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356 Models

Content by Brett Johnson, from The Porsche 356, A Restorer’s Guide to Authenticity IV, used with permission. More about Brett here.


The vehicles described below are those models that were standard production cars. These were steel-bodied vehicles with an integral steel chassis. They were produced from model year 1950 through 1965 (ten cabriolets were built in 1966). Take the journey through time of the 356 models. 

Aluminum bodied Gmünd cars predated the steel bodied production 356s


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Pre-Production 
Prototypes and Gmünd 1948-1950

356 Pre-A
The 356

1950-1955

356A
The 356A

356A T 1 1956-1957

356A T 2 1958-1959

356BThe 356B 356B T 5 1960-1961
356B T 6 1962-1963
356C
The 356C

356C T 6 1964-1966


Gmünd Coupes and Cabriolets


Following the production of the tube frame, mid-engined Number 1, a small run of cars were built at Porsche’s temporary quarters at Gmünd, Austria. These cars had hand-formed aluminum bodies (with steel doors) with rear-mounted modified VW engines and standard VW transmissions and suspension. The steel chassis was made of welded box sections that was self- supporting which was a similar concept to the model that supplied the mechanicals.

As many as 57 chassis (001-057) were produced between 1949 and 1952 and the majority were bodied as coupes initially constructed entirely at Gmünd. These were frequently campaigned by Porsche and privateers in rallies and sports car racing around the world including Le Mans as late as 1953, winning the 1100 cc class in 1952. The later competition models, known as 356 SLs had lowered roofs and one-piece windshields.

The 356 Pre-A

The steel-bodied 356 came in two basic body styles: coupe and cabriolet. Both had two doors, rear-mounted air-cooled engines and sixteen-inch wheels. The painted steel dashboard was reminiscent of many American cars of the forties and fifties. Bodies were built by Reutter, a Stuttgart coachbuilder, which was absorbed by the Porsche factory in December 1963. Some early cabriolet bodies were built by the coachbuilder, Gläser, located north of Munich. Both styles had a distinct aerodynamic appearance. Their narrow wheels, rear lever shocks, low horsepower engines and non-synchronized gearboxes made them challenging to drive –challenging enough that all these systems received substantial changes within the first three years of production.

The first steel cars looked similar, but were lower than Gmünds. Lack of glitzy trim made them distinctive

This late Model 51 coupe has slotted wheels hinged rear quarter windows and flat bumper trim

1950 Glaser cabriolet with distinctly higher placement of front hood handle and no front aluminum tack strip on the convertible top

Model 52 Reutter cabriolet with export bumpers. Note also the aluminum-trimmed one-piece windshield, front tack strip and painted leading edge of the convertible top

Late Model 52 Reutter cabriolet with US-style export bumpers and early tail light configuation. The brake light is in the center of the license light

The aluminum-bodied America Roadster was coachbuilt by Gläser with the US competition market in mind

1953 models incorporated many updates including new bumpers, beehive tail light arrangement and fully synchronized gearboxes

1954 models had horn grilles and the turnsignals were positioned under the headlights. The hood handle with the hole was introduced with the Model 52

Speedsters were introduced in 1954, as a 1955 model. Intended to be the entry level Porsche, they soon became popular with club racers

1955 was the last year of the original 356 design. US importer Max Hoffman, thought cars with names would sell better, so in 1955 US spec. coupes and cabriolets had gold-plated Continental scripts on the front fenders



The 356A

Coupe, cabriolet and Speedster models were continued from the 356. The first coupe and cabriolets for the American market were inconsistently fitted with side scripts with the name European. This body style was referred to internally at Porsche as the T 1, which stood for Technical Program 1. External changes were subtle, but significant. A curved windshield for the coupe and cabriolet replaced the bent version used on the 356. 4.5" x 15" wheels replaced the 3.25" x 16". Other major changes included a more modern looking dashboard with a padded vinyl top and a larger displacement (1600cc) engine.

 

The T 2 body change phased in starting in late September 1957. During the 1958 model year the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D. The D stood for Drauz, the German coachbuilder. The Convertible D had a taller windshield with chrome-plated frame and roll-up side windows replaced the side curtains of the Speedster. In 1959 a handful of Speedsters were produced for competition. Coupe and cabriolet body styles remained and the Convertible D was replaced by the Roadster in 1960.


The main visible changes were in the doors. All three models featured a lower positioned striker plate mounted by three screws (earlier cars had five). Cabriolets also featured a modified rear cowling, which allowed a new optional hardtop to be fitted. Front vent windows were also used for the first time on cabriolets. Prior to the T 2 change, two other outward modifications occurred: teardrop-shaped taillights replaced beehive units and US-market cars had chrome-plated tubular overrider bars on the bumpers. During the 1958 model year the Speedster was replaced by the Convertible D. The D stood for Drauz, the German coachbuilder. The Convertible D had a taller windshield with chrome-plated frame and roll-up side windows replaced the side curtains of the Speedster. In 1959 a handful of Speedsters were produced for competition. Coupe and cabriolet body styles remained and the Convertible D was replaced by the Roadster.

 

T 1 356A coupe with early single-tube US rear bumper. Note optional chrome-plated wheels, luggage rack and vent windows

The first US spec. 356A coupes and cabriolets had European side scripts. Flat rocker panels and curved windshields differentiated the 356A from earlier models



Exhaust through the bumper guards, lower mounted license light and cabriolet vent windows were all T 2 features

The Convertible D had a similar profile to the earlier Speedster, but had a taller windshield, roll-up windows and superior weather equipment

The GS specification Carrera was a luxury grand touring machine with the new complex four cam engine. This RHD example has optional Rudge chrome-plated knock off wheels

GT specification coupes and Speedsters received aluminum doors and lids during 1958. Trim was minimized and wheels had aluminum rims in an effort to reduce weight



The 356B

The 356B T 5 body was totally new (note: the T 3 and T 4 models did not make it beyond the design phase). While it closely resembled its predecessor, front and rear end sheet metal was totally redesigned. One visible change was larger, higher bumpers. The headlights were also raised and a larger chrome-plated hood handle was present. Coupes got front vent windows and interiors received a facelift with a new steering wheel and column. The rear seating area was also modified. Mechanically, there were many changes, including new finned brake drums and upgraded gearbox. In 1961 another model was introduced: the Karmann Hardtop. It resembled a cabriolet body with a hardtop welded in place. It was built by Karmann, another German coachbuilder. Roadster production was moved from Drauz to D’Ieteren in Belgium.

Roll-up side windows replaced the side curtains of the Speedster. In 1959 a handful of Speedsters were produced for competition. Coupe and cabriolet body styles remained and the Convertible D was replaced by the Roadster. 

 

The 1962 model year brought with it the final body change, the T 6. The front lid was squared off at the front and the fuel filler moved to the top of the right front fender on left hand drive models. Windshield and back glass were enlarged on the coupe. From the rear, an obvious difference was the addition of the second vent grille on the rear lid. The Roadster and Karmann Hardtop were discontinued during 1962. Karmann began producing standard coupes in January 1962, sharing this task with Reutter. Coupe and cabriolet models were the only body styles available.


 

The T 5 coupe had larger bumpers, higher headlights and vent windows

License lights were moved to the rear bumper and reflectors could be above or below. The single rear lid vent continued to be used on the T 5

The Roadster was a natural progression from the Converible D. Manufacturing moved from Drauz in Germany to D’Ieteren in Belgium in April, 1961

Karmann’s first Porsche adventure was the Karmann Hardtop, which had the profile of a cabriolet with hardtop fitted, but without the open top option

Coachbuilder Beutler in Switzerland tried their hand at the four seater 356 concept for a second time in 1962. Around 20 total examples were produced

Only some America Roadsters and GS Carreras had dual vent rear lids until the introduction of the T 6. Coupe rear lids and glass were much larger, as well

The external fuel filler was new to the T 6, but owners of RHD 356s like this hardtop/ cabriolet would have to wait until 1964 for this convenience

T 6 Karmann Hardtops were discontinued shortly into 1962 with less than 700 produced. They featured the higher T 6 coupe windshield

Less than 250 T 6 Roadsters were produced by D’Ieteren. Unlike other T 6 body styles, they did not have fresh air vents in the cowl below the windshield. Production ceased in March 1962

The ultimate 356 was the Carrera 2. The 2 represented the two-liter engine size. Later T 6 versions featured the unique Porsche designed annular disc brakes

Dual front mounted oil coolers necessitated removal of the upper grilles and relocation of the horns. Mesh headlight grilles were an extra cost option



The 356C

Coupe and cabriolet models were the only body styles available. The only visible change externally, aside from the model designation on the rear, was the slightly different wheel and hubcap necessitated by the new four-wheel disc brakes. The interior featured a slightly redesigned dashboard, but was otherwise similar to earlier models.

The most significant mechanical advance was the disc brakes; other improvements were made, including the most
powerful pushrod Porsche engine produced to that point: the SC with 95 hp. 
The interior featured a slightly redesigned dashboard, but was otherwise similar to earlier models.


The 356C cabriolet had only subtle modifications from the previous model. The modified wheels and hub caps for disc brakes were the most obvious

The 356C version of the Carrera 2 had the same disc brakes that were found on all other 356Cs

Also new on the 356C was the Durant style side mirror and twin washer jets with dual nozzles

Though rarely seen, belt-line moldings, first used on the Speedster remained optional on all models through the last 356C




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