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Ferry Porsche
and Prof. Eberan van Eberhorst started project 356 in the year 1947 in
an old sawmill in Gmünd. Ferry's father Ferdinand Porsche was still
imprisoned in France under suspicion of war crimes so did not witness
the start of the project. In August 1947 Ferdinand Porsche was found not
guilty and was released from prison. In march 1948 the first prototype
was finished; the356-001.
The Porsche 356-001 was build upon a tubular framework and mechanically
based upon Volkswagen technology. The 356-001 fitted with a center
mounted engine, located in front of the rear axle.
After testing the car was developed further in order to get it ready for
production. The center mounted engine was moved behind the rear axle to
obtain more interior space. The body was redesigned by Edwin Komenda.
Until 1948 approximately 50 Porsche 356 models with aluminium body were
built. These cars are currently known as the "Gmünd-models".
Porsche had planned a small production of the 356 but the old sawmill in
Gmünd was soon too small to produce the increasing amount of cars
requested by the customers. In the year 1948 Porsche moved to Stuttgart
in Germany. Porsche rented space next-door the old pre-war Porsche
factory and additional space at coachbuilder Reutter.
Reutter was also asked to built the Porsche 356 coupe body's and the
company of Gläser was asked to built the 356 convertible body's. All
356 body's were made of steel from that moment.
In the year 1949 the Porsche 356 was presented at a car show for the
first time in Geneva Switzerland.
The Porsche
356 shows a long evolution. The 356 was built from 1948 until 1965 in
the following model stages:
Gmünd models 1948 - 1951, the pre-A models 1950 - 1955, the 356 A 1955
- 1959, the 356 B 1959 - 1963,
the 356 C 1963 - 1965.
Between the years 1955 and 1965 Porsche also built a special 356 model;
the Porsche 356 Carrera with four overhead camshafts. Between the years
1954 and 1964 Porsche built special convertible models like the America
Roadster (16 built), the Speedster (4847 built) and the Convertible D
(1330 built).
The Porsche
356 Speedster was built on instigation of the American Porsche
importer Max Hoffman. Hoffman wanted a more basic, more sportive and
cheaper convertible for the American market. Because he was also not
fully happy with the looks of the 356 convertible the new car had to
look the part too. Another demand was that the car could be raced.
Ferry Porsche took Hoffmans request, and remarks on the 356 convertible,
serious and designed the Speedster. Hoffman was pleased with the new
car; the 356 Speedster featured crisp clean lines, the car was basic,
suitable to be driven hard; the ultimate Porsche "fun car".
The Porsche 356 Speedster is the most sought after Porsche and one of
the most inspiring classics of the post war automobile history.
Technical
data
4 cylinder
boxer engine
cylinder capacity: 1488 cc.
carburettors: 2x Solex 32 PBI
capacity: 60 DIN bhp. at 4800 rpm.
torque: 105 Nm at 2800 rpm.
gearbox: 4-speed, manual
brakes: drum brakes all round
top-speed: 100 mph. - 160 km/h.
weight: 760 kg.
Information
Colour
silver metallic with a
black leather interior. Black soft top and side screens. Chassis number 80211, engine number 34164, 'matching
numbers'.
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