All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Auctions

1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A is up for auction

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The Porsche 356 is a legend of the German, European and world auto industry. It was produced between 1948 and 1965 in four different series, the original (“pre-A”), 356 A, 356 B and 356 C. Each car, regardless of the series, is a magnet for collectors and all enthusiasts of this German brand. . One example, a 1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A is up for auction.

This 356 Pre-A is powered by a replacement 1300S flat-four (P-50039) equipped with 1.6-liter pistons and cylinders, mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Four years ago, the engine was removed and resealed (by Beck’s European), at which time the piston rings were replaced, replacement valves were installed, and the flywheel and clutch were balanced. In the same year, twin Weber carburetors were installed. In 2023, the valves were adjusted, while the oil, spark plugs and fuel filters were replaced.

In 2010, the car was restored which included stripping the Reutter body down to bare metal, installing replacement floor panels, side panels, diagonals, door trim and bumpers, and repainting in its original shade of Azure Blue (Azurblau 522). In 2020, a protective film was applied to the nose, rockers and windshield paint. Also, front disc brakes and a master cylinder were replaced, and Sway-A-Way front torsion bars and Koni rear shocks were installed. It’s mounted on a set of 16″ steel wheels wrapped in 5.50-R16 Michelin X tires.

Inside, tan leather covers the seats and door panels. Additional equipment includes oatmeal square-weave carpets and full-width rubber floor mats, replacement radio with Bluetooth and Pioneer speakers. In front of the driver is a white two-spoke steering wheel and a five-digit odometer showing 55,791 miles (total mileage unknown).

The car comes with an Illinois title in the name of the owner’s LLC.

The auction ends on July 9 and the highest bid at the time of writing was USD $122,999.

Source: Bring a Trailer

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1953 Porsche 356 Pre-A is up for auction
EV

Polestar 3 Long range Single motor

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At the end of 2023, the Chinese company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group started production of the Polestar 3, and after delaying the delivery, the company informed the first customers that they could come and pick up their cars.

Polestar 3 is a BEV mid-size luxury crossover SUV with Long range Dual motor specifications. That means it’s powered by two electric motors with 483 hp (360 kW) and 620 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque, and all-wheel drive. It is equipped with a 111 kWh battery that provides a range of 610 km (380 miles) WLTP.

At the same time, the company also included the Long range Single motor option in the offer. It is powered by a single electric motor with 299 hp (223 kW) and 361 lb-ft (490 Nm) of torque. It is equipped with a 111 kWh battery that provides a range of 650 km, which is 40 km more than the Long range Dual motor option, and reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.8 seconds.

The 111 kWh battery can be charged on fast DC chargers with a power of up to 250 kW, while the Dual motor option can use a charger of up to 350 kW. The battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes of charging.

When it comes to price, it varies from market to market. In some markets, there are no subsidies, such as Germany, so the price of the Polestra 3 starts at 79,890 euros. In other markets, with a subsidy, the car is cheaper.

Source: Polestar

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Polestar 3 Long range Single motor
News

Cupra started production of redesigned Formentor and Leon

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At the end of April, Cupra revealed the redesigned Formentor and Leon, and now the brand has announced that the first cars have left the production lines.

The Cupra Formentor and Leon are the Romanian brand’s best-selling cars in 2024, with around 42,000 units of the Formentor and more than 25,000 units of the Leon delivered in the first five months.

At the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, Cupra premiered the compact crossover SUV (C-segment), Formentor, as the first car designed specifically for the Volkswagen Group sub-brand. So far, more than 347,000 cars have been delivered worldwide.

Cupra Leon and Seat Leon are fundamentally the same cars, but with several key differences. The car received Cupra’s firmer, sportier suspension with Seat’s cleaner interior design. Since its launch as Cupra’s stand-alone brand in 2018, more than 600,000 cars have been delivered worldwide.

Both models are produced at the Martorell factory, which was built in the early 1990s and has a size of 2.8 million square meters. It should be noted that more than 12 million cars left this factory.

The first deliveries of the Formentor and Leon are scheduled for 3Q 2024.

Source: Cupra