| The Porsche 356 was a sports car buffs dream. | | | | instant success with more than 4000 sold in |
| The 356 was the brain child of Ferdinand | | | | just 5 years.1955: |
| "Ferry" Porsche. The body style was the work | | | | |
| of Erwin Komenda and the mechanical came off | | | | The 1600 motor makes it to production. The |
| the VW Beetle the design of Ferdinand Porsche | | | | 1500 GS Carrera motor which is being |
| Sr.When it first hit the market it was | | | | developed for the race track suddenly finds |
| available as a roadster, cabriolet, and coupe | | | | its way into the 356 line. The A line is |
| and over the years it saw many changes both | | | | introduced which has several small changes to |
| in power and style. You might be surprised | | | | the body style.1956: |
| to discover that the 356 Porsche was actually | | | | |
| Porsche's first production automobile and one | | | | The 10,000th 356 comes off the assembly line |
| has to admit it was a great pick!This | | | | and it is celebrated at the factory.1957: |
| timeline is a bit rough around the edges but | | | | |
| it will give you and idea of how the 356 | | | | More improvements saw the T2 prototype with |
| evolved from start to finish.1948: | | | | the new transmission. The 644 replaced the |
| | | | 519 with a much better shifter, dual nose |
| Just after the war Porsche located to | | | | mounts, and much better synchros.1958: |
| Austria so that they could be closer to parts | | | | |
| suppliers. Ferry Porsche was the designer of | | | | The Carrera engine continued to see |
| the 356. He was the son of Dr Ing Ferdinand | | | | improvements that produced higher horsepower. |
| Porsche who was the founder of Porsche. The | | | | The Convertible came to market replacing the |
| original car used a tubular chassis with an | | | | Speedster and it was much taller and |
| 1100cc engine so it was both light and quick. | | | | luxurious than its predecessor.1959: |
| The gearbox was designed by Frolich and | | | | |
| Komenda designed the body of the 356.The | | | | The last Speedster is released and the 1300 |
| original 001 raced at the Innsbruck city race | | | | engine is also dropped.1960: |
| and it won in the 1100cc class on its very | | | | |
| first run. Not surprising! The original 001 | | | | The 356B is given the Super 90 motor. The |
| sits in the Factory Museum.1949: | | | | 90 has a counterweighted crank, Solex P40-II |
| | | | Carburetor, and sodium filled valves.1961: |
| The first 356 Cabriolet is built with alloy | | | | |
| aluminum.1950: | | | | The hardtop is introduced and is instantly a |
| | | | hit and is fondly nicknamed the "Notchback". |
| The factory moves to Zuffenhausen and begins | | | | Over 1700 of these cars sold in less than two |
| producing the 356 where they will stay until | | | | years.1962: |
| 1965 producing around 80,000 cars.1951: | | | | |
| | | | Porsche is talking with Reutter about the |
| Innovation continues to impress the world | | | | purchase of the coach maker. The factory |
| with the 356 Cabriolet and the new split | | | | launches Christophorus which is a Porsche |
| windshield. The 1.3 liter was chrome plated | | | | lifestyle magazine.1963: |
| with aluminum cylinders and the very first | | | | |
| synchromesh transmission came to be. The | | | | 356C is brought to market with the 95 HP SC |
| 356-002 wins hands down at the LeMans in the | | | | engine. It has 4 wheel disc brakes, and it |
| 1100cc class.At the age of 75 Dr. Ing | | | | is available with an optional 12 volt |
| Ferdinand Porsche Sr. died at the age of 75. | | | | electric system.1964: |
| By this time 1400 people worked under the | | | | |
| direction of Ferry Porsche.1952: | | | | The 356 production has moved over the 10,000 |
| | | | a year number.1965: |
| The 1488 cc 70 HP super engine is | | | | |
| introduced.1953: | | | | The final Cabriolets come off the assembly |
| | | | line.After several evolutions the 356 came to |
| A deal is made with New York's Max Hoffman | | | | be retired in 1965 but today the car still |
| which allowed for the introduction of the 356 | | | | remains sought after and it is common to find |
| in the United States. It wasn't long before | | | | them selling for over $175,000. Back in the |
| Hoffman became the US importer for Porsche | | | | 1950s you could buy that car new for |
| making arrangements for the Porsche line to | | | | $4000.The 356 also made it big in the movies |
| be carried around the country. This was also | | | | staring in Top Gun, 48 Hrs and Another 48 |
| the era where split windshields became bent | | | | Hrs. And Janis Joplin has a psychedelically |
| windshields.1954: | | | | painted 356C. The 356 underwent many changes |
| | | | over the years some mechanical while others |
| Hoffman convinces Porsche that they can gain | | | | cosmetic but what remained consistent was its |
| more market share by producing a stripped | | | | charm, style, sportiness, and speed. Still |
| down version of the 356 for less money | | | | today this is a car that gets noticed.Wayne |
| specifically designed for the west coast | | | | has been owned and ridden Porsches for 15 |
| where fair weather and amateur racing go hand | | | | years. Visit his Porsche site at to learn |
| in hand. And so the Speedster is born and an | | | | more about Porsche 944. |