Porsche 356

Porsche 356

On 8 June 1948, the first car to bear the Porsche name was road-certified: the Porsche 356/1 Roadster produced in Gmünd (in Carinthia, Austria).

The "Gmünd Roadster" was powered by a 1.1-litre air-cooled flat-four engine from Volkswagen. The engine's power was increased to 35 hp for the 356. The roadster weighed just 585 kilograms and reached speeds of up to 135 km/h (83 mph).

The original 356 (also called "pre-A") is easy to recognise from its two-piece windscreen divided by a centre bar. This was replaced by a single-piece windscreen with a centre bend as of model year 1952.

All 356 generations were also available in an open-top version (Cabriolet, Speedster or Roadster).

Model versions

356/2 (Gmünd) (1948-50)

Features
Aluminium body // Bumpers flush with the body // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar // Porsche logo on luggage compartment lid // Trafficators instead of direction indicators (in early models)

356 1100 (1950-54)

Features
Bumpers flush with the body; set apart from the body and with bumper guards as of MY 1953 // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar; one-piece with bend in the centre ("bent window") as of MY 1953 // Short handle on luggage compartment lid; long and with Porsche Crest as of MY 1954 // Rectangular tail lights; round as of MY 1953 // Round and flat front direction indicators; integrated in horn grille as of MY 1954 // Round rear direction indicators below tail lights; adjacent to tail lights as of MY 1953 // Number plate lighting and brake lights in chrome housing above number plate; brake lights integrated in tail light as of MY 1953

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with small glass rear window; with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window as of 04/1953

356 1300 (1951-53)

Features
Bumpers flush with the body; detached from the body and with bumper guards as of MY 1953 // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar; one-piece with bend in the centre ("bent window") as of MY 1953 // Short handle on luggage compartment lid // Rectangular tail lights; round as of MY 1953 // Round and flat front direction indicators // Round rear direction indicators below tail lights; adjacent to tail lights as of MY 1953 // Number plate lighting and brake lights in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with small glass rear window; with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window as of 04/1953

356 1500 (1952)

Features
Bumpers flush with body // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar // Short handle on luggage compartment lid // Rectangular tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators // Round rear direction indicators, below tail lights // Number plate lighting and brake lights in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with small glass rear window

356 1500 (1953-55)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece windscreen with bend in the centre ("bent window") // Longer handle with opening on luggage compartment lid; with Porsche Crest as of MY 1954 // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators; integrated in horn grille as of MY 1954 // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with small glass rear window; with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window as of 04/1953

356 1500 Super (1953-55)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece windscreen with bend in the centre ("bent window") // Short handle on luggage compartment lid; long and with Porsche Crest as of MY 1954 // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators; integrated in horn grille as of MY 1954 // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with small glass rear window; with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window as of 04/1953

356 1300 (1954-55)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece windscreen with bend in the centre ("bent window") // Long handle with Porsche Crest on luggage compartment lid // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators integrated in horn grille // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window

356 1300 Super (1954-55)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece windscreen with bend in the centre ("bent window") // Long handle with Porsche Crest on luggage compartment lid // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators integrated in horn grille // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate

Cabriolet: Padded fabric hood with enlarged, flexible plastic rear window

356 1500 Speedster (1955)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece curved windscreen with rounded top corners // Window inserts in doors // Long handle with Porsche Crest on luggage compartment lid // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators integrated in horn grille // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate // Unpadded fabric hood with flexible plastic rear window // Chrome trims at level of door handles // "Speedster" logo on front wings

356 1500 Super Speedster (1955)

Features
Bumpers set apart from body and with bumper guards // One-piece curved windscreen with rounded top corners // Window inserts in doors // Long handle with Porsche Crest on luggage compartment lid // Round tail lights // Round, flat front direction indicators integrated in horn grille // Round rear direction indicators adjacent to tail lights // Brake lights integrated in tail light // Number plate lighting in chrome housing above number plate // Unpadded fabric hood with flexible plastic rear window // Chrome trims at level of door handles // "Speedster" logo on front wings

Genuine parts & historical documents

Porsche - Genuine Parts Catalogue
Genuine Parts Catalogue
Porsche - ORIGINALE
ORIGINALE
Porsche - Historical Documents
Historical Documents

Porsche Classic Parts Explorer

Porsche - Search. Click. Result.

Search. Click. Result.

You can now quickly and easily find selected genuine parts for your classic car using the Porsche Classic Parts Explorer. Each year, some 300 reissued parts plus selected products for specific models become available online, along with all of the relevant details, of course. In addition to images and part numbers, you will find a range of useful information regarding the individual products and specific usage scenarios.

As you can imagine, there is a wealth of information available to explore. Why not begin your own tour of the Parts Explorer now and find out which reissued parts are available for your classic car. Incidentally: It is worth checking back regularly. After all, our product range is always expanding. We look forward to your visit.

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Product Highlights

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Porsche - Classic performance. Modern braking.

Classic performance. Modern braking.

356. A number that inspires sports car enthusiasts. And to ensure that this remains the case for every model 356 A owner, Porsche Classic has reissued the brake drum specifically for these classic vehicles. The complex manufacture of the Porsche Classic brake drum from a forged blank differentiates it from other spare parts on the market. The result? Porsche standards. An investment in road safety that will be worth your while.

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The relationship you have with your Porsche is something very special – and long-term relationships need special care and attention. The 17-piece Porsche Classic Car Care Set is the best way to do this. It can be used on all exterior surfaces and on all Porsche paint generations. Particularly authentic: the high-quality, classic-style storage bag with houndstooth pattern.

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Porsche Classic Motoroils

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When engine oil is used as a declaration of love, you'll find "Classic Motoroil" written on the canister. The engine oils, which are specially tailored to the needs and properties of the various classic Porsche engines, were developed by the engineers at the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach together with the experts from Porsche Classic.

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