Research tells me that a Stork probably is the correct gauge for my 1955 (#53466). In the dash since I bought it is a VDO that has F on top, and C below. The numbers start at about 10 o'clock and go to 2 o'clock-100 to 280 F, and 40 to 140 C.

My questions are;
1) Was VDO used in 1955 (by Porsche) and,
2) What kind of pickup does the VDO have?

Palo Alto can provide a Stork, but if I have what was installed by Porsche, I'll keep it.
I note that in Dr. Johnson's 1987 edition on page 64 he shows a picture of Beck fuel pump and above it is a VDO gauge, F-100 to 280.
Thanks in advance, Tom

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Tom, I can't say for sure, and I doubt anybody could really, but all the indications I've ever seen or heard of had the 55's using the stork. 55 being the first year for the 3 piece case, they routed the temp bulb into the block between the fan housing and the firewall. Earlier two piece case cars had the dipstick type. But that's not saying a VDO couldn't have been factory because as you know, Pre A's are prone to what I call "Pre A Weirdness". My 55 coupe (53739) had the stork. But the line was cut so I bought the Palo Alto replacement clone and it is really nice.

Another oddity is that the Beck "pump" system fuel gauge ended with 55 coupe number 53527 and later 55 cars had the VDO electric gauge. This VDO gauge was only used for the remainder of the 55 model year. Your car, being before the cut off has the beck system,...mine has the VDO. Neither are easy to find these days.

BTW, I also have a VDO oil temp gauge, which I used in my engine test stand. It is date stamped on the back 7/56 so maybe you could get a look at the back of yours and see if it's stamped. That would clear things up eh?

Steve: Good idea about checking the date on the back of the gauge-I'll be on my back in the a.m.
Luckily my Beck (pump in air to make the gauge go up) still works. Tom

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My detective work is leading me to the decision to put in a Stork. Other Pre-A's, with higher and lower serial numbers than mine have Stork. When I look at the back of my VDO the brackets are shiny, almost like chrome compared to the gas and other of my gauges with brackets that are dull galvanized ones. I can't see a date on the back of my VDO, but I believe I've got the right answer. Case closed.

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My 54 (52-876) had the Stork gauge, but had been cut at some point in the past and lost it's ether. I repaired mine, but it ended up leaking away again.
Unless you are going for super high end restoration, I'd have the gauge converted at Palo Alto, North Hollywood etc. to a thermistor type.

Kevin M