There is an increasing number of Reproduction, Repro, Reprint, or just plain FAKE Porsche 356 Factory Sales Brochures and other Technical Manuals circulating in the market place! It's not a bad thing necessarily, but when items aren't not labeled as such, it is a plain and simple rip-off!

A recent auction listing on the Ebay Auction Site prompted me to put together this article to warn 356 Porsche literature collectors, and those just acquiring a brochure for their car, of known literature "FAKES". In this particular instance on Ebay, the person who posted the item didn't know it was a reproduction, and graciously withdrew the item. Over the years, there have been a number of 356 Porsche sales brochures that have been reproduced. In addition, a concerted effort several years ago resulted in the reproduction of a significant number of 356 Porsche sales brochures, some originals of which are quite rare. The purpose of this article is to identify those brochures that have been reproduced, and to point out how to tell a FAKE from an original. You can find more info here.

The Latest FAKES...!

"The Gmund Brochure" above is probably one of the first formal brochures printed by Porsche in mid-1948, and is clearly one of the rarest, if not the rarest, Porsche sales brochure ever published. It is commonly known as the "Gmund Brochure" and is a simple four page folder with black and white drawings on a red background. Inside and on the back cover are more pictures, and technical information. The artwork was done by Ernst von Demar who also did the artwork on other Porsche brochures. This brochure FAKE has recently appeared on the Ebay auction site!

This very early 1950's "Blue 356 Pre-A Brochure", is possibly one of the first "full-color" brochure produced by Porsche. Notice the two-piece split windshield. The artwork for this brochure was drawn by Ernst von Demar who also did the artwork for the Gmund brochure. The Porsche pictured on the cover represents the first of the steel-bodywork Porsches produced at the factory at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. This rare brochure is difficult to find and very collectable. An unmarked FAKE version has been put up for auction on Ebay!

"Type 356 Cabriolet" is a single sheet brochure for the 356 Pre-A cabriolet. It is one of a four sheet series covering the Cabriolet, Coupe, Speedster and Spyder. The back sides include additional images and lots of technical information. A complete set of these single sheets in nice condition can bring $750.00 or more. The color of this particular item does leave something to be desired. Unmarked FAKES of this brochure have been seen on Ebay recently. Many are not more than color copies and are certainly not worth the money being bid for them!

This single sheet brochure is for the "Spyder Type 550 1500 RS" and it is a part of the four sheet series produced in 1955 for the Coupe, Cabriolet, Speedster and Spyder. This item has sold for as high as $546.00US during the past year, and has recently appeared on Ebay as an obvious FAKE! Some of the recent Ebay sales have indicated the item is a "Reprint". This is misleading in that it suggests that it is a reprint by the factory. It is not! It is a reprint made by someone standing at a color copier. For a few bucks he makes an item that sells on Ebay for $50.00US! What are the buyers of these items thinking?

The "Classic Speedster Brochure" for the classic Porsche 356 Speedster, is a highly collectable brochure. Recent sales prices for this brochure range from over $1,300.00US to over $1,600.00. This is due mostly to the wild popularity of the 356 Speedster and the large increase in sale prices of Speedsters over the last five years. Unmarked FAKES of this very collectable brochure have recently been listed for auction on Ebay. Most are not much more than color copies!

"1600 Years Ahead" is striking single sheet with half sheet folder published at various times beginning in 1955 with the introduction of the 356-A 1600. There are various versions of this brochure. This one with the maroon background is dated February 1956, and includes the 356-A coupe, cabriolet, speedster, and Spyder 550 1500 RS. Another version with a white background is dated October 1955, and is the version used in England. A version with the maroon stripe along the bottom is used in France and is also dated October 1955. The German language version also has the maroon stripe along the bottom of the front cover. Color copies of this brochure have been appearing on Ebay!

This brochure is known as the "Series 1600 & Carrera" brochure. It is a simple folder, with a bright red cover. Inside are pictures and specifications for the Porsche 356-A 1600, the Porsche 550 Spyder, and the Porsche 356-A Carrera 4-cam models. This brochure has been FAKED, probably using a color copier, and offered for sale on Ebay. One clue is the original is printed on slightly thicker than normal slightly rough paper.

Above is a Canadian brochure "World Champion" which was published by in Canada in 1958 by a Canadian distributor. It is quite rare and hard do find, but recently, FAKES of this brochure have showed up Ebay.

All of the brochures shown here have been reproduced. They are FAKES! There is just no other word for these repro imitations of original Porsche factory sales brochures. Most have NOT been professionally printed. Most are NOT of high quality. And, most importantly, many are NOT marked as reproductions. At best, they are color copies made on copy machines for the sole purpose of making a fast buck. In most cases descriptions for sale of these FAKES are vague and misleading. Don't pay big bucks for a FAKE!

The Black & White Brochures:

Obviously, the easy ones were reproduced first, and these were generally the simple black and white folders. The following are examples of such black and white folders that were reproduced.

This single sheet (made into a folder), "Black & White Speedster Folder" is a scan of an actual FAKE! Notice the lower left hand corner of the scan, you will see the words: "AUTOMOBILE LITERATURE INTERNATIONAL RPI 2032-7/88". This is an excellent reproduction, but most importantly, the makers MARKED the item and weren't trying to deceive. What is also important is that both sellers and buyers know the difference between originals and FAKES, and that buyers not be put into the position of unknowingly or unwittingly buying a FAKE.

Another FAKE version of this brochure is not marked. The best well to identify this version is that the white background will be "very white" and the images will be slightly "washed out", and lacking definition and detail. (M&M 73).

Below is another early single sheet (made into a folder), black and white: "Racing Results for 1952". This item is also a scan of a FAKE. The ways to tell are: (1) white background is "ultra" white", originals yellow slightly with age. (2) the black background is washed out and is not uniformly black. (3) The images are "fuzzy and grainy" and lacking in detail. (4) Often the paper is cut "off angle" to the vertical and horizontal of the type and the images. (M&M 20).

The"Crest Brochure" seen above is also easy to reproduce. The background is gray and most of the rest of the printing and images are black. As such, the yellowing common with age to brochures with white backgrounds is tougher to see. Most of the FAKES I've seen of this item are unmarked! (M&M #79).

This is another black and white single sheet (made into a folder) "356-A Years Ahead" which is easy to reproduce, and has been reproduced. The best way to tell an original from a FAKE is the yellowing of the white background in the original due to age, and the fuzziness of the photos in the FAKE. (M&M 100).

Older Color Brochure FAKES:

The above "Yellow Pre-A Brochure" is one of the earliest of the 356 Pre-A sales brochures published by Porsche. Recently this brochure was purchased from a seller in Germany. A close inspection of the brochure revealed it to be a FAKE! Fortunately, it is marked at the bottom center of the back cover. In small print it says: "Faksimile 1988. Archiv Verlag. Braunschweig". This reproduction of a very early 356 Porsche brochure is very well done, and it is likely to fool a buyer not familiar with the originals. An original in mint condition can bring more than $400.00. If you're offered one of these brochures or are bidding on one on Ebay or some other internet auction service, watch out! (M&M #15).

This is the brochure "Keys to Miles of Pleasure" that was offered on Ebay by a seller who later withdrew the item from auction when informed it was a reproduction. The item had been bid up to the $300.00+ range and was going higher. The seller, who was not a 356 Porsche literature collector, had obtained the brochure with a group of other original items, and didn't know it was a reproduction. When informed, he did the right thing, and graciously withdrew the item. There are two ways to tell if this item is a reproduction (and the scan is of the reproduction): (1) on the lower left corner of the back cover, it says: "Automobile Literature International RPI 2026-1988". (2) the reproduction is noticeably smaller than the original, measuring 8 3/8 x 9 3/8 inches vs. 9 1/8 x 9 1/2 inches for the original.

The original of this brochure is quite difficult to find and would bring a good price, as indicated by the preliminary bids on Ebay. The brochure has 24 pages, most of which are in color. The FAKE is a beautiful reproduction and was expensive to reproduce due to the number pages and the fact that it is mostly color. (M&M #23).

This "Blue Circle of Coupes" brochure is a 3-color double folder, which opens to a size of 19 x 17 inches. It is also a FAKE. In the lower right corner of one of the inside pages is the notation. "Automobile Literature International RPI 2034". Another excellent reproduction, and marked as such, but don't pay the higher price of an original for this very nice FAKE of an early 356 Pre-A brochure! (M&M #65).

This small color "Technical Data Folder" has recently been appearing quite frequently on Ebay, advertised as being in excellent condition. The brochure is for early 356-A's and shows an outline of a Spyder in white on a black background on the back page. The quality of the reproduction appears to be excellent. An email to the seller resulted in a reply that the brochure "might be a repro"! You decide, and pay accordingly.

This "356-A Brochure" is a double folder with a bright orange cover. The scan shown above is the reproduction, not the original, and it is an excellent reproduction. Shown are the front and rear covers and an enlargement of the lower right corner of the back cover which shows the words: "Automobile Literature International RPI 2027" which indicates this brochure is a FAKE! (M&M #155).

Above are two different versions of an early 356-B T-5 factory sales brochure. The top version is the earlier version published in September 1959. From the license plate, you can see that this brochure was intended for the 1960 model year. The second version was published in February 1960, also for the 1960 model year. Why there are two versions is not clear. Perhaps better artwork was available for the second version. A FAKE has been published of the top version. You can easily tell the FAKE from an original. The following words appear at the bottom right of the inside page: "Faksimile 1990. Archiv Verlag . Braunschweig." This FAKE is very well done and has the potential of being a real heartbreaker, so watch what you're buying or bidding on. (M&M #163).

This "Diagrams" brochure for the 1962 356-B T-6 is another in the series of FAKES which is marked "Automobile Literature International RPI 2030". It is a 16 page brochure, and is well done except that the black and white of the cover is "washed out" and the gold band across the top is considerably lighter than on an original brochure.

This 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch (original version) "Tests Brochure" was published in October 1962, and includes verbatim text of write-ups from various auto publications about the "new" 356-B T-6. This FAKE is an excellent copy. There is another "original" version, published in August 1962, with an orange circle on the cover rather than green circle. (M&M N/A).

This is a FAKE version of a 356-B T-6 brochure which has an original printing date of January 1963. It is the English version, and the familiar mark is on the lower left corner of the back cover: "Automobile Literature International RPI 2031". This is not a common brochure, so an original should bring a good price. Just be sure you're buying an original, and not a FAKE...! (M&M #239).

It is for the Porsche 917 race car. An original of this brochure is rare and worth significant money. The FAKES appear to be coming primarily from Germany, Berlin in particular.

It is being offered for auction on Ebay and bringing some pretty high prices. The Seller is apparently using several Ebay names, most with little or no positive feedback. If you are corresponding with "Brigit", watch out! There are several ways to tell a FAKE, but its very difficult to tell from just looking at a picture on Ebay. Here are some things to look for:

1. The metal staples that hold the pages together are in a different place compared to the originals. I have two originals that I have had for over twenty years.

2. The ends of the staples are curled, rather than flat as in the originals.

3. The black and white pictures have less contrast and a generally washed out appearance, as in the above example, compared to the originals.

4. Lastly, the white areas of the brochure are REALLY WHITE, unlike the originals which are slightly yellowed by age. So watch out, don't pay big money for this otherwise excellent FAKE.

THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE FAKES OUT THERE THAN WHAT IS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE. AND AS PRICES RISE, MORE FAKES WILL APPEAR! .

With Porsche sales literature prices going through the ceiling, it's no wonder more FAKES are turning up. If you're paying more than $50 for a brochure, be careful! That's all for now. More material coming soon! Check back to see the changes......and be careful out there... when you're buying 356 Porsche sales literature! The original of this article can be viewed here.

Charlie White
Scottsdale, Arizona
derwhite@aol.com

PS: The "M&M" numbers shown for the brochures described herein refer to page numbers on which these brochures appear in the book: Porsche: Brochures and Sales Literature A Source Book, 1948-1965, by authors Richard F. Merritt and Susann C. Miller. This book was first published in 1978 and quickly became the "bible" of Porsche literature collectors. "M&M" is a quick way to describe a 356 Porsche brochure among collectors. It is currently available in a updated version.