Overview
Produced: 1948-1955, 7627 produced.
Types: Coupe,2 doors,2 seats
Cabriolet,2 doors,2 seats
Sports,2 doors,2 seats

First launched in 1948, the Ferry Porsche designed 356 was based on early VW Beetle running gear, featuring tuned versions of the Beetles air-cooled, "flat 4" engine. Available in 1100cc, 1287cc, 1290cc and on "Super" models 1500cc, early 356 models have obviously different performance outputs depending on engine size and tune.

The 356 is a very compact sports car, early body styles included Coupe, Cabriolet and the very pretty Speedster variant, which had a lower screen than the normal Cabriolet. Imports into the UK market first started in 1953, all UK cars featured a 12 volt electrical system, early cars shared the inadequate 6 volt system found on the Beetle. Produced until 1955, around 7600 of these first 356 cars were built.

Engines
CapacityConfigModelBore/StrokeCR
1287ccH4 OHVPorsche Flat 4 (356 engines)
1290ccH4 OHVPorsche Flat 4 (356 engines)74.5mm x 74mm8.2
1488ccH4 OHVPorsche Flat 4 (356 engines)80mm x 74mm7
1131ccH4 OHVPorsche Flat 4 (356 engines)73.5mm x 64mm7
Drivetrain and Suspension
DrivetrainSteeringFront SuspensionRear Suspension
WormIndependent/Torsion barIndependent/Torsion bar
Performance
Top Speed0-60SQMMPGEngine PwrComment
84 mph40 bhp 40001131cc engine:
Brakes
FrontRearComment
DrumDrumHydraulic
Auction Sales History
Lot
Num
Description Auctioneer Date Hammer Price Hammer Price
(inc premium)
131 Porsche 356 Split Window Cabriolet Coys 12 Mar 2013 - £210000.00
349 Porsche 356 SL Le Mans Recreation RM Auctions 11 May 2012 Not sold
142 Porsche 356 Pre A Coys 24 Mar 2012 - €110400.00
171 Porsche 356 1500 Cabriolet (Supercharged) RM Auctions 10 Mar 2012 Not sold
136 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe RM Auctions 10 Mar 2012 $129250.00 -
349 Porsche 356 "bent-window" Coupe Bonhams & Butterfields 19 Jan 2012 $80000.00 $93600.00
363 Porsche 356 Pre A 1300 Coys 7 Dec 2011 - £69000.00
116 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupe Coys 8 Oct 2011 Not sold
106 Porsche 356 Continental Pre A Coupe Coys 11 Aug 2011 Not sold
610 Porsche 356 Cabriolet Bonhams & Butterfields 13 Aug 2010 Not sold
172 Porsche 356 Continental Cabriolet Coys 25 Oct 2008 - €66840.00
232 1964 Porsche 356 Coupe Bonhams 8 Jun 2008 Not sold
239 1955 Allgaier Porsche AP16 Coys 25 May 2008 Not sold
244 1957 Porsche 356 with 200 bhp engine Coys 10 May 2008 Not sold
251 Porsche 356 1300S Cabriolet RM Auctions 31 Oct 2007 - £60500.00
170 1959 Porsche 356 Convertible D Coys 30 Nov 2006 £73282.00 -
263 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Super Coys 20 May 2006 €55432.00 -
413 1961 Porsche 356 B T6 Notchback Coys 1 Dec 2005 £15762.00 -
30 Porsche 356 Speedster Artcurial - Briest - Poulain Le Fur 20 Jun 2005 Not sold
340 1953 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupe 'GT Specification' Coys 14 May 2005 Not sold
411 Porsche 356 1500 Cabriolet Bonhams 2 Oct 2004 Not sold
118 Porsche 356 Continental Cabriolet Bonhams 8 Mar 2004 CHF90000.00 -
464 Porsche 356 Coupe (1955) Bonhams 3 May 2003 Not sold
262 Porsche 356 Pre A Cabriolet by Glaser (1952) Coys 12 Apr 2003 - CHF95528.00
318 Porsche 356 Speedster (1955) Bonhams 17 Aug 2002 £63000.00 -
107 Porsche 356 Pre A (1955) Bonhams 10 Aug 2002 Not sold
032 Porsche 356 Speedster (1955) Christies 18 May 2002 Not sold
203 Porsche 356 Pre A 1500 Super (1954) Christies 25 Mar 2002 - £71950.00
259 Porsche 356 Speedster (1955) Bonhams & Brooks 18 Aug 2001 - $59260.00
004 Porsche 356 Coupe (1952) Poulain LeFur 25 May 2001 Not sold
205 Porsche 356 Speedster (1955) Bonhams & Brooks 21 May 2001 $360000.00 -
032 Porsche 356 Pre A (1953) Coys 11 Dec 2000 Not sold
882 Porsche 356 Pre A 1500S Cabriolet (1953) Brooks 27 Jul 2000 - £7820.00
073 Porsche Type 356 Speedster (1955) Christies 29 Apr 2000 Not sold
222 Porsche 356 Cabriolet (1953) RM Auctions 11 Mar 2000 $28000.00 -
170 Porsche 356 Speedster (1955) Brooks 7 Aug 1999 Not sold
096 Porsche 356 Cabriolet (1954) Christies 19 Jun 1999 - $23000.00
089 Porsche 356 Split Window (1952) Christies 19 Jun 1999 Not sold
065 Porsche 356 Carrera (1955) Christies 19 Jun 1999 - $134500.00
051 Porsche 356 Cabriolet (1952) Christies 25 Apr 1998 - $35650.00
021 Porsche 944 Lux (1929) Coys 2 Mar 1998 - £25500.00
478 Porsche 356 Convertible (1955) Coys 20 Nov 1997 Not sold
037 Porsche RSK Spyder Replica (1967) BCA 6 Oct 1997 Not sold
020 Porsche 356 1500 Super (1954) Coys 25 Feb 1997 Not sold
041 Porsche 356 (1954) H&H Sales Limited 24 Feb 1994 Not sold
038 Porsche 550RS Spyder Replica (1954) Coys 25 Jul 1993 Not sold
Magazine Articles
Title Pages Options
Article Gracious convertibles
64 View
Publication Classic Cars August 2011
Gracious convertibles - There's more to classic convertibles that haring around the countryside pretending you're at le mans, as these sublime Fifties drop-tops prove.  Discover which charms most.  Mercedes 190SL vs Porsche 356 vs Lancia Aurelia 850.
Article The rebel's cause
94 View
Publication Classic Cars September 2007
The rebel's cause - Throughout its history, the Porsche 356 has made its mark as a potent racer and a stylish road car, and attracted some pretty high-profile devotees.  This car's met more than a few of them. 
Article Porsche 356 vs Jaguar XK 120 Pulling In Different Directions.
74 View
Publication Classic Cars March 2006
Pulling In Different Directions - Jaguar's XK120, the state-of-the-art traditional supercar of its day , was challenged by the original thinking of Porsche's exotic little 356 coupe.  Are you a traditionalist or an original thinker?
Article The Porsche you've never heard of - Porsche 356 America Roadster
46 View
Publication Classic Cars February 2004
The Porsche you've never heard of. The Porsche 356 America Roadster was the forerunner to the legendary speedster and 550 Spyder.  Find out why this obscure rarity is too good to be forgotten
Article Classic Cars March 2002 pg 76
76 View
Publication Classic Cars March 2002
Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet. Rare meat: we track down one of the few Porsche 356s to be built in exotic quad-cam form and savour it on Spanish mountain roads
Article Flatmates
24 View
Publication Practical Classics November 2001
Flatmates - For an engine that won't need a bonnet bulge why not opt for a low down flat formation? A laid back Danny Hopkins gets all horizontally opposed.  Panhard PL17 and 24CT, Porsche 356, Chevrolet Corvair, Ferrari 365 Berlinetta Boxer.
Article Classic Cars February 2001 pg 84
84 View
Publication Classic Cars February 2001
Jim Clark's 356 - Jim Clark was one of Britain's favourtie racing champions. We meet his favourite car.
Article Classic Cars January 2000 pg 102
102 View
Publication Classic Cars January 2000
Porsche 356 Roadster. Roadstar. A stunning example of the finest Porsche 356 of them all. But it's not a cosy Convertible, or a racy speedster: to the connoisseur, the sublime Roadster always take centre stage.
Article Buyer's Datafile - Porsche 356
134 View
Publication Practical Classics May 1997
Buyer's Datafile - Porsche 356.
Article Buying guide - Porsche 356
188 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car May 2010
Buying guide - Porsche 356 - The car that established Porsche as a car maker is a tricky classic buy, but can be very rewarding, says Malcolm McKay.
Article Time traveller
100 View
Publication Octane March 2008
Time traveller- Porsche's 356  was way ahead of its time in many ways.  We drove what's reckoned to be the world's best of the early split-windscreen models to see what all the fuss was about.
Article On the road - Porsche 356
108 View
Publication MotorSport November 2007
On the road - Porsche 356- Its birth-of-a-marque status is widley recognised but its history and character are less well known.
Article California dreaming
110 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car August 2007
California dreaming - Everyone fancies themselves as James Dean in a Porsche Speedster, says Martin Port, yet you can enjoy open-top 356 motoring for much less money.
Article The forgotten Porsche
110 View
Publication Octane December 2006
The forgotten Porsche - This sublime streamliner pre-dated the original Porsche 356 by nine years.  Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche used it as personal transport to evaluate solutions for their subsequent sports car; its first private owner then kept it for almost five decades.  Now it has returned to the public eye.
Article Buyers guide - Porsche 356
118 View
Publication Classics Monthly November 2006
Buyers guide - Porsche 356
Article Road Test - Porsche 356
40 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 7 April 2005
Road Test - Porsche 356 - Built 1950-65. Coupé or cabriolet, 2+2 rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive GT/sports car.  Flat-four, aircooled, 1582, ohv.
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