Restored 1958 Porsche 356 A: Factory One-Off Full of Special Requests

Dutch restorer revives a rare 1958 Porsche 356 A, a unique factory-built car with advanced features commissioned by engineer Reinhard Schmidt.

When Dutchman Henk Spin purchased a worn-out 1958 Porsche 356 A Coupé for restoration, he had no idea he was holding a true historical artifact. Years later, after countless hours in archives and his workshop, it became clear: this was a unique factory-built car, created as a special commission for engineer Reinhard Schmidt.

Schmidt, known for his unconventional ideas and close ties with Porsche and Volkswagen, commissioned eight custom-built cars during the 1950s and 60s. His concepts were ahead of their time: in-car telephone communication, additional dashboard instruments, advanced electrical systems, and interior features that would later become standard in production models. One of these rare vehicles eventually ended up in Spin’s hands.

The restoration journey was long and complex. Porsche Classic specialists and rare parts experts were involved, while Spin himself invested over 3,000 hours and an entire decade to bring the car back to life. The result is a vehicle restored as close to its factory condition as possible: the special Porcelain White paint, red interior trim, rare dashboard instruments, a Lorenz telephone with its distinctive 50-centimeter antenna, and even a replica of the original test license plate have all been meticulously recreated.

Only eight “Schmidt cars” were ever built. At least two are confirmed today: Spin’s fully restored 356 A and a 1962 Porsche 356 B 2000 GS Carrera 2 with unique modifications and a Fuhrmann engine. The fate of the other six remains largely unknown, their tracks seemingly lost to history.

Notably, many of the features first seen on Schmidt’s experimental Porsches would later find their way into series production. These cars can be seen as prototypes for future innovations within the brand. Nearly 70 years later, the unique 356 A is once again road-ready—not just as a collector’s rarity, but as a living piece of Porsche history.