1959 356 Convertible D

Produced for just one model year, Porsche’s 356A Convertible D was a thoughtful evolution of the Speedster it replaced, retaining the spirit of a weekend racer but adding a layer of comfort and practicality. Built by Drauz in Heilbronn, the “D” stood apart with its taller windshield, roll-up glass windows, improved weather protection, and more comfortable coupe-style seats. Subtle yet meaningful updates like door pockets, an enlarged rear window, and optional headrests made it a more refined open-air experience. With just ~1,331 examples built, the Convertible D is one of the rarest production 356s built.

This 1959 356A Convertible D was originally a US car but was brought to Germany in 1999, where it resides today. The car was refurbished between 2022 and 2023 with work consisting of a bare metal respray in its original shade of Meissen Blue along with a “big-bore” rebuild of its original engine. On the inside you’ll find a pair of Speedster-style seats trimmed in Black leather with proper reclining buckets included with the sale.

The Convertible D market has been softening over the last few years going from an average of around $300,000 towards the end of 2022 to sit at $229,000 in August of 2024. I say August of last year because that is the last time we had examples crossing the block, with one selling for $246,400* and another at $185,000. Our Spotlight car failed to reach even that low bid, ending at €160,000 ($173,356). Even with the car being in Germany and any US bidder considering import duties and shipping costs, $173k was very light. I do think more detailed photos of the car would have helped here, especially for those bidding across the pond.

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