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1958 Porsche 356A

The Porsche 356 production lasted seventeen years, beginning in 1948 and continuing through April of 1965, well after the 911 replacement model had made its debut in the autumn of 1964. During its production lifespan, the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door was offered in both hardtop coupe and open configurations. Production began at Gmünd, Austria in 1948 and after approximately 50 examples been built, the factory relocated to Zuffenhausen, Germany in 1950. The short-run of aluminum-bodied 'Gmünd' examples were replaced by volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coupes in Stuttgart.

The work of Ferry Porsche, the 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father. Both the 'Beetle' and the 356 used a platform-type chassis with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine and torsion bar all-independent suspension. Development was constant, with the engine being enlarged to 1.3 and then to 1.5-liters. The original split windscreen was replaced by a one-piece windshield along with a Porsche synchromesh gearbox.

Between 1948 and 1955, Porsche built 7,627 examples of the 356 prior to the introduction of the 356 A for 1955. A 'works' entry finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1951, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with La Sarthe.

During the production lifespan of the 356, Porsche built 76,313 examples.

356 A

The 356A was produced from 1955 through 1959, bringing with it numerous incremental updates, the most visible being its curved windscreen and 15-inch wheels replacing the previous 16-inch units. The initial 1.1-liter engine eventually grew to 1.3- and 1.5-liters during the 1948-1955 production years, and most of the 356A versions were equipped with a 1,582cc version of the four-cylinder boxer engine with overhead valves, two valves per cylinder, dual downdraft Zenith carburetors, and delivering 59 horsepower at 4,500 RPM and a maximum torque of 81 lb-ft at 2,800 RPM.

The internal factory designation of the 356A was the 'Type 1,' earning it the nickname the 'T1.' Approximately 1,200 examples of the early 356s in the U.S. had been badged as the 'Continental' and then an additional 156 from autumn 1955 to January of 156 as the 'T1' European' variant before reverting back to its numerical 356 designation. A second revision of the 356 A, known as the Type 2 or T2, was introduced in early 1957. Among the refinements introduced on the T2 included an improved transaxle and steering box design. Near the end of 1958, the Type 644 gearbox was replaced by a new Type 716 unit which was similar to its predecessor but with improved gear change linkage that allowed first gear to be engaged easier from rest. The exterior door handles of the T2 gained a slightly more rounded profile compared to the squarer profile of the Pre-A and T1 handles. The interior door handle was repositioned for easier access, moving forward and higher up near the upper front corner of the door. The door striker plate was also moved, now located farther down towards the center of the door. The T1 striker plates had 5 slot-head screws while the T2 plates had three cross-head screws.

Another exterior distinguishable feature of the T2 was the exhaust system which exited through the rear bumper guards, except on the Carrera models. When the bumpers did not have bumper guards, the exhaust exited through a notch in the bumper.

The total production of the Porsche 356A, built from 1955 through 1959, was 21,045 units. The 356B of 1959 through 1963 would eclipse 356B production, with 30,963 units built. The final iteration, the 356C, was built from 1963 until 1965 (and into 1966) with 16,678 examples constructed.

356 Speedster

The Porsche Speedster was quick, nimble, had stellar handling characteristics, and fun to drive, offering both simplicity and affordability. The elemental and avant-garde Speedster captured the lucrative American sports-car market, with styling that was outwardly consistent throughout its production run, beginning in 1954 and ending in 1959.

New York-based importer, Max Hoffman, advised the Porsche company that a more attractively priced, somewhat spartan open-top version may appeal to the American consumer. What followed was the Speedster, with a minimal folding top, twin bucket seats, lower door waistline, horizontal trim strip at the level of the door handles and wearing a low, raked windscreen which could be removed for racing. The side windows were discarded in favor of side curtains. A trial batch of 15 roadsters was constructed and its successful reception in the USA led to the introduction of the Speedster model in 1954. Based on the Glaser-bodied 356 America roadster and retaining its 'Type 540' designation, the Reutter-built Porsche 356 Speedster debuted in New York in 1954.

The inspiration for the Speedster is also credited to John Von Neumann, Porsche's West Coast distributor, who had chopped down a Gmünd-built coupé in the late 1940s to create a lightweight competition car.

Initially, power was by the 1.5-liter engine, gaining the new 1.6-liter unit with the introduction of the improved 356A for 1955. The 1,582cc air-cooled, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine delivered 70 HP (SAE) and 60 HP (DIN) at 4,500 RPM and was backed by a four-speed fully-synchronized manual gearbox. Braking was handled by hydraulic drum brakes in front and back. The suspension was independent all around, with parallel trailing arms, transverse laminated torsion bars and anti-roll bar at the front, and swing axles with transverse torsion bars at the rear. The wheelbase measured 82.7-inches and used unibody construction. Priced at $2,995, the Speedster was the lightest of the 356s and capable of over 100 mph top speeds.

The optional and rare Super tune increased output to 75 bhp

The total 356 Speedster production was approximately 3,676 (sources also report a total of 2,922) units, with a high of 1,171 units in 1957, followed by 552 examples in 1958. The early Speedsters were also known as Pre-A or T0 models and approximately 1,000 examples of the Pre-A Speedsters were built. Including the 200 prototype series (Pre-A) Speedsters constructed by the close of 1954, approximately 1,234 examples were Pre-A Speedsters. Approximately 1,850 examples of the T1 356A Speedsters were constructed.

The Speedster was replaced in late 1958 by the 'Convertible D' model which had a taller, more practical windshield, a more comfortable interior and seats, and roll-up glass side windows. The 356 B 'roadster' replaced the 'D' model a year later, bringing with it an improved body, chassis, and braking system. The bodies had raised headlights, vent windows, and higher bumpers to better cope with urban parking. Stopping power was now by cast-aluminum Alfin brake drums with iron liners, and the standard 1582cc engine received updates that improved its reliability. The 'Super 90' option was named after the engine's 90 DIN (102 horsepower) rating. It used a counterweighted crankshaft, twin Solex P40-II carburetors, and sodium-filled valves, among numerous other detail changes including a unique oil pickup-up system that allowed the engine to rev another 800 RPM. The suspension system received Koni shocks in the front and rear, plus a camber compensator in the back. The sealing was improved to repel water, and new brake-cooling intakes were added to the nose, below the front bumper. Just like the Convertible D, the Roadster had roll-up windows, wraparound plastic rear window, a convertible top, and comfortable seats. Approximately 528 roadsters had the Super 90 option and built with Drauz bodies (one of Germany's larger body builders) in 1960. Porsche's preferred coachbuilder Reutter was struggling to keep pace with the ever-increasing demand, thus Porsche sub-contracted cabriolet body construction to a number of different coachbuilders including Drauz of Heilbronn (hence the 'D' suffix) until the restyled Porsche 356B arrived in September 1959, when convertible production transferred to d'Ieteren of Brussels. A total of 1,331 examples of the Convertible D were built between August 1958 and September 1959.

Nearly all Speedsters had a left-hand-drive configuration, but a few received right-hand-drive for the UK, Australian, and South African markets.

As the sports car market's fascination in open-top motoring declined, the drop-top 356 sales followed a similar path. The Convertible/Cabriolet models were part of the lineup since the early 1950s and at times generated similar sales to its closed body counterparts.

356A Carrera

Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann developed a racing engine while working for Porsche in the early 1950s, built around the air-cooled flat-four that had been successful for both Porsche and Volkswagen to date. This special engine featured a roller-bearing crankshaft with dual ignition and shaft-driven twin overhead camshafts in the cylinder head. The high-revving 1,498cc engine (Type 547/1) was placed in the first purpose-built racing car that Porsche had ever produced, the 550 Spyder. The Type 550 Spyders proved to be very competitive, placing third and fourth overall behind 4.5- and 4.9-liter V12 Ferraris in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, earning the four-cam engine the name 'Carrera.'

The Carrera engine soon found its way into the production 356s, less than a year after the 356 Speedster model had been introduced. The coupe body style was offered in either the full racing GT version and the luxury 'street' GS model. The difference between the Carrera and the pushrod engine was 'night and day.' While the pushrod unit quickly lost power around 4,000 RPM, the Carrera engine was just coming alive, and the revs continued to climb before a gear change was necessary.

Initially, the option referred only to the engine's state of tune. Over time, the GS/GTs were equipped with other competition features such as an extended range 80-liter fuel tank and 60 mm racing front brakes with vented backing plates. The following year, the GS and GT Carreras became available with lightweight alloy panels, a louvered deck lid, vinyl trim, and Plexiglas windows.

The 1,498cc air-cooled, horizontally-opposed, 'four-cam' four-cylinder Carrera engine developed 100 horsepower and was backed by a four-speed manual gearbox. An independent torsion bar suspension with shock absorbers and drum brakes was located at all four corners. Approximately 14 examples of the 1500cc Type 692/0 engine were built in 1958 and numbered 91001 through 91030. These were the last four-cams to utilize roller-bearing crankshaft, and the various type 692 engines are identified by their relocated distributor V-drive.

With the help of two Solex 40 PJJ-4 carburetors, the 1,498cc Type 492/0 DOHC flat four-cylinder engine produced 110 horsepower at 6,400 RPM.

The four-cam Carrera was a brilliant dual-purpose sports car and its success and popularity in racing prompted Porsche to continue its production through 1959, though the standard Speedster model had already been replaced by the more luxurious Convertible D. Porsche built 151 examples of the Carrera Speedster between 1955 and 1959, accounting for just three percent of total Speedster production. Of those, fewer than 90 Carrera Speedsters were specified in GS/GT trim and even fewer – approximately 56 in all – left the factory with lightweight aluminum panels.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet

The best-known convertible model is the 356 'Speedster', introduced in late 1954 after Max Hoffman, the sole US importer of Porsches, advised the company that an affordable open-top version could sell well in the American market. With its low, raked windshield (which could be removed for weekend racing), buck seats, and minimal folding top, the Speedster was an instant hit, especially in Southern California. The Porsche 356 was produced from 1948 through 1965. The 356 name denotes that it was Porsche's 356th project.

The 356A Speedster features a 1.6-liter, air-cooled, overhead valve engine producing 50 horsepower and has a top speed of 90 miles per hour. Selling price was $3,670.00.

The Porsche 'Speedster' was one of the greatest sports cars of its era and one of the few foreign cars to become an American icon of the 1950s.

It was essentially a bare-bones sports model requested by Max Hoffman. Legend has it that Hoffman was always anxious to have the cheapest Porsche on display in his showrooms. His price, in 1954, was less than $3000, to which he then added all the 'extras,' which even included the V-belt, the tire pressure gauge, and the heating!

The 1958 356A Porsche Speedster shown here has lived its life in Ohio. It was purchased from Dick Weiss almost ten years ago in very rough condition and, over the subsequent three years, it was completely restored to original condition. It was returned to the 'As Delivered' color of Fjord Green Exterior and Tan Interior.

It is a 1600 Normal, and makes about 60 horsepower. While that doesn't seem like much (especially when compared to a 415 Porsche GT3), its lightweight and nimble handling make it a joy to drive. In its time, it showed its rear engine to many a more powerful car on both the street and the race track.

Speedster

Having first debuted for 1950, the Porsche 356 Speedster arrived four years later. The impetus came from Von Neumann, Porsche's agent on the West Coast. The idea was to offer a basic Porsche to young buyers, who couldn't afford a typical Porsche. The result was the Speedster, which lacks such niceties as roll-up windows, and boasts an interior designed to keep costs down, as well as save weight. After all, Porsche's enthusiast customers liked to race on weekends.

Out of 4,147 Speedsters, only 72 were painted Fjord Green, and only 6 of these had the Super engine. This vehicle has had a recent 2.5 year restoration with select Carrera GT features, including GT bumper deco, louvered deck lid, Sebrine exhaust, VDM wood wheel, right lever headlight flasher, delete side spear/rocker deco/fender-script. Additional features include driving lights, corduroy seat inserts, and tan floor mats.

Coupe

By 1958 the 356 A was already in a sub-series Known as the Type 2, or T2. Often the T2 nickname is applied to these cars by familiar enthusiasts. If you did not want a top-down, wind in the hair Cabriolet but did want sun on your head during gaps in more inclement weather, you bought a Sunroof Coupe. Many consider these cars to be the best of both worlds producing considerable relief from the snugness and heat of the 'solid roof' coupe without losing body strength, handling integrity and security. By 1958 all regular 356s were fitted with the 1.6-liter motor offering '100 mph motoring.'

Coupe
Chassis number: 103428
Engine number: 69468

This 1958 Porsche 356A Sunroof Coupe has all the correct Carrera GT features. The vehicle has undergone a ground-up restoration to the highest standards. Very few Sunroof Coupes were made and this vehicle is one of the finest available for sale. This is an ideal Rally car for the Millie Miglia and/or the Colorado Grand.

This vehicle was offered for sale at the 2007 Blackhawk Collection Exhibit held at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It carried a price tag of $125,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster

This Porsche Speedster is an original 'California' model with all matching numbers, and one of the 558 Speedsters produced in 1958. Only 233 Speedsters were painted ruby red. This car has undergone a top-level restoration.

Coupe
Chassis number: 101887

The Porsche 356 Coupe 'Green Hornet' was the creation of an automotive enthusiast who wanted a personalized version for himself. Later and better parts from the Porsche marque were used to create the ultimate 356. It was outfitted with a 230 horsepower engine courtesy of a 911. It used a 901 type five-speed manual gearbox and rested atop of a 82.7 inch wheelbase.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet
Chassis number: 84590

Of all the Porsches made in the 1950s, Speedsters are certainly the most charismatic. First sold in the 1955 model year, the Speedster was conceived for Porsche's American distributor. For model year 1956, the entire 356 line underwent mechanical and chassis modifications and the revised and improved car was designated the 356A.

by Porsche

Coupe
Chassis number: 193428
Engine number: 69468

This 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Sunroof Coupe has been treated to a three-year, ground-up professional restoration. It is one of the few 356 Porsches that have the Sunroof coupe option. It is a matching-numbers example, is original and correct, and fitted with its 115 horsepower with a set of Zenith carburetors. Additionally, there are several optional GT Carrera features including a roll bar, seats, doors with leather window straps, gas cap, rearview mirror housing, aluminum deck lid with correct louvers, bumper stripes, leather hood straps, and exhaust system. Other features include Bosch fog lights, correct Hand Hard rally chronographs, Dynamat floor insulation, an electric shut-off on the hood, rally headlight covers, and custom badges.

In 2008, this vehicle was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions. It had an estimated value of $110,000 - $130,000 and was offered without reserve. The lot was sold for a high bid of $129,250, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster
Chassis number: 84328

This 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster with chassis number 84328 was purchased by Dale Hersh as a white 1600 Normal from a private party who were fellow 'Porsche Owners Club' members in the early 1960's. Dale decided to paint the car Metallic Green which was a popular color in those days found on GTO's. Dale was a gentleman racer who was always on a tight budget doing most of the work on the car himself, to include the rebuilding of the Hurth Roller Bearing crank shafts which he used in his race motors. Being a machinist in those days it was not difficult trying new ideas as he, Roger Bursch (Scientific Automotive) and Ray Litz (competition Engineering) were all close friends. Dale would go to Ray's shop and help out with new ideas that would take SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) E Production Speedsters to new performance levels.

This car was extensively campaigned on the west coast from the early 1960's to 1965, better known as the era of the 'Speedster Wars' as many filled the grids of most of the popular SCCA races competing with all other makes of sports cars. This car became the Pacific Division SCCA E Production Champion earning 44 points and an invitation to the 1965 National Run Offs at Daytona. This car was at many of the same races when drivers such as Jack McAfee, Ken Miles, Scooter Patrick, Dave Jordan, Alan Johnson, Bob Kirby, Walt Maas and Dennis Harrison, who were also driving Porsches.

One of the most memorable events for this Porsche was the 1965 'Times Grand Prix' three hour enduro at Riverside Raceway October 9, 10, 11 for sports cars. Dale was given the pole position for the race and was on the front row with Scooter Patrick (904) and Lew Spencer (Cobra). This was a very unusual situation for Dale and his speedster. He questioned the organizers that they had made a mistake as his qualifying times were no where close to his fellow racers in the top 6 qualifiers. They said he had earned it and go out there and race.

Dale started the race with 65 other cars and held off all of them until the back straight when 'The Train' started passing him on the long back straight. Dale finished the race in first place for E Production and 8th overall, which was fantastic for he and his Speedster as only 32 cars finished. Later Dale found out that the organizers had given Dale Dan Gurneys qualifying time for Sundays big race as both of them had car number 19. Scooter Patrick came in 1st place followed by Kraus in his Corvette Stingray. Some of the drivers which DNF'd were Denny Harrison, Bob Kirby, Ken Miles and Dick Gulstrand to name a few.

Dale raced at Candle Stick, Port Stockton, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, Holtville, Del Mar, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Pomona, Riverside, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Great Salt Lake Road Races, usually finishing in the top 3.

Dale retired the Speedster in 1967 and ran an E Production Porsche Roadster having 86 starts and also went to the Runoffs in Atlanta, as the Pacific Division Champion once again, finishing 8th overall. He went on to race a D Production 911 also going to the Runoffs in Atlanta later in the 1970s. During his whole 356 era he was sponsored by 'Roger Bursch' of Scientific Automotive in Pasadena, California.

Noted 'Vintage Car Historian' Ron Cummings owned Dale's Speedster for a short while during the 1980s. Dale purchased it back and did a street restoration painting it the color it is today.

During the VARA vintage race weekend at Pomona in 1995 Dale drove Jack Mcafee in his speedster during the parade laps honoring famous race drivers who were a part of the tracks history in the early 1950s and 1960s.

Currently the car is pretty much the way it was raced, original upholstery, Carrera front brakes, steel alloy wheels and roll bar.

Cabriolet
Chassis number: 150752
Engine number: 70412

An original California car, this Midwestern 356A cabriolet is a fourth-owner car that has been restored in its original Meissen blue color over a red interior. The 1958 cars were of the Type 2 (or T-2) designation, as they featured several revisions over the earlier 356A cars.

Speedster
Chassis number: 84537

This Speedster is still in the hands of its original owner, who purchased the car new in the spring of 1958, and who used the car as his family's sole transportation at the time. The car competed in its first hill climb in 1959, and had its first SCCA race at Laguna Seca in 1963. Through 1966 it raced in SCCA E Production. Its last race came at the 2007 Monterey Historics, completing a two-decade history of participation in that event.

Speedster

This car was initially delivered by Falvey Autos Inc., of Woodward Avenue in Detroit to Mr. Jack Spanish Jr. The original cost was $3,711. The Speedster was driven in all kinds of weather and ultimately fell into disrepair.

It was next purchased by a Ford Executive, Jim Bulin, as a father/daughter project. The car was disassembled while Bulin collected new old stock parts to assure accuracy. The bodywork was handled in a fellow Ford employee's spare time and the car was sprayed (on a weekend) in a booth belonging to Jack Roush. The car lived in a series of warehouses. Bulin finally relented and hired Neil Goldberg to reassemble the car. The current owner saw the car in an online auction and became the third owner.

1500GS/Carrera Cabriolet
Chassis number: 84752

The Reutter-built Porsche 356 Speedster was based largely on the Glaser-built 356 America of 1953 and even retained its Type 540 internal designation. The project was inspired mostly by US importer Max Hoffmann and priced from just $2,995 bringing it within reach of a wider base of consumers.

The design was modern with a rakish flair. The speedster, along with the 'regular' 356 model, was soon upgraded with a 1.6-liter engine. With improved carburetion, ZF worm-and-lever steering, and various mechanical changes, the Porsche soon created an impressive reputation for itself on American racetracks in SCCA competition.

This 356A Speedster wears its factory-stock body which is finished in Ruby Red with a tan leather-trimmed cockpit. It features 'Outlaw' style mechanical upgrades, including the addition of disc brakes and a tweaked 1750cc engine sourced froma Porsche 912 that is topped by a pair of Dell'Orto twin-choke carburetors. Horsepower output is estimated to be twice that of the Speedster's original engine.

The Speedster is equipped with a period aftermarket hardtop manufactured by Glasspar, accompanied by a matching pair of Glasspar side windows.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster

This Porsche 356A Carrera GT 1600 Super Speedster was once owned by Porsche factory driver, journalist and author of the Ford: The Dust and the Glory 1901-1967, and one of 68 built. It inherited the Super 1600 designation at the factory when the 4-cam motor (105-115 horsepower) was pulled and a Super 1600 push-rod motor was installed instead. The 4-cam motors are complex and while more powerful than the regular 1600 motor, they cost considerably more and require much more extensive maintenance. Easier on the street and the race track for a privateer may well have been the strategy behind the changes.

Speedster

A few Typ 2 356A Speedsters were built in 1958 (and 1959) as the Porsche factory planned to replace it with the Cabriolet in August that year. Sales had declined in 1957 (to about 1500) because, it was thought, the car was too Spartan which didn't suit anyone then except potential racers - and there weren't enough of them. The 1958 came with a new gearbox, the Typ 716, and the Normal engine's fan shroud was painted black, the Super's silver. Another visual clue was the exhaust exiting through the rear bumper to aid ground clearance.

Speedster
Chassis number: 84100
Engine number: 67644

This Porsche was built in 1958, the 356 A Speedster's final year of production. It left the factory finished in the current shade of Meissen Blue and fitted with sealed-beam headlamps, U.S.-specification bumpers, and a 60-horsepower Type 616/1 engine bearing number 67644.

By 2003, the car was in Chicago, after allegedly spending the majority of its life in California. From 2009 to 2010, the car was given a full cosmetic restoration. The body was stripped down to bare metal followed by a full repaint in its original shade of Meissen Blue. The bucket seats were upholstered in black leather with cream-colored carpets in the cockpit.

This car is complete with side curtains, a tool roll, a jack, and service records from its previous ownership.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 103889
Engine number: 1280268

Ferdinand Porsche established his independent automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, although his name would not appear on a car until 1949. That car was the Porsche 356, based on the Volkswagen designed by Ferry Porsche's father. Like the 'Beetle', the Porsche 356 employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension.

The early cars were clothed in aluminum and built at Gmund. Volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coupe later commenced in Stuttgart, at first in premises shared with coachbuilders Reutter and then (from 1955) in its original factory at Zuffenhausen. In 1951 a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

The 356 enjoyed continued development and improvement over the years, with the engine growing to 1.3 and then 1.5 liters. The original split windscreen was later replaced by a one-piece, and a synchromesh gearbox was adopted. In 1955, Porsche introduced the arrival of the restyled 356A, featuring a rounded windscreen and 15- inch (down from 16-inch) wheels. At the same time, a 1600ccengine replaced the old 1.5-liter unit.

This particular example has been given a ground up restoration. In the process the car was upgraded technically with the fitting of a 912 motor and 901 5-speed transmission, without altering the external shell. Before passing into the care of its current owners, the car was part of the Steven Harris collection.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster
Chassis number: 83870

This Porsche Speedster was purchased by Ken Johnson in June of 1958 for the sum of $3,641. Upon taking possession of the silver metallic car, he drove it to his family home in Long Beach, California, where it would remain in residence for the next 56 years. In 1972, the Speedster developed engine trouble. Rather than accept a rebuilt replacement, Mr. Johnson had his Speedster's original engine rebuilt and reinstalled. Years later, to make the car more comfortable, cabriolet-style seats were installed along with a Dynaplastics accessory hardtop with Plexiglas side curtains. Currently, the original red Speedster buck seats remain with the car in dry storage.

In September of 2014, Mr. Johnson passed away. His Speedster lay tucked away in the same garage that it was first parked inside in 1958. The car had remained in storage for a long period of time. The garage door, which had been nailed and screwed closed to deter would-be thieves, was opened in September 2014, the car rolled out into the sunlight for the first time in decades. In the weeks that followed, the car received new tires, a six-volt battery, brake and fuel system servicing, and the carburetors were resealed.

by Dan Vaughan

1500GS/Carrera Roadster

This car is powered by a 1587cc flat-four air-cooled rear mounted engine with twin overhead camshafts developing 160+ horsepower riding on a 82.7 inch wheelbase and weighing 1,732 pounds. This is the winningest Carrera GT Speedster of all time: three SCCA National Championships (1958 with 'Pup' Pupilidy, 1960 and 1963 with Bruce Jennings) and a total of 67 National SCCA race victories. This Carrera GT Speedster was Jennings medium-speed course car. He had two more GTs, one each for short and long courses. Jennings found it easier to switch whole cars rather than continually changing all components to be competitive at different circuits. Modifications to the Carrera Speedster included Spyder gears, a full-race 1600cc RS-60 engine, external oil cooler, Spyder steering wheel, specials hocks, heavy sway bar, front annual disc brakes and RSK turbo-finned rear drums. It was originally an all-steel panel car, but Jennings opted for lightness by substituting an aluminum hood and deck.

Cabriolet
Chassis number: 85724
Engine number: 82926

Porsche produced just 1,331 examples of the 356A Convertible D between August 1958 and September of 1959. The Convertible D was a more civilized 'Speedster', with a larger windscreen and winding side windows. Overall the new car was 3.5-inches latter. It was a some-what more practical car than the speedster, offering a more protective windscreen, more comfortable seats, and proper side windows while retaining the cars sloping waistline and attractive body.

This particular example left the Porsche's facility on November 15th of 1958, powered by the same engine it uses today. It was paint in Ruby Red paint and given US bumpers and sealed beam headlights, along with a luggage rack and chrome rimes.

The current owner acquired the car around 1991. A cosmetic restoration began a year later, which included having its dark blue color restored back to its original Ruby Red. A new convertible top was fitted, and some elements of the interior were reupholstered.

The original transmission was replaced in 1989 and prior to 1987 the original Solex carburetors were replaced with Weber units.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster
Chassis number: 83895
Engine number: 744333

This Porsche 356 A Speedster by Reutter is a late-production example that was originally owned by Volkswagen dealer in Natchez, Mississippi. After 15 years of pursuit, it was acquired in late 1988 by a persistent admirer, who painstakingly restored to its original condition over a five-year period.

While in the care of a prior owner, the car's engine was upgraded to one from a later Porsche 912, using a counterweighted crankshaft and correct Super 90/SC 912 Solex carburetors with correct factory air cleaners.

Recently, the car has been refinished in Meisen Blue with a Navy top and interior and OEM tan square-weave carpeting. It has a pair of correct OEM USA full bumpers, with overriders in both front and rear and a set of chrome wheels with matching year-correct hubcaps. There is a chrome driver's side-view mirror, U.S.-specification body-colored bumpers, and a correct factory-specification muffler with through-the-bumper exhaust elbows.

The interior features a re-finished Meisen Blue dashboard with correct VDO gauges, including a date-coded 1958 tachometer converted to electric operation and a restored Nardi wooden steering wheel with correct horn button.

The car has an original jack and an original factory OEM tool roll with tools.

In 2016, the engine and transmission were rebuilt and their seals were replaced.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 102429
Engine number: 81727

This Porsche 356 Coupe lost its original engine early in its life and was given a correct 1958 Super 90 engine. It is finished in its original color combination of silver over red and wears an older restoration. Much of the car is original.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 83930
Engine number: 81280

This Porsche 356 A 1600 'Super' Speedster by Reutter is a United States-specification model that was factory-equipped with sealed-beam headlamps and U.S.-market bumpers. Its original interior color is not known, but would have been either black or tan leatherette. It left the factory in Zuffenhausen on October 24th of 1957 and shipped to Max Hoffman's distributorship in New York City. From there it went to the West Coast through Porsche Cars Pacific. The car's first owner was a Mr. Albert R. Eyselee of Fremont, California. The original base price of a Speedster was just under $3,000, FOB New York.

As a 'Super' it came factory-equipped with the 75 horsepower 1600 S engine, offering zero-to-sixty mph of about 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph.

The current caretaker acquired it second-hand in the early 1960s and it has been in his care for the past 50-plus years. Since then, the car has been restored in its original Ruby Red paint (5702B). The interior was re-upholstered in black with oatmeal square-weave carpeting. The steel wheels were repainted silver and given 'dimpled' hubcaps with ceramic crests. It has a partial tool kit and original leatherette pouch, a jack, a later spare wheel, driver's manual, side curtains, and original factory workshop manuals.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster

Porsche built 4,145 Speedsters from 1954 through 1958, and only 141 ever left the factory in black. This Speedster was built in the fall of 1957 and is one of the coveted T2 Speedsters built at the end of the production run. This car was originally delivered to California and remained there until the current owners bought it in 2009. A complete restoration was completed in 2011. The car is driven all over the Northeast during the summer months.

Cabriolet

In 1958 a Porsche enthusiast could choose from four T2 356A push-rod street models that had been developed from 1955 when the Pre-A platform was finished; the Coupe, the Speedster, the Convertible D (designed to supersede the Speedster within the year) and the Cabriolet. The Roadster was a 1959 model. The Coupe remained more popular than all the open models put together during the model year. The Cabriolet was a fully-equipped, insulated and as close to Coupe-comfortable as an open car could be. Most cabriolets were upholstered in leather whereas vinyl was more usual with the other models.

Speedster
Chassis number: 83828
Engine number: 67278

The Porsche 356 Speedster was developed at the request of Max Hoffman, the New York-based distributor for Porsche cars. It was devoid of non-essential items to reduce weight and to save cost. It had a removable windshield, a basic folding top with side curtains, and lightweight bucket seats. Between 1954 and 1958, a total of 4,145 were built. During its production lifespan, it received numerous updates, including a curved panoramic windshield, modified front-lid handle, horn-grille-mounted front indicators, and one-piece tear-drop taillights. Mechanical updates included more powerful engines, wider wheels and tires, front anti-roll bar, updated steering linkage, and softer springs.

This particular example is one of 1,131 T-2 356 A Speedster. Its first owner was Charles L. Arnett of Berlin and then sold to Todd D. Ritter of Jacksonville, Florida. In May of 1958 it was acquired by Wallace Davis of Jacksonville, Fl. who kept it until February of 1996, when it was acquired by its current owner. The new owner treated the car to a restoration which commenced in 1997 and was completed the following year. The work included a replacement Type 616/1 engine with larger 1720cc pistons and cylinders, a 1965 356 C camshaft, and 912 crankshaft and rods. The original Zenith 32 NDIX carburetors were retained. The original engine had 60 horsepower, the updated version produces an estimated 75 bhp.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster

Starting with the steel-bodied 356 Cabriolet, the factory stripped trimmings and any luxury features found in the already bare-bones interior. The windshield header is lower than the Cabriolet's and is entirely removable for racing. There are no roll-up windows and the only weather protection consists of a lightweight top for use only in emergencies. Nearly 4,500 Speedsters were produced over the four-year production run.

This matching numbers example is four owners from new with the second owner having driven it for over 40 years. This car made a number of cross-country trips in the sixties and seventies. The 2021 California Mille Rally is next on the agenda.

Speedster
Chassis number: 84348
Engine number: 68159

This 1958 Speedster is an original East Coast late model car known to have had a European delivery. Said delivery was to a U.S. serviceman confirmed by all the original documents. What an opportunity that must have been. In the July 1955 Motor Trend, Walt Woron said about the Speedster, 'Its size, power, easy shift and steering make it fun to drive.....The brakes are extremely good....they get you out of situations where you have may have delayed too long.' Spartan though the interior may be - and an ineffective top in any more than a rain sprinkle - the Speedster alone offers all that an avid sportscar driver would have wanted. Over 60 years later, it still provides that same simple, exciting pleasure of driving fast.

1500GS/Carrera Roadster

Still with its original driveline, this Type 2 Speedster came near the end of the model's production cycle. Its Super designation at the factory meant that a 1600 roller bearing crank, push-rod motor producing 75 horsepower at 5,000 RPM was installed. Ease on the street (and the race track for a privateer) may well have been the strategy behind the change. In the July 1955 issue of Motor Trend, Walt Woron said about the Porsche SPeedster, 'Where else are you going to get a sports car that has the performance, the ride and the workmanship of this one? Sure, it lacks certain features like roll-up windows, but if....you drive for the fun of driving, you'll love this one.' More so with the Super motor?

Speedster
Chassis number: 84509

This 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster is equipped with a 1,954cc Type 587/1 flat 4-cylinder air-cooled engine with two Solex Twin-Throat Downdraft carburetors delivering 130 horsepower at 6,200 RPM. There is a four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel 60 MM alloy drum brakes, and a four-wheel independent suspension with torsion and anti-roll bars.

Porsche produced approximately 76,000 examples of the 356 through 1965, and a mere five percent of those were Speedsters. Of the 4,145 examples built during its 1955 to 1958 run, just 151 were built with 1,500cc and 1,600cc Carrera engines, producing 100 hp and 110 hp respectively.

A bare-metal restoration begin in 1992 using a 1958 donor Speedster and equipped with an owner-sourced two-liter Carrera 2 engine with an unnumbered case. Over the next three decades, the car was continually driven and upgraded. After the first 10,000 miles, the engine was entirely rebuilt and refined by Bill Doyle. The Speedster has Carrera-style brakes with oversized alloy drums and lightweight, period-style TecnoMagnesio wheels, dramatically reducing unsprung weight. A removable roll bar adds torsional stiffness, and the Speedster's suspension benefits from heavier torsion bars, and anti-roll bars. There are a number of Carrera GS/GT-style period features including racing bumpers with alloy deco trim, a 12-louver engine lid, and an aluminum racing-style fuel tank.

The interior features a Carrera-style steering wheel, three-point retractable seat belts, a Bluetooth-enabled Alpine sound system that retracts behind the dash, and Carrera-specification instruments. Four of the nine hidden speakers are incorporated into the removable headrests that mount to the bucket seats, featuring the adjustability of Carrera 2.7 RS-style competition seats, which have been reupholstered in leather.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster
Chassis number: 84471
Engine number: 4093545

Development of the 356 saw its engine enlarged from 1.3 to 1.6 liters, and the original split windscreen was later replaced by a one-piece unit. The original 356 Coupe body style was followed by a cabriolet version and then in 1952, a trial batch of 15 Roadsters was constructed at the behest of US importer Max Hoffman. The success and popularity led to the introduction of the Speedster model in 1954. The birth of the Speedster is also credited to John von Neumann, Porsche's West Coast distributor, who had chopped down a Gmünd-built Coupe in the late 1940s to create a lightweight competition car.

The Porsche Speedster had a low, wraparound windscreen, lower door waistline, and horizontal trim strip at the level of the door handles. The minimalistic interior had a pair of bucket seats and power was from a 1.5-liter version of Porsche's horizontally opposed four, gaining the new 1.6-liter, 60bhp engine with the introduction of the improved 356A for 1955. It was the lightest of the 356s and was priced at $2,995.

This 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster is in T2 configuration and is powered by a 1,720cc, overhead valve, flat-four-cylinder engine breathing through two twin-choke Zenith carburetors and delivers an estimated 95 horsepower at 5,800 RPM. There is a four-speed manual transaxle, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, and an independent suspension system.

This Porsche has been in the care of a single owner for the past thirty-four years. It was completed at the Zuffenhausen plant in January of 1958 and left the factory finished in Ivory over a black interior, fitted with Coupe seats, and most likely delivered new to the US market. The car entered its current owner's care in 1998. A restoration followed where the body was stripped to bare metal and finished in red. The exterior color was later changed to black to match its full black leather interior. This Porsche has Speedster seats, period competition-style seatbelts, an improved transaxle, and upgraded brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

1500GS/Carrera Roadster
Chassis number: 84904
Engine number: 90957

Porsche offered a GT option for the 1500 GS Carrera model in 1957 and initially, this option referred only to the engine's state of tune. In time, the GS/GT Carreras came with competition features, such as 60 mm racing front brakes with vented backing plates and an extended range 80-liter fuel tank. For 1958, the GS/GT Carreras received lightweight alloy panels, alloy-rimmed wheels, Plexiglas windows, vinyl trim, and louvred deck lid. The Popularity of the GS/GT Carrera Speedster prompted Porsche to continue its development through 1959, even after the standard Speedster model had been replaced by the more luxurious Convertible D.

Porsche built a total of 151 Carrera Speedsters between 1955 and 1959. Of these, a mere 90 examples were specified in GS/GT trim, and of those, approximately 56 left the factory with lightweight aluminum panels.

This Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster is powered by a 1,498cc Type 547/1 air-cooled DOHC flat four-cylinder engine breathing through twin Solex 40 PII-4 carburetors and delivers 110 horsepower at 6,200 RPM. It has a four-speed manual transaxle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

This Porsche was completed in May of 1958 and specified in full competition-ready trim. It had an 80-liter fuel tank, deck louvres, alloy panels, and a roll bar. The exterior was done in Silver Metallic with black upholstery.

When this Porsche left the Stuttgart factory, it was delivered to Glockler Porsche in Frankfurt, Germany. It was sold to Jean Speidel of Miami in June and in October 1958 she drove it at the SCCA races in Venice, Florida, placing 1st in Class and 7th Overall in the main Six Hour event. Near the end of the month, she entered the Porsche in the SCCA Regionals at Dothan, Alabama, finishing 7th Overall in the main event and 1st Overall in the Ladies Race. Speidel continued to race the Speedster through early 1959 when it was sold to Johnny Cuevas, a Cuban living in Miami.

While in the care of Cuevas, the Carrera Speedster usually raced under the Quiver Enterprises banner. Cuevas raced the Speedster at Daytona in November 1959, and during the Bahamas Speed Week at Nassau in December. Among the accolades achieved was a victory at the Nassau Tourist Trophy races and a 6th Place finish in the Porsche race.

At the Cuban Grand Prix in February of 1960, this Speedster was driven by Stirling Moss during the first day of practice. Cuevas then drove the Porsche in the GT Race and the Gran Premio Libertad, placing 4th in Class and 17th Overall in the main event. The car's next outting was at the 12 Hours of Sebring where it was entered by Porsche as one of its factory team cars. Wearing no. 41, Cuevas and Swedish driver Ulf Norinder raced 84904 until the crankshaft broke after 33 laps.

Following its race at Sebring, this car's original engine was replaced with a similar GT-specification Type 547/1 engine, no. 90957, which remains in the car today.

With the new engine, Cuevas drove the Carrera once more in 1960, at the SCCA Regional at Daytona in June.

In 1961, Cuevas sold the Porsche to Lyle Whitmer of Florida and he raced it at Kissimmee and Daytona, Florida, where he was awarded the Brumos Trophy for Fastest Carrera.

After the Porsche was retired from racing, it passed through two subsequent Florida-based owners before being acquired in 1972 by Burt Norris of Palm Beach Gardens. In the mid-2010s, Mr. Norris commissioned Michaelian Restoration to oversee the bodywork and paint with upholstery by Autobahn Interiors. Willison Werkstatt rebuilt and dyno-tested the engine. Shortly after the restoration was completed, Mr. Norris sold the Speedster to Phil Bagley of Klub Sport Racing in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Since the restoration was completed, the car has been shown only at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March 2020.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

This 1958 356A 1600 was purchased by the owner's father new while stationed in Libya and delivered through Max Hoffman's famous New York City showroom, the epicenter of America's post-WWII sports car boom. It was ordered with the 1600 Super engine option and with the rare combination of Black paintwork, a red interior and whitewall tires. It has remained in the current owner's family since new. Road Scholars has just completed a four-year restoration on this special 356 Coupe and The Amelia 2023 was its concours debut.

1500GS/Carrera Roadster
Chassis number: 84904
Engine number: 90957

Porsche's GS/GT models, based on the 356 Carrera, were lightweights built to race. This Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster GS/GT car was purchased new from Glockler Porsche by female racer Jean W. Speidel of Miami, Florida. It raced in Sports Car Club of America events in the southeastern United States, recording several class wins, then was sold in 1959 to Johnny Cuevas, who campaigned it under his own team of Quiver Enterprises or the Camoradi team of Lucky Casner. At the Bahama Speed Week in December 1959, it won the Nassau Tourist Trophy. It also placed fourth in class in the Gran Premio Libertad (main event) of the 1960 Cuban Grand Prix. Perhaps equally important, it was used by British racing great Stirling Moss to practice for that event. It also raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960, driven by Ulf Norinder and Johnny Cuevas, although it did not finish. The car was acquired by its current owner in 2022.

Speedster
Chassis number: 84068

This 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster by Reutter was given a full bare-metal restoration and finished in Stone Grey. It was acquired in 1972 from a coworker in Las Vegas, Nevada and kept for over five decades. In 2021, a full restoration commenced with its respray believed to be its original shade of Stone Grey over green leather upholstery. During the restoration, a 1957 Porsche 1600 engine was rebuilt to Super specifications and fitted into the car. There is a period-correct Speedster gearbox which was rebuilt with BBAB gear configuration. Since the work was completed, it has been used sparingly, with fewer than 1,000 miles added.

This Porsche has an extra set of refurbished, date-stamped 9/57 Sudrad steel wheels, reproduction tool kit, original steering wheel, chrome luggage rack, and a set of 1950s 'Pan Am' leather luggage.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

This 1958 Porsche 356A has been owned by the current caretaker for 25 years. While in his care, the car has been driven more than 350,000 miles in all lower 48 states.

The 'A' version of the Porsche 356 improved upon the model's earlier flaws with an increase in power and a modified chassis. Aluminum cylinder heads were an early improvement, introduced in November 1949, and constant development saw the 356's engine progressively enlarged, with 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter units first becoming available in 1951. The inadequacies of the Volkswagen-type transmission were exposed as the size and power of the engine increased. This led Porsche to introduce its own synchromesh gearbox - the Type 519 - in 1952. That was the same year that the original split windscreen was replaced by a one-piece. 1955 witnessed the introduction of the revised 356A model, distinguished by its curved windscreen and 15-inch (down from 16-inch) wheels.

The 356 would remain in production well into the 911 era, the final examples being built in 1965.

by Dan Vaughan

Speedster
Chassis number: 84548

The 356A was introduced in late 1955 and featured the Carrera four-cam engine. This 1958 iteration was built with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated, air-cooled powertrain with 59 horsepower. More than 21,000 units were built between 1955 and 1959, but few were raced; still fewer of the racers survived and of those the majority were restored.

This car raced frequently, survived, and remains unrestored and original. The car was owned and raced by Charles Foye Jr. from 1958 until 1996, and color period footage shows the Porsche achieving its many successes on the West Coast circuit, including the Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Speedster

A flawless example of a fully restored 1958 Speedster Super with fully reversible performance options by Willhoit Auto Restorations. Matching engine, transaxle, brakes and wheels have been crated for safekeeping in case one day the owner decided to go back to original. Performance upgrades include WR 2.2S engine, 5-speed swingaxle gearbox, disc brakes, sport suspension and Technomagnesio wheels. With the power-to-weight ratio of a 73 RS, this Speedster is a blast to drive!

During the war, Ferdinand 'Ferry' Porsche and a handful of his proven, faithful employees had started work on development number 356 in their workshops moved to the town of Gmünd in Karnten. The first design drawings were completed on 17 July 1947, and on 8 June 1948, the Karnten state government issued a special permit homologating the car. Returning home after being held by the French as a prisoner of war and bailed out of custody by his family, Professor Dr.-Ing.h.c.Ferdinand Porsche, Ferry's father, stated right away that 'every single bolt was just right'. No 1 was then followed by a small series of 52 additional cars built in Gmünd, production in Stuttgart from 1950 - 1965 subsequently amounting to 78,000 units of the 356 model Porsche No 1, a mid-engined roadster, is completed and homologated in the Austrian town of Gmünd. The engine displaces 1131 cc and develops maximum output of 35 bhp(26 kW). The first few 356 coupes are made of light alloy.

The Porsche 1500 S ('Super') was launched in 1952 and was capable of producing 70 bhp.

In 1953, the Porsche 1300 S producing 60 horsepower, was added to the Porsche line-up. This was also the year the Porsche was introduced to the United States. The split windshields are also replaced by bent windshields during this year.

1954 marked the production of the first 200 Porsche Speedsters.

In 1955, the Speedster became a genuine sales success. Production of the 356 A series starts in autumn with the proven 1300 and 1300 S power units soon joined by the 1600(1582 cc, 60 bhp/44 kW), 1600 S (1582 cc, 75 bhp/55 kW) and 1500 GS -the first Carrera marking the introduction of the new sports engine with four overhead camshafts - (1498 cc, 100 bhp/74 kW). The 1100-ccengines are dropped from the range.

During the 1956 model year, Porsche produces its 10,000th 356 model.

In 1957, the sporting and Spartan Porsche 1500 GS Carrera was joined by the more comfortable 1500GS de Luxe model.

In 1958, output of the Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera GT is boosted to 110 bhp/81 kW. The Speedster is replaced by the Convertible D with a larger windscreen and winding windows at the side. The 1300-cc engines are dropped from the range.

In 1959, the Carrera received extra power and is now called the 1600 GS-GT, with the sports version offering more output (1588 cc, 115 bhp/85 kW) than the de Luxe model (105 bhp/77 kW). The 356 B series is introduced in autumn, the Convertible D being renamed the Roadster.

by Porsche

The Porsche 365C has been named the number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s by Sports Car International in 2004. The Porsche 356 is still widely regarded as a collector car that has capably stood the test of time.

There is some debate over which vehicle was the first official Porsche, the pre-war Porsche 64 being actually a VW racing automobile. The 356 was a sports car designed by Porsche that sold from 1948 through 1964 and was Porsche's first production automobile. A prototype for the 356, the 'Number 1' had a mid-engine. The name for the 356 was chosen as it was the 356th project off the Porsche design desk. In 1949, production officially began in Stuttgart, Germany.

Designed and fabricated by Ferdinand 'Ferry' Porsche (the son of well-known Dr. Ing Ferdinand Porsche, founder of Porsche motors), the Project # 356 concept was then styled by Irwin Komenda. Bailed out of custody by his family, Professor Dr.-Ing.h.c.Ferdinand Porsche was a held as a prisoner of war by the French. During the war, Ferry Porsche and a small handful of his faithful employees began work on the 356 in their workshops moved to the town of Gmünd in Karnten. On Dr. Porsche's return to his family, he stated right away that 'every single bolt was just right'.

On July 17th, 1947, the first design drawings were completed, and it was an entire year later when the Karnten state government issued a special permit homologating the car on June 8th, 1948.

Komenda, born in 1904 in Austria, was also responsible for contributing substantially to the construction of the Volkswagen, Cistalia, Auto Union racers, and other vehicles of the day. Joining Porsche's design bureau in 1931, Komenda held various positions at Steyr, Daimler-Benz and other coach shops in both Austria and Germany. He is responsible for contributing to a variety of other designs in Porsche's history, and was the chief engineer and head of Porsche's coachwork from 1955 until he died in 1966. The 'confidential clerk' for Porsche, Karl Peter-Rabe became the chief business manager, after Dr. Ing Albert Prizing, until 1965. Prizing was a business manager who is famous for bringing 37 orders back to the factory following one importer's conference in Wolfsberg in 1950.

The prototype was taken various times by Ferry, variously with just the rolling chassis without body, up the steep mountain roads surrounding the city to test its agile handling and durability. Ferdinand Porsche went on to live a long life, and died on March 27th, at the age of 88. Contributing to the handling of the prototype was the gearbox and suspension specialist Karl Frolich.

Evolving through several updates through the years, the 365 was originally available as a coupe, a cabriolet and finally a roadster. The vehicle changed from mid-engine to rear, along with a myriad of details that evolved over the 22 year run of the model, though the recognizable shape of the vehicle remained the same, a timeless classic. The most desirable versions were the Porsche 356 Carrera, which came with a special racing engine, and the 'Super 90' and 'Speedster' models. The same price as a Cadillac at the time, the price of a late 1950's Porsche was nearly $4,000. Today, a 356 Carrera model can sell for well over $150,000.

The very first Porsche sport car was hand built in Gmünd/Karnten, Austria. The entire aluminum body was hand-beaten over a wooden buck. Without the benefits of a machine shop, all of the engine and drive-train components were made completely. Over 50 Gmünd cars were built and sold primarily in Austria and Germany. To be closer to parts suppliers, the Porsche Firm, located to Zuffenhausen, Austria, near the Reutter coachworks following the war. The only Porsche to ever have the engine mounted in front of the rear axle, the 356/1 was open top 2-seater. Designed with a tubular chassis, the vehicle was air-cooled and came with a 110 cc engine that was remarkably light and quick for the times. Following this first ever radical design, every Porsche 356 to follow was constructed with the engine in the rear, behind the axle.

The Reutter Company, located in Stuttgart Germany, was given the assignment in late 1949 to construct 500 body works for an adjusted model of the 356 unit. This classic 356 was capable of reaching a speed of 140 kph. Under the belief that selling more than 500 units was an impossible feat, it was a pleasant surprise on March 15, 1954, car no. 5,000 left the factory.

Over the years, the 356 was updated with various mechanical refinements, though the basic shape was retained and remained instantly recognizable from year to year. The final 356B Roadster was built in early 1963, while both Coupe and Cabriolet models continued to be built every year up until 1965.

With a top speed of over 85 mph (135kph), a total of only 4 models of the 356 were produced in 1948. The 356/1 came with a 1.1 liter engine that was capable of making 40 horsepower. Less than 60 units were produced during 1949 and the earlier part of 1950. These very rare and unique models are known today as the Gmünd Coupes. The tiny sport cars continued to be built during 1950, but now at a factory in Stuttgart where Porsche moved production. A total of 298 units were built and delivered to their owners by the end of 1950.

One year later, three engines, all of them were flat-4's 'boxers' that were air cooled and were available from the factory. They were available at the 1,100cc, the 1,300cc, and the 1,500cc. The 1500 Super was the top power-plant during late 1952, which came with a synchromesh transmission. That same year the America Roadster was designed and created. Only a total of sixteen models were produced, and all units were an aluminum cabriolet body that came with a removable windshield. In 1992, this vehicle inspired the 40th Anniversary 1992 911 America Roadster.

Under the advice of Max Hoffman, the sole importer of Porsches into the U.S., the 356 'Speedster' was introduced in late 1954. The idea was to produce a lower-cost vehicle that was a racier version that would appeal to the American market. Proving to be an instantaneous hit, the Speedster came with a low, raked windshield that was easily removed, bucket seats, and a minimal folding top. In 1954, the Speedster was available for $2,995. This unit was available in a variety of six different engine types, the 1100, 1300, 1300A, 1300S, 1500 and 1500S. The 1500Super was the top-of-the-line model, while the Coupe and Cabriolet wore the 'Continental' badge designation. In 1955 the 1600 motor went into production.

In 1956, the 356A was unveiled to the world, and had an all-steel body, curved windshield and smaller wheels. When the cars were introduced, numerous subtle differences in the shape of the body and features were highlighted. In 1956 the 10,000th 356 unit rolled off the assembly line. The 356 Carrera was introduced at the same time, which came with a 1500GS engine. Before being replaced in 1959 by the Convertible D model, the Speedster peaked at a total of 1,171 units produced. In this same year, the 1300 engine was dropped from the line. A new project was the result from continued improvements to the 356A, the Type 2 or 'T-2', now with a new transmission, the 644 replaced the earlier 519 with an improved shifter, better synchros, dual nose mounts and a split case design. A higher horsepower is achieved in 1958 as continuous improvements were made in the Carrera engines.

The D model featured more comfortable seating, along with a more practical windshield, and glass side windows. In an attempt to boost sinking sales, around 1300 of these models were produced. While previous models were developed by Reutter coachbuilders, the Convertible D model was developed by Drauz, which is what the 'D' stands for. The D model falls somewhere between a Speedster and a Cabriolet in both luxury and lightweight appointments. In the later months of 1959, the Convertible D became a roadster with the new T-5 body style. Today to the convertible D is considered very desirable, due to the low number of units produced.

In 1960 the 356B offered the S90, or 'Super 90' motor as an available option. The vehicle also had a counterweighted crank, sodium-filled valves and Solex P40-II carburetors. The Karmann Coachworks were employed in 1961 to produce the 'Hardtop', a Cabriolet body with a fixed hard roof. The nickname 'Notchback' was affixed to these cars because of their profile. Nearly 1750 of these vehicles were produced during the two years of its production.

It was one year later when the 356B was introduced, updated with an entirely new body and Super 90 engine. In 1962 and 1963, the engine was once again revised, and changed body styles. A very small number of 356B 4-seater coupes were produced by a Swiss company. Though rare, several models are still around today. Next was the introduction of the Carrera 2 in April of 1962, and only around 450 models were produced in both Coupe and Cabriolet form. In the same year, Karmann produced 2170 coupes, and Reutter produced 4100. The production for the year topped 7900 when the almost 1600 Cabriolets are added into the count. The discussion is broached by Porsche with Reutter to purchase the coachmaker, and finally, after 12-years of co-operation, the successes are consolidated. 'Christophorus', a customer magazine filled with news and background on the Porsche lifestyle is launched by the Porsche factory.

The 356C, the final model, known also as the Type 6 (T-6), was available in 1964 with an engine that came from the same lines as previous Spyder engines, the most powerful pushrod engine Porsche every produced, was cable of producing 130 horsepower. Offering the 1600C, 1600SC and Carrerra 2 engines, the 356C featured 4-wheel disc brakes. Both the C and SC were available for purchase in either Coupe or Cabriolet form.

In 1964, a total of 14,151 356 units were produced. Porsche had achieved a production rate higher in that year alone than the entire line production of the first 10 years of the Porsche 356. The 911 was introduced at this time, presaging the end of the 356 run. Through the end of 1965, the company continued to sell the 365C in North America as a lower-cost vehicle.

Achieving a victory in the 1100cc class during its first outing, the original 356-001 vehicle was raced at the Innsbruck city race. In Austria, on the 8th of June 1948, the Porsche was homologated by the state government of Karnten. Frequently touring the world for special car shows and historic events, the original Porsche '001' vehicle is in the Factory Museum.

Near the end of 1965, more than 76,000 Porsche 356 models were produced and sold. Following 17 years of production, the model 912 eventually took over the 356's stance in the market. The push-rod engine from the 356 was reused to power the 'entry level' 912 model that was produced from 1965 to 1969.

The Porsche '901' was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963. Later after a protest by Peugeot, the name was changed to '911'. In 1964 the Porsche 911 began production.

by Jessican Donaldson