On 8 June 1948, the first car to bear the
The "Gmünd Roadster" was powered by a 1.1-liter 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 recognize from its two-piece windscreen divided by a center bar. This was replaced by a single-piece windscreen with a center bend as of model year 1952.
All 356 generations were also available in an open-top version (Cabriolet,
Model versions
356/2 (Gmünd) (1948-50)
Features
Aluminium body // Bumpers flush with the body // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar //
356 1100 (1950-54)
Features
Bumpers flush with the body; set apart from the body and with bumper guards as of model year 1953 // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar; one-piece with bend in the centre ("bent window") as of model year 1953 // Short handle on luggage compartment lid; long and with
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 model year 1953 // Windscreen in two parts and divided by bar; one-piece with bend in the center ("bent window") as of model year 1953 // Short handle on luggage compartment lid // Rectangular tail lights; round as of model year 1953 // Round and flat front direction indicators // Round rear direction indicators below tail lights; adjacent to tail lights as of model year 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 center ("bent window") // Longer handle with opening on luggage compartment lid; with
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 center ("bent window") // Short handle on luggage compartment lid; long and with
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 center ("bent window") // Long handle with
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 center ("bent window") // Long handle with
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
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
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