ( if true )... spent my Uni years at Huddersfield so can’t really imagine a 356 blatting around the town ... although back then some stonking roads out Holmfirth way

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:33 pm

I don't know how much it would cost to restore but unless the bodywork is exceptional and it has all its bit and pieces I should imagine it'll be around the 80k mark and more.

No mention of how much Thornley Kelham want for the car but it might be north of 60k ??

150k right there.

I'm Ooot.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:37 pm

Looks solid though , could be an easy outlaw project ?

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 2:25 pm

I think this might be the opportunity you've been waiting for James, a dyed in the wool Yorkshire outlaw.

BD55 · Post by **BD55** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:07 pm

Anybody know the asking price?

Winston Teague · Post by **Winston Teague** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:09 pm

The way I read it, Thornley Kellham are selling the whole job......If so i imagine one could expect to spend 2 x finished value by the time it's done, and if you were doing that, you'd want to have had it done by someone with an excellent 356 reputation......a 'name'as it were.
It would be a great car to buy as is for a DIY resto though.....
W

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:52 pm

mycar wrote:I think this might be the opportunity you've been waiting for James, a dyed in the wool Yorkshire outlaw.

Skint .. 2 teenage daughters have already turned out to be over budget !!!

IanM · Post by **IanM** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:42 pm

I have a soft spot for RHD 356A T2 as Jim Clark's 356 was that model. I think his was also originally silver and he had it repainted in white.

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:34 pm

Yes he did have his painted white and of course is still around looking very nice as Mike of PRS knows.

And what a good comment by Mike saying above the 356AT2 must have looked strange going around Huddersfield. I used to see 356 cars going up and down Hounslow High street near Isleworth at times in 1958 and they did look so different to other cars. My Uncle had a Sunbeam Talbot 90 saloon and in the 50's I thought that was low, the 356 looked the super car and of course to me still is !

Roy

Nine One One · Post by **Nine One One** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:33 pm

Excellent article on Thronley Kelham in the latest edition of Classic Porsche

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker