7 Reasons you want a Porsche 356
If you want to go old-skool and right back to the roots of the German sportscar, the 356 is what you need
By Shahzad Sheikh
The Porsche 356 built between 1949 and 1965 is the very first production Porsche – it essentially set the template for all future sportscars from the Stuttgart-based manufacturer, right up to today. From the very beginning it was highly regarded for build quality, reliability, aerodynamics and handling.
So here’s why you want one.
It’s a sexy little minx!
The pure lines pulled over the rear-engined, rear-drive chassis remains as enchanting and pretty today as ever. If anything the cars stands out even moreso than it would have done amongst the stuffy styling of other cars in 1949 – it commands both affection and respect.
It’s sporty and serious, but cute and adorable all at once – how can anyone not love a Porsche 356?
It’s a driver’s delight
In 1948 it had a 1.1-litre flat-four engine putting out just 40bhp, but because it was so light it could still get up to 97kph from rest in 17 seconds and reach 139kph. But it was constantly evolving and moved up in engine sizes: 1287cc, 1290cc, 1488cc producing 70bhp, then a 100bhp 1.6-litre in 1958, and a year later the 356B ‘Carrera 2’ got a 2.0-litre producing 130bhp. The acceleration to 97kph dropped to just 9.7 seconds and it was capable of well over 200kph.
The 356B also got a facelifted front with improved steering and braking and the 356C received ZF steering and four-wheel disc brakes. In any case from day one, the 356 was famed for its nimbleness and great handling and proved itself with race wins, notching up victories at LeMans and Mille Miglia along the way.
It’s the original Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche actually left Mercedes in 1931 to set up his own firm, but it was his son Ferdinand Porsche Junior (Ferry) that actually came up with this first production Porsche, drawing heavily on his father’s Volkswagen Beetle design.
Unsurprisingly, and certainly initially at least, much of the mechanical hardware of the 356 was shared with the Beetle, but this certainly ensured the cars robust longevity – of 76,000 models produced of the 356 up to 1965, over half are believed to have survived.
The ‘356’ tag – now such a legend – arose from quite pedestrian circumstances – it was merely Project number 356 that Porsche had worked on!
The bodies were made by Recaro
Initially Porsche was based in Austria and the first 50 cars were made there – all hand built with aluminium bodywork and identified by their split windscreens – these are actually now regarded as ‘prototypes’ rather than full production cars.
When Porsche moved to Germany, it contracted Reutter to build the steel bodies and eventually bought that side of the business – what remained of Reutter became Recaro!
There were three body styles, initially the coupe and cabriolet, and later the Speedster which was launched for the US market in 1954 with a more steeply raked removable windscreen and bucket seats, sold to a clamouring audience of racing enthusiasts under the then popular ‘ride-and-race’ philosophy.
The 356 (like today’s 911 range) was never left alone, constantly being evolved, refreshed and improved. The split windscreen was replaced with a centre creased version between 1953-55. It became the 356A in 1955 – now with a curved windshield. The 356B in 1962 had a higher nose and the final version was the 356C from 1964.
Despite the arrival of the 911 in 1963, the 356 carried on till 1965 – but its loss was felt immediately as the 911 was a pricier proposition. So the 912 was introduced as an affordable stop-gap solution, essentially it was a 911 but with a tweaked 356 engine.
Driven by glamourous celebs
Like many of the great cars of the 50s and 60s – Mini, Fiat 500 – the 356 had classless appeal. It was relatively affordable, but that didn’t rule it out being a hit with the superstars of the day – Steve McQueen famously drove it, but so did many others including Sean Connery and Eddie Van Halen.
Most famously, and notoriously of course, James Dean was also had one. But it wasn’t this car that killed him, he died in a 550 Spyder he had dubbed the ‘Little Bastard’. That car was actually based on a 356 Speedster.
They’re a great investment
In the late 1950s you could have picked up a 356 for just $4000 – now you’d have to fork out at least $25,000 for an original car and prices of even regular variants reach up to around $100,000 in top condition.
But that’s nothing, the rarer versions can fetch over $250k, whilst a Speedster (only 140 of which were made) can command around half a million dollars.
The replicas are even better
But the good news is that you don’t have to buy an original 356 to get the full experience. Since the cars were so simple and based on proven Volkswagen mechanicals, there are many replica versions available, amazingly true to the original, and mostly for considerably less money.
Amongst the highly regarded specialists replica manufacturers are JPS and Vintage Speedsters, although Intermeccanica is widely said to be the best, and most costly with prices of built up convertibles like the beautiful example you see in these pictures, owned by Khalid Bin Hadher of Performance Garage, starting from $60k (but that’s still cheaper than a new 911!).
The best thing about them is that you can drive them hard the way they were meant to be driven without having to be precious. You can also specify more modern (and powerful) drivetrains, better brakes and electronics, and even 21st century entertainment and navigation systems, not to mention aircon, and yet still not dilute the essence of driving Porsche’s first great road car!
Thanks to Khalid Bin Hadher of Performance Garage Dubai for letting us shoot this car.
Read about more classics on MME here.
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