Porsche’s 356 Cabriolets were luxuriously finished, luxuriously equipped, and priced accordingly.

The first cabriolets appeared for the 1950 model year, with most bodies produced by Reutter and trucked to Zuffenhausen for installation of their drivetrains and suspensions.

Although relatively simple by today’s standards, Porsche’s earliest production cars underwent steady mechanical and cosmetic improvement and by 1953 had adopted ‘bent’ single-piece windshields in lieu of the two-piece ‘split’ glass used through 1951.

This interesting example of a ‘bent-window’ cabriolet was completed 19 August 1953, by which time Porsche had adopted a new, fully synchronized gearbox and improved brakes.

Nineteen fifty-three models were the first to use the attractive quadruple ‘beehive’ tail-lamp arrangement.

Finished in the elegant combination of 531 Modegrau (Fashion Grey) with a red leather interior and black canvas folding top, it was trucked to the company’s dealer in Düsseldorf and thence d...