Porsche 356
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Porsche 356 | |
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| Manufacturer | Porsche |
| Production | 1948-1965 |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | Porsche 911 |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 2-door speedster |
| Platform | RR |
| Engine | 1.1 L B4, 40 hp (DIN) 1.3 L B4, 44-60 hp (DIN) 1.5 L B4, 55-70 hp (DIN) 1.5 L DOHC-B4, 100-110 hp (DIN) 1.6 L B4, 60-95 hp (DIN) 1.6 L DOHC-B4, 105-115 hp (DIN) 2.0 L DOHC-B4, 130 hp (DIN) |
| Wheelbase | 82.7 inch (2100 mm) |
| Length | 152.4-157.9 inch (3870-4010 mm) |
| Width | 65.4 inch (1660 mm) |
| Height | 48.0-51.8 inch (1220-1310 mm) |
| Curb weight | 1700-2296 lbs (770-1040 kg) |
| Designer | Erwin Komenda |
The Porsche 356 was a sports car produced from 1948 through 1965. It was Porsche's first production automobile.
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[edit] History
The 356 was the first production sports car bearing the Porsche name.[1][2] However, before the war designer Ferdinand Porsche also created the Type 64 as well as a mid-engine prototype called "Number 1", which has led to some debate as to the "first" Porsche automobile.
The 356 was created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the company). Like its ancestor, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche senior had designed), the 356 was a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive car. While the 356's body was an original design by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda, its mechanicals (including engine, suspension and chassis) were all derived from the Volkswagen. Early 356 prototypes were bodied in aluminum, but this proved impractical for production, and all subsequent 356's were steel-bodied.[3]
The first 356, debuted on June 8, 1948, used many Volkswagen parts for manufacturing economy. However, Porsche quickly re-engineered and refined the car with a focus on performance, so that by the late 50's few parts were shared in common between the two marques. Little noticed at its inception in 1948, by the early 1950s the 356 had gained some renown among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic for its exceptional aerodynamics and handling, as well as excellent build quality. It was common for owners to race 356s as well as drive them on the street.
[edit] Variants
| Porsche 356 Production | |
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| Type | Quantity |
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| 356 (1950-55) | 7,627 |
| 356A (1955-59) | 21,045 |
| 356B (1959-63) | 30,963 |
| 356C (1963-65) | 16,668 |
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| Total | 76,303 |
The basics of the 356 remained the same throughout its lifespan, with evolutionary, functional improvements rather than yearly superficial styling changes. Nevertheless a variety of models in both coupe and convertible form were produced from 1948 through 1965.
Convertibles were offered from the 356's inception, and in the early 1950's sometimes comprised over 50% of total production. 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 a lower-cost, open-top version could sell well in the American market. With its low, raked windshield (which could be removed for weekend racing), bucket seats, and minimal folding top, the Speedster was an instant hit, especially in Southern California. Production of the Speedster peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957 and then started to decline, and it was replaced in late 1958 by the "Convertible D" model. It featured a taller, more practical windshield, glass side windows, and more comfortable seats. The following year, the 356B "Roadster" convertible replaced the D model, but the sports car market's love affair with top-down motoring was fading: soft-top 356 model sales declined significantly in the early 60's.
To distinguish among the major revisions of the model, 356's are generally classified into a few major groups. 356 coupes and "cabriolets" (soft-top) built through 1954 are readily identifiable by their split (1948 to 1952) or bent (center-creased, 1953 to 1954) windshields. In 1955, with numerous small but significant changes, the 356A was introduced. Its internal factory designation, "Type 1", gave rise to its designation "T1" among enthusiasts. In early 1957, a second revision of the 356A was produced, known as Type 2 (or T2). In late 1959 more significant styling and technical refinements gave rise to the 356B (a T5 body type). The 1963 356B model was changed to the T6 body type (twin deck lid grilles, an external fuel filler in the right front fender and larger windows).
The last revision of the 356 was the 356C which was introduced for the 1964 model year . It featured disc brakes as well as an option for the most powerful pushrod engine Porsche had ever produced, the 95-hp "SC". 356 production peaked at 14,151 cars in 1964, the year that its successor, the new 911, was introduced to the US market (it was introduced slightly earlier in Europe). The company continued to sell the 356C in North America through 1965, as demand for the model remained quite strong in the early days of the 911. The last ten 356's (cabriolets) were assembled in early 1966 as 1965 models.
The 356's four-cylinder pushrod engine was later re-introduced in Porsche's "entry-level" 912 model, offered between 1965 and 1969 in response to customer complaints that the new 911 (at nearly twice the price of the 356) was too expensive. Although in some ways the 912 did reprise the 356's specifications, it would not be accurate to say the 912 was successor to the 356: when the decision was made to replace the 356, the 911 was the only car intended to carry the Porsche name forward. Rather, the 912 was an afterthought intended to supply the lower-priced end of the market, which the larger, faster and heavier 911 could not do.
The 356 has always been popular with the motor press. In 2004 Sports Car International ranked the 356C tenth on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. Today, the Porsche 356 is a highly-regarded collector car. The Porsche 356 Carrera (with its special four-cam racing engine), Super 90 and Speedster models are today among the most desirable 356 models. Few 356 Carreras were produced, and these often bring well over $100,000 at auction. A fully-restored 356 Carrera Speedster (of which, only about 140 were ever made) will sell for around $175,000 at auction.
The original selling price of a late 1950s Porsche was around USD$4,000, which was also the price of a new Cadillac; today, they regularly bring between USD$20,000 to well over USD$100,000 at auction.
Worldwide, thousands of owners maintain the 356 tradition, preserving their cars and driving them regularly. The US-based 356 Registry is the largest American club (link below).
[edit] 356 in Pop Culture
356s have appeared in a number of Hollywood movies, including Bullitt, 48 Hours series, Top Gun and Doc Hollywood, among others.
[edit] Gallery
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[edit] References
- ^ Porsche History - Milestones. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
- ^ The First True Production Porsche. Retrieved on 2006-11-08.
- ^ 356 Registry. 356 Timeline. Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- Wood, J (1997). Porsche: The Legend. Paragon. ISBN 0-7525-2072-5.
[edit] See also
- Porsche 550 Spyder
- Lake Underwood - USA racecar driver who made this model popular
[edit] External links
| Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG | ||
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