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Porsche Zagato Spider 1500Z 1956


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#1 Porsha

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 22:21

Hi, I am trying to find some info on a Porsche Zagato 1500 Z made in 1956.
Any ideas ?

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#2 fbarrett

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 23:35

Porsha:

Any other clues?

The earliest Zagato-bodied Porsche that I know of was the Abarth Carrera GTL of 1960-61.

The place to start research is Karl Ludvigsen's history, Porsche, Excellence Was Expected . The new third edition (three volumes, 1,686 pages, $300, 20 lb!) arrived here (Colorado, US) today. I just checked the index under "Zagato", and it confirms that Porsche's first Z-bodied car was as above.

Still, a private owner could have had a Spyder re-bodied by Zagato earlier, and something like that sticks in my mind...

Frank

#3 Porsha

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 00:48

Hi Frank,

there was also a '58 Porsche Zagato built for french racer Claude Storez, who had a fatal accident at Rheims on Febuary 7, 1959 driving that car. The Porsche Zagato Spider 1500Z from 1956 must be a different car again, it is listed by Zagato but with no further info attached.

Can anyone help?

Porsha

#4 Jack-the-Lad

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 03:40

Originally posted by fbarrett


The place to start research is Karl Ludvigsen's history, Porsche, Excellence Was Expected . The new third edition (three volumes, 1,686 pages, $300, 20 lb!) arrived here (Colorado, US) today.

Frank


Hi, Frank.

There's a third edition now? I hadn't heard about that. What has been added? It doesn't seem like there could be much more to say that wasn't in the second edition.

Jack :wave:

#5 fbarrett

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 05:00

Originally posted by Jack-the-Lad
There's a third edition now? I hadn't heard about that. What has been added? It doesn't seem like there could be much more to say that wasn't in the second edition.


Jack:

The third edition updates the second, which appeared in 2003. I'm told that the first two volumes are unchanged. Only the third is updated, to 2008. I've just spent an hour or so reading it tonight but have only skimmed the surface. Only the 2003 and later cars and other company factoids are new: Cayman, Cayenne, the late street and race 911s (or whatever they call them these daze), RS Spyders, etc.

The second edition has been out of print for at least two years. The third was supposed to come out in December but unexpectedly showed up today!

Frank

#6 fbarrett

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 05:07

Porsha:

Now I recall more: there was a custom-bodied 550 Spyder with tail fins, etc.; may have been Zagato. Have seen a photo somewhere, perhaps in a magazine, but don't recall where. No time to look, unfortunately. I would start looking in Porsche Panorama, the magazine of the Porsche Club of America, probably years ago. May also have appeared in a book, but which one is unclear...

Frank

#7 Carles Bosch

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 07:14

Originally posted by Porsha
Hi Frank,

there was also a '58 Porsche Zagato built for french racer Claude Storez, who had a fatal accident at Rheims on Febuary 7, 1959 driving that car. The Porsche Zagato Spider 1500Z from 1956 must be a different car again, it is listed by Zagato but with no further info attached.

Can anyone help?

Porsha



According to Lothar Boschen & Jürgen Barth's 'PORSCHE SPECIALS', the Storez's Zagato bodied 356 Carrera was written off in a traffic accident a few miles north of Stuttgart, while driven by the mechanic who picked the car from the factory, 'though the driver was not hurt.


Carles.

#8 Porsha

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 07:28

Hi Charles,

you are right, the car was badly damaged by Michael Maniani, a cousin of Storez. Maniani took delivery of the car in Stuttgart and only made it 10 KM's out of town. The damaged car was taken to Zagato and rebuilt in time for the Tour de France were Storez raced it with race number 139. Later that year he was killed driving the Zagato at Rheims. The car was destroyed.

Porsha.