Porsche 356

Before the German invasion of Poland, Porsche developed and made three Type 64 cars for the first races from Berlin to Rome, and then, in 1948, a prototype model 356 called “No. 1 ”- with an engine located in the middle and a tubular frame. This led to a discussion on which of these machines should be considered the first, and it was decided that the first Porsche is still the 356 ^{[1] [2]} .

The Porsche 356 was created by Ferdinand Ferry Porsche (the son of the founder of the company Ferdinand Porsche). Like its ancestor, Volkswagen Käfer (which was developed by Ferdinand Porsche Sr.), the Porsche 356 had an air-cooled 4-cylinder engine located in the rear, using a unified sump and body structure. While the bodywork was designed by Porsche employee Erwin Comenda , its mechanical components (including the engine, suspension and chassis) were the development of Volkswagen . The first 356 was tested on June 8, 1948 in Austria and used many parts from Volkswagen for production savings. Porsche engineers quickly redesigned and refined the car to improve performance. The bodies of the early Porsche 356 were made manually in aluminum in Gmünde, and in Stuttgart since 1950 the bodies have been made of steel.

The very first 356 was made by Porsche for itself, but was so liked by friends and acquaintances that it was decided to assemble another 20 models. There was no talk of any serial production then, the assembly was manual. Since the creation of the first prototype, Porsche has taken 2 years to assemble the first 20 cars, but demand has significantly exceeded supply. The first 356s were sold mainly in Austria and Germany. In the early 50s, the Porsche 356 earned fame among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic for its aerodynamic qualities, handling and the highest build quality. Owners of the Model 356 usually drove along street roads as well as they drove along the tracks. City and racing cars brought Porsche success, and in 1964 the company received an order for the manufacture of more than 10 thousand cars, in total about 76 thousand cars of this model were produced, the latter were assembled in 1965 ^[1] .

The basis of the 356 model remained constant throughout its production, technical improvements were preferred to small external changes in design. However, the models (both with closed and open bodies) that were produced from 1948 to 1965 were diverse.

The open-top body option offered from the very start of the Porsche 356 production in the early 1950s was about half of all cars. In addition to 2-seater cars, 50 unique cars were produced that had 4 seats. The most famous open-top model was the Porsche 356 Speedster, which appeared in late 1954. Max Hoffman, Porsche's US Sales Manager, advised companies to build open and cheaper versions of the 356, which will sell very well in the US automobile market. With its low inclined windshield (which could be removed), bucket seats and a small convertible top, the Speedster immediately became a bestseller, especially in Southern California. The release of 1171 cars in 1957 became a peak, and then production began to decline. In its place at the end of 1958 came the model "Convertible D". It was distinguished by a high and more practical front windshield and the presence of side windows, as well as more comfortable seats. The following year, the open-top Porsche 356B Roadster replaced the Convertible D, but market interest in the open 356 fell significantly by the early 60s.

The 356 lineup is mainly divided into two large groups. Porsche 356 Coupe / Cabriolet (Coupe or cabriolet), easily recognizable by the windshields separated by a vertical bridge (1948-1952) or the bending of the windshields. In 1955, with a few important improvements, the Porsche 356A was introduced. For its factory designation (Type 1), brand lovers came up with the nickname T1. At the beginning of 1957, a new modification of the 356A model, known as Type 2 (T2), appeared. At the end of 1959, after significant external changes and technical improvements appeared Porsche 356B, or T5.

In mid-1962, the Type6 model appeared on the 356B: a double radiator cap, an outer filler cap on the right front fender, and enlarged windows. The unique Karmann Hardtop 356B model was created on the basis of a convertible with an additional welded metal roof ^[3] .

The latest modification to the 356 range was the 1964 Porsche 356C. It was distinguished by disc brakes in addition to the most powerful engine ever produced by Porsche - 95 horsepower. The peak in the number of cars assembled occurred in 1964 - 14151 cars were assembled. In the same year, the model’s follower, the Porsche 911, was introduced to the US car market (in Europe, the 911 was introduced a little earlier). The company continued to sell the 356C until 1965, while demand for it was still quite high, even at the beginning of the Porsche 911 era.

The 356 model had a four-cylinder engine with rod followers in the valve drive, which was then introduced into the 912 model offered by the company from 1965 to 1969, while the 911 model was still very expensive (it cost twice as much as the Porsche 356). Despite the fact that the 912 had some technical specifications similar to the 356, it would be wrong to say that it became the successor to the 356, as the Porsche 911 had been planned for this place in advance. The Porsche 356 was always popular with the press. In 2004, Sports Car International placed the 356C in 10th place on its list of "The Best Sports Cars of the 1960s." Today, the Porsche 356 is a highly respected model among collectors. The most coveted models from this line are the Porsche 356 Carrera, Super 90 and Speedster. Some of them were auctioned for over $ 250,000. A fully refurbished Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster (of which only 140 was made) was sold for $ 300,000. In the 50s, the cost of such machines was about 4 thousand dollars, today they offer from 20 to 100 thousand for it.

One instance of the Porsche C-356 with the WPN II license plate number issued in California drove 982,000 miles (1,571,200 km) ^[4] .

The Porsche 356 was a success in many rallies: the 24 hours of Le Mans , Millet Miglia , Targa Florio , Carrera Panamericana and many others. Some models have been lightened and modified for greater performance and better handling in these racing competitions. For example, the Porsche 356 SL or the Porsche 356A Carrera GT. In the 60s, the 356B GTL Abarth coupe was released.

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  Porsche 356B Carrera GTL-Abarth

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  Porsche 356 A Coupé

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  Modified for racing 356 A, 1959

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  Porsche 356 on which Janice Joplin drove

• Porsche carrera
• Lindner coupe

• Wood, J (1997). Porsche: The Legend . Paragon. ISBN 0-7525-2072-5 .