The Porsche 356 Gmund Coupe
was named after the location where it was fabricated, in the Austrian town of Gmund.
The Porsche
356 was the company's first production automobile. It was a lightweight
and nimble handling rear-engine rear-wheel-drive 2 door sports car available in
hardtop and convertible configurations. Design innovations continued during the
years of manufacture, contributing to its motorsports success and popularity.
Production started in 1948 at Gmünd, Austria where approximately 50 cars were built. In
1950 the factory relocated to Zuffenhausen, Germany and general production of the 356
continued until April 1965, well after the replacement model 911 made its debut
in autumn 1963. Before the German invasion of Poland, Porsche designed and built three Type 64
cars for a Berlin to Rome race in 1939 that was never run, then in
1948 the mid-engine tubular chassis 356 prototype called "No. 1".
This has led to some debate as to the "first" Porsche automobile, but
the 356 is considered by Porsche to be its first production model. 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-engine, rear-wheel-drive car utilizing unitized pan and body
construction. While the 356's body was an original design by Porsche employee
Erwin Komenda, its mechanicals (including engine, suspension and chassis) were
derived from the Volkswagen. The first 356, was roadcertified in Austria on June 8, 1948, and used many Volkswagen parts for
manufacturing economy. Porsche quickly re-engineered and refined the car with a
focus on performance. By the late 50's many fewer parts were shared in common
between Volkswagen and Porsche. The early 356 automobile bodies produced at Gmünd, Austria were handcrafted in aluminum, but when
production moved to Zuffenhausen, Germany in 1950, models produced there were
steel-bodied. Little noticed at its inception, the first 356s sold primarily in
Austria and Germany. From the first prototype in 1948, it took
Porsche about two years to manufacture the first 50 automobiles. By the early
1950s the 356 had gained some renown among enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic for its aerodynamics, handling, and excellent
build quality. It was common for owners to race the car as well as drive it on
the street. Increasing success with its racing and road cars brought Porsche
orders for over 10,000 units in 1964, and when 356 production ended in 1965
approximately 76,000 had been produced. The basic design 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 forms were produced from 1948 through
1965. Cabriolets (convertibles) were offered from the start, and in the early
1950's sometimes comprised over 50% of total production. One of the most
desirable collector models 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. 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 60s. 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 nickname "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 mid 1962 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). A unique "Karmann
Hardtop" or "Notchback" 356B model (1961 to 1962) was
essentially a cabriolet body with the optional steel cabriolet hardtop welded
in place. 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 (71 kW)
"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
for the Dutch police force in March 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 faster and heavier 911 could not do.
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